Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw and More Join Country Music Hall of Fame Fundraiser

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will officially reopen to the public on September 10, after being closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. With millions of dollars in lost revenue, the Country Music Hall of Fame has announced an innovative fund-raiser, with artists like Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Kane Brown and more, all signing on to help.

BIG NIGHT (At the Museum), taking place on October 28, will feature artists playing instruments housed in the museum, as part of a virtual event, airing on the Country Music Hall of Fame’s YouTube channel. Marty Stuart, who will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame later this year, will serve as the event’s host.

The Country Music Hall of Fame was forced to lay off or furlough more than 170 employees as the museum remained closed because of COVID-19. As of mid-July, more than $22 million in revenue had been lost as well, due to the closure, which is why the CMHOF staff worked harder than ever to increase online programming amid the pandemic.

“That’s what makes us all redouble our efforts, continue serving, and continue moving forward, and make sure the museum is well-positioned for all times, even when times are really hard,” Lisa Purcell, Senior Vice President of Community Outreach, Education and Development at the Country Music Hall of Fame told Everything Nash. “This is definitely one of those times.”

Although the museum had to change their reopening plans a few times, they have been eager since the beginning to open their doors again, as soon as it was safe.

“We are so excited to get back in there and so excited to welcome guests back, and get them close to artifacts and things that are primarily sources to the story, and certainly our favorite thing,” Lisa said. “In the meantime, you come up with new favorite things and you come up with new ways to share country music in a way that is accessible, approachable, but still very much keeps our programming alive.”

As part of the Country Music Hall of Fame’s reopening plan, masks will be required, and tours of Hatch Show Print and Historic RCA Studio B will resume in a limited capacity. The Taylor Swift Education Center remains closed to the public for the time being. Find more information of BIG NIGHT (At the Museum) by visiting the museum’s website.