On September 26, 2019. Mr. David Cross, his wife Jennifer Cross, Mr. Allen Barker, and his wife Anita Barker represented the Board of Directors of the Historic Gatlinburg Inn as attendees at a private opening of a new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame titled “We Could: the Songwriting Artistry of Boudleaux and Felice Bryant.”
The Bryants were legendary songwriters whose achievements include:
- Over 6 thousand songs composed, in multiple genres.
- An estimated half-billion records sold.
- 59 BMI awards.
- The writing of Rocky Top, which later became an official state song of Tennessee.
It is that last achievement which created the bond that will forever exist between the Bryants and the Historic Gatlinburg Inn. As we have discussed before, Rocky Top was written right here at the Inn in room 388, which has been maintained almost exactly as it was when the song was written in 1967.
Among the items included in the exhibition are original hand-written lyrics for many of the Bryants’ songs, the Martin acoustic guitar that Boudleaux Bryant played, and many other photos and memorabilia from their lives.
While you’re at the Country Music Hall of Fame, you can also see items like the silver dollar plated Bonneville driven by Webb Pierce, one of the biggest stars in country music in the 1950’s, who would frequent the Historic Gatlinburg Inn in the car.
The exhibition runs through August 2, 2020, at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Click here to learn more about the exhibition.
Here are some photos highlighting the event. Click the thumbnails to view the full size photos.