Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Ahead of her Nashville stops of “The Eras Tour” this weekend (May 5 – 7), a new pop-up exhibit “Through Taylor Swift’s Eras” has opened at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, featuring a selection of iconic costumes worn by Swift.

Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The limited-run exhibit includes 10 outfits that represent each of the artist’s 10 albums, from 2006’s Taylor Swift to 2022’s Midnights. The pop-up is part of the museum’s comprehensive gallery experience and is included with general admission. It runs through May 31.

Swift has reinvented herself with each new album through changes in everything from her musical direction to the costuming that defines the eras of her career. Among the items on display from Swift’s wardrobe are the Vivetta faux fur jacket and rhinestone-accented Norma Kamali bikini Swift wore in the 2019 music video for “You Need to Calm Down;” the Marina Toybina-designed circus ringmaster ensemble of a top hat, cane, rhinestone and sequin-embellished jacket, shorts and knee-high, laced LaDuca boots Swift wore to perform “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” at the 2012 MTV Europe Music Awards; and the Mandalay multicolored fringe dress and Everybody by B. Z. Moda tall boots Swift wore during the first act of her “Fearless Tour” in 2009-2010.

The museum also updated its display in the third-floor Taylor Swift Education Center with new artifacts representing Swift and her latest studio album, Midnights. These objects will be on view through early summer 2024 and are also accessible with general museum admission.

New items now on display in the Taylor Swift Education Center include the sequin-covered cape, Michael Schmidt Studios bustier and briefs and Stuart Weitzman boots worn by Swift in the 2022 video for “Bejeweled;”; the Taylor GSLJ “Living Jewels” acoustic guitar Swift used to perform “Last Kiss” during her “Speak Now World Tour” (2011-2012) and in the 2022 music video for “Anti-Hero;” and the New York University cap and gown Swift wore when she received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree and delivered the commencement address at the school’s 2022 graduation ceremony.

The Taylor Swift Education Center located within the museum’s galleries is a two-story, 7,500-square-foot space that opened in 2013 and was made possible through a generous donation from Swift to the museum’s capital campaign, which doubled the size of the nonprofit cultural organization. The education center includes classrooms, youth art installations, interactive galleries and learning labs with resources to facilitate distance learning and songwriting programs. In 2022, more than 134,000 people were served through more than 1,100 educational programs offered by the museum—many of which originated in the Taylor Swift Education Center.

Dierks Bentley has earned his 22nd No. 1 hit, with “Gold” reaching the top of the Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart this week. The track also hit the top of the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart in November.

The lead track from his 10th studio album Gravel & Gold, “Gold” spreads of a message of gratitude, looking at life from a different perspective and treasuring every day moments. Bentley wrote the tune with Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley and Luke Dick.

“When we wrote ‘Gold,’ I wanted to write a song that captures the idea of enjoying the journey,” Bentley shares. “The reality is that there are a lot of rocky times that we all go through, but amongst all the tough stuff, when you look for the special moments it can change how you view the world. I know that’s a reminder I need for myself, so the fans and country radio embracing it means a lot.”

Bentley will take his Gravel & Gold album on the road this summer on the “Gravel & Gold Tour.” He will be joined by a full slate of supporting talent on select dates, including Jordan Davis, Elle King, Tracy Lawrence, Tyler Braden, Caylee Hammack, Hot Country Knights, Kameron Marlowe, The Cadillac Three, The Red Clay Strays, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Shane Smith & the Saints, Caitlyn Smith and Hailey Whitters. The tour kicks off on June 1 in Toronto, Ontario.

Photo: Claire Schaper

Kimberly Perry is revisiting one of her biggest hits as part of The Band Perry with “If I Die Young Pt. 2,” the sequel to the seven-time Platinum “If I Die Young.” The new single is set for release this Friday, May 5, and will be part of Perry’s upcoming album Bloom, out June 9 on Records/Columbia Nashville.

Perry returns to her songwriting roots on the record, which builds on the original storytelling with new verses and a nostalgic sound. “I felt like the story wasn’t finished,” admits Perry. “There needed to be a sequel that talked about where my head is these days now that I’ve experienced so much life–I’m having a baby, I’m married, I’ve moved to Nashville; I’ve seen all of these dreams come true since writing the original version.”

Produced by Jimmy Robbins, Bloom paints the picture of a woman who has experienced all of life’s highs and lows and has finally found her own voice. Perry co-penned the entire record herself with writers including Robbins, Nicolle Galyon, Jesse Frasure, Sasha Sloan, Casey Brown and Parker Welling.

While gearing up for the new album, Perry is set to make her solo artist debut at the Grand Ole Opry this weekend on Saturday, May 6.

Bloom Track Listing:
1. “If I Die Young Pt. 2” (Kimberly Perry, Nicolle Galyon, Jimmy Robbins)
2. “Burn The House Down” (Kimberly Perry, Jimmy Robbins, Sasha Sloan)
3. “Cry At Your Funeral” (Kimberly Perry, Jesse Frasure)
4. “Ghosts” (Kimberly Perry, Nicolle Galyon, Jimmy Robbins)
5. “Smoke ‘Em Too” (Kimberly Perry, Casey Brown, Parker Welling)