Guitars, Fiddles and Coats of Many Colors:
Country Music Highlights from the Tennessee State Museum

An exhibition of musical instruments, performance costumes and other memorabilia from Tennessee's rich country music heritage opens at the Tennessee State Museum March 22 and continues through January 7, 2007.

Entitled Guitars, Fiddles and Coats of Many Colors: Country Music Highlights from the Tennessee State Museum , the exhibition includes artifacts from such performers as Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Bill Monroe, DeFord Bailey and others.

"The state of Tennessee has contributed so much to the world's musical heritage through the years that we wanted to feature the Volunteer State 's extraordinary contribution to this industry in a meaningful way," said Lois Riggins-Ezzell, executive director of the state museum. "The museum has been collecting music industry objects for some time. It's an impressive collection, and we owe a sincere thank you to Dolly Parton for her personal donations and for allowing us to use one of her song titles - Coat of Many Colors - as part of the exhibition title."

One of the highlights of the exhibit is the original 1947 guitar-shaped Ernest Tubb Record Shop sign that became a Nashville icon over the years. Stage outfits designed by renowned fashion designers Nudie Cohn and Nathan Turk will be on display, along with a performance outfit from DeFord Bailey, the Grand Ole Opry's first African-American member.

In addition to musical instruments, performance costumes and memorabilia, the exhibition will showcase paintings and photographs of many of the musical stars who have played a significant role in Tennessee 's musical history.

The music exhibition is free to the general public. The Tennessee State Museum is located at Fifth and Deaderick Streets in downtown Nashville . The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The museum is closed on Monday.