“I wasn’t giving it up,” says the radio personality whowas the upset winner of the show’s 27th season. “That’s the closest thing I have to a child. I’ve started a scholarship fund for that thing.”
That is perhaps the only disappointment of “American Currents,” which officially opened Friday at the Nashville museum. Bones was among the stars who attended a preview of the exhibit on Tuesday.
Dedicated to the past year in country music, it’s chock-full of memorable artifacts, among them: the rainbow ribbon and brilliant blue gown thatReba McEntire wore to the Kennedy Center Honorsin December,Luke Combs’handwritten lyrics to No. 1 hit “She Got the Best of Me,”Dan + Shay’sjackets in their “Tequila” video, and the dress and bootsCarly Pearcewore for her Grand Ole Opry debut.
Luke Combs’ lyrics.Nancy Kruh
McEntire also attended the preview, and the Hall of Famer declared herself “thrilled to pieces” that the museum had added to her already significant presence within its walls. She recalled sharing the Kennedy Center festivities with fellow recipientCher, but she revealed there was barely an opportunity for the two music icons to connect.
Reba McEntire’s Kennedy Center Honors dress.Nancy Kruh
“The only time we really got to visit was right before the curtain went up and the beautiful lady came out and sang the National Anthem,” McEntire said. “And [Cher] said, ‘Oh my gosh, I wouldn’t be able to do this. Have you ever sang the National Anthem before?'”
Reba McEntire.
Kane Brownshowed up at the museum to inspect the favorite jacket he parted with for the year; he wore the purple Amiri apparel at the 2018 American Music Awards when he won favorite country male artist. But don’t think he’s been suffering without it for too long.
“Amiri was so grateful it’s in here,” he revealed, “they just sent me another one.”
Brown expressed excitement about hisrecent ACM nominationfor single of the year (for “Heaven”), though he confessed he’s dreading the temptations of Las Vegas, where the awards ceremony will be held in April.
“I can’t be in Vegas longer than an hour,” he said. “I gamble. [Last year] it was going great until my wife left the table, and then it went bad.”
SoKatelyn Jaeis his good luck charm?
“Yeah,” he allowed, adding, “and she also just messed up the hand.”
Kane Brown.Terry Wyatt/Getty
To express the genre’s “unbroken circle” through the years, several country newcomers were paired with established artists in the exhibit. Among the pairings were Carly Pearce and Grand Ole Opry doyen Jeannie Seely. The two have become fast friends through Pearce’s many appearances on the Opry, and Seely revealed she has already received her save-the-date card for Pearce andMichael Ray’s wedding. Seely and Pearce are now neighbors, and the two have gone biking together and shared a few glasses of wine.
“I’m so proud for her,” Seely, who’s 78, said of Pearce, 28. “I’m so happy for her and Michael Ray. I love him, too … and they are perfect for each other.”
Neo-outlawAshley McBrydeand celebrated songwriter Matraca (“Strawberry Wine”) Berg were yet another exhibit pairing. Ten years ago, McBryde attended a Berg tribute at the museum and afterward received her autograph. Just weeks ago, the two got together for a first-time songwriting session.
“We’re both kind of shy, so it took a minute just to break the ice,” Berg recalled. “But once we hit it … she’s like me. She just gets down to business, and it was wonderful.” Berg also revealed the song’s pure-country topic: Momma’s mascara.
Ashley McBryde’s lyrics.Nancy Kruh
He explained that he had been taking it on the road, letting “everybody” hold it — until someone accidentally chipped it. “I was like, all right, time’s up,” the saucy DJ said. “No more mirrorball. It’s on the counter until I build a full, life-size trophy of myself holding it. I’m still trying to sculpt that out of butter right now.”
source: people.com
