When was the last time you visited the Country Music Hall of Fame? Are you a fan of the exhibits? The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville strives to bring a picture of country music history as strongly as possible. In its new exhibit, the museum gives credits to the era of country music that even today comes masked with fallacies and advertising tactics: “outlaw country”.

Photo credits: broadwayworld.com

Named Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring 70s, the remarkable exhibit just opened for a three-year run. A grand opening party featured performances from Joe Ely, Jessi Colter, and Shooter Jennings. The exhibit shows great works of art and media displays centering on some of Country’s stories, artists, and writers. In addition, it profoundly emphases on Texas and Austin’s role in country’s originals which prospered in the 1970s.

The Exhibit, In Details

The most delightful feature of the exhibit is a focus on not just names like Willie, Waylon, Kristofferson, and Clark, but also Texas legends like Doug Sahm and Paul Buskirk. And, did you know that famous University of Texas football coach Darrell K. Royal was a huge supporter for all the hairy hippies descending upon Austin to make music? In fact, he helped break the gap between Austin’s classically stuffy elite and the new artistic class. Royal even held a “guitar pull” for songwriters, who then dented their names into his guitar. It is right there on exhibit next to one of his infamous windbreaker jackets.

The exhibit features two conflicting ideologies during the 1970s country era. On one hand, you have the major labels database where you can look for whoever recorded a song. On the other hand, you have artists and independent studios accepting the inclusivity of collaboration. The exhibit even mentions Willie Nelson’s most “outlaw” thing recorded, Stardust.  It is a record of jazz and pop classics that comprised Nelson’s late ’70s love of California.

What More To Expect

Even if most country fans think they have heard all the stories of the 1970s, the Outlaws & Armadillos exhibit is a must-see. We assure you that you will get chills down your spine looking at some of the never-before-seen artifacts. The 1970s were one of the most imaginatively thrilling periods in country music. It is just imperative to make the exhibit the best it can be.

You will also see Guy Clark’s denim shirt and Susanna Clark’s guitar where she used to write “Old Friends”. Moreover, You will also see Willie Nelson’s blue sneakers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS8I3jKgCaw

Folks, if you think you know “outlaw”, visit the exhibit, and think again.