Ben Montague and Norman Harris

Norman’s Rare Guitars, the L.A. vintage guitar shop owned by industry legend Norman Harris, has been acquired by TNAG Global, the Nashville-based parent company of Carter Vintage Guitars and Cotten Music Center.

The announcement comes a year after the release of the Norman’s Rare Guitars documentary on Netflix, which highlighted the shop’s future and Harris’ legacy in the music industry. Since acquiring Carter Vintage Guitars in 2022, TNAG Global has maintained the culture, caliber and legacy of the shop and its founders, and increased sales by 233%. With the acquisition of Norman’s Rare Guitars, TNAG Global plans to continue the 50-year legacy built by Harris.

“I’ve always known there would come a time when I needed the right long-term partner to carry Norman’s Rare Guitars forward,” says Harris, founder of Norman’s Rare Guitars. “I couldn’t imagine a better steward for the shop and its legacy than Ben Montague and TNAG Global. The goal has always been to share my love of great guitars with the community, and this partnership allows that community to grow,while protecting everything that makes the shop special. I feel a deep sense of comfort knowing the shop, its history and its values will still be here for future generations of my family and for guitar lovers around the world.”

The TNAG Global acquisition includes the store’s full inventory of more than 1,000 guitars, as well as Harris’ personal and private collection, which spans over 50 years. Norm’s customers will now have the opportunity to consign their guitars with Carter Vintage Guitar’s revered consignment and authentication model, maximizing their profit while reaching an unmatched audience. Through TNAG Global’s proprietary instrument management system, The Exchange, Norman’s Rare Guitars will become accessible to a global audience of buyers, sellers and collectors.

“Norman’s Rare Guitars is the most iconic guitar shop in the world, and we are honored to help extend its story into the future,” says Montague, founder and CEO of TNAG Global. “Our responsibility with this acquisition is simple: Protect what makes the shop special, ensure the business thrives beyond its founder and give Norman the freedom to step back whenever he chooses, knowing the legacy is secure.

“California is one of the most important guitar markets in the world, and we believe there is enormous opportunity to bring a truly dialed-in, trusted consignment model to the West Coast. At TNAG Global, customer obsession is the driving force behind everything we build. We create environments where guitar lovers, collectors and musicians can walk into an iconic store —in Nashville or Los Angeles —and feel taken care of at the highest level, both in person and online.”

Harris will remain actively involved in the business as founding ambassador, continuing to source instruments and welcome visitors to the shop for as long as he wishes. The team at Norman’s Rare Guitars will remain in place, continuing to offer the same expertise, personality and community atmosphere the store has been known for since its founding.

Live In The Vineyard Goes Country has unveiled the first round of performers on the lineup for its eighth annual event in Napa Valley on April 21–23.

The private food and wine event presented by Forefront Networks pairs intimate performances from leading and emerging artists with Napa Valley’s revered vintners and world-renowned chefs in a unique luxury environment. The 2026 lineup will feature a headlining set from The Marcus King Band along with performances from The Braun Brothers, Kaitlin Butts, Zach John King, Lauren Watkins, Waylon Wyatt, Will Bundy, Abbie Callahan, Logan Crosby, Tiera Kennedy and McCoy Moore, with more to be announced.

The week begins at the Welcome Reception, presented by Lucchese Bootmaker, where guests are invited into a curated Lucchese experience. The Welcome Reception will be followed by intimate dinner performances set against the backdrop of Napa Valley. Day two introduces a taste of Texas to wine country with a Texas Music Scene Tailgate before the evening transitions to the historic Uptown Theatre for an unforgettable night of live music. The Texas Music Scene Tailgate will also serve as the setting for a live taping of Texas Music Scene, the long-running TV series known for standout performances across the country and Americana landscape. Day three concludes with a Farewell Brunch performance.

Vince Gill. Photo: David McClister

Vince Gill has been named the 2026 recipient of the Ken Burns American Heritage Prize and will formally receive the honor on May 6.

Named in honor of the revered visual historian and filmmaker, the Ken Burns American Heritage Prize was created by American Prairie to recognize individuals whose achievements have advanced our collective understanding of America’s heritage and the indomitable spirit of the American people. Nominees for the annual prize consist of visionary artists, authors, educators, filmmakers, historians, and scientists, and candidates are chosen by a National Jury of distinguished leaders who represent communities across the country and share a common appreciation of America’s heritage.

“Vince Gill is most deserving of this prize, and he represents the enduring power of American music to tell us who we are,” says Burns. “Like the prairie itself, his songs are shaped by patience, humility, and a deep respect for the people. I know what it is to be formed by the spirit of a place—how it asks you to listen closely, to honor what came before, and to submit, in the best sense of the word, to something larger than yourself. Vince has done this throughout his life and work, and in doing so, he has given us a truer understanding of our shared American heritage.”

“American Heritage Prize is an incredible honor and what inspiring company to be in,” says Gill about his selection. “The work American Prairie is doing to preserve America’s Great Plains is invaluable, and I’m grateful to be able to contribute to their efforts in any way I can. Over the years I have had the opportunity to collaborate and become good friends with Ken, and that in itself has been a great experience. This new relationship is one I’m very much looking forward to.”

In 2026, American Prairie celebrates 25 years as a 100% donor-funded organization working to connect, conserve, and share Montana’s Northern Great Plains – one of the last remaining temperate grasslands in the world. Grasslands are a vital yet vanishing biome, and they play a huge role in the planet’s health. Across the globe, less than 2% of temperate grasslands have been permanently conserved, making them the least protected biome on Earth.

Past recipients of the Ken Burns American Heritage Prize include David McCullough, Maya Lin, N. Scott Momaday, Wynton Marsalis, Jimmy Chin, Kristine McDivitt Tompkins and Sylvia Earle.