Each year, the Country Music Hall of Fame honors artists who have had a big impact on music in the past year, with their American Currents: State of the Music exhibit. The honorees for this year have been announced, and include Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson, Kelsea Ballerini, The War and Treaty, Jelly Roll, Taylor Swift, Oliver Anthony and more.
“Through the 8th annual American Currents exhibit, the museum looks at the country music landscape through a wide-angle lens — encompassing developments in mainstream country, Americana, bluegrass and related roots music,” Kyle Young, Chief Executive Officer of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, says. “Our curators and historians examine the year’s major events and achievements, allowing the museum to assemble an exhibit that reflects the genre’s current impact, history and continued evolution.”
Combs and Wallen, along with many of the artists being recognized, have had unforgettable years. Combs released his Gettin’ Old album, which included his record-breaking No. 1 single, “Fast Car.” The song earned Combs a CMA Award for Single of the Year, and earned the song’s writer and original performer, Tracy Chapman, another CMA Award, for Song of the Year.
“It’s insane, really,” Combs, who also headlined his sold-out Luke Combs World Tour, said backstage at the CMA Awards. “I remember sitting in my apartment, I was teaching myself how to play guitar at 21 years old, and spending just days and days and days trying to teach myself how to play that lick, which we all know is so iconic. And I finally figured it out after about a month and a half or two months, ’cause I was so new at playing guitar. But I knew that I wanted to play that song.
“And I remember the first time I got it down, then I tried to sing while I was playing it. I couldn’t do it, ’cause it was so advanced of a thing for me and where I was as a guitar player,” he continued. “And then it took me a few more months to be able to sing it and play it at the same time. It’s been a long journey. That song’s been a huge part of my life for a long time. And, all credit to Tracy for writing one of the best songs ever. It’s insane to behold this for sure.”
Wallen also had an incredible year. The Tennessee native headlined his history-making One Night At A Time World Tour, and released his multi-platinum One Thing At A Time album. The record features several hit singles, including “Thinkin’ ‘Bout Me,” “Last Night” and the record’s title track.
“When I started doing this, I had no intentions or expectations of becoming that guy,” Wallen told Billboard. “But I’m definitely proud of it. Especially when people say to me that they never liked country music before and now it’s [their] favorite.”
The news of the American Currents exhibit comes only a few months after the latest Country Music Hall of Fame inductions, with Patty Loveless, Tanya Tucker and Bob McDill were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
This year’s American Currents exhibit opens on February 28, and will run through February 25, 2025. Other artists featured in the American Currents exhibt include Sam Bush, Tyler Childers, S.G. Goodman, Nat Myers, Nickel Creek, Joy Oladokun, Allison Russell, Shucked (the Broadway musical scored by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally), SistaStrings, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Kelsey Waldon and Lucinda Williams.
Find more information at CountryMusicHallofFame.org.
