Speak Now Treasures from the World Tour Exhibition to Open June 6
The Country Music Hall of Fameand Museum will explore superstarTaylor Swifts record-breaking world tour with the exhibitionTaylor Swift: Speak Now-Treasures from the World Tour,which opens on June 6, 2012, and runs through November 4, 2012. The exhibition will include dozens of costumes, instruments, set pieces and props from the six-time Grammy winners acclaimed 2011-12Speak Now World Tour, which entertained more than 1.5 million fans over 111 shows in 19 countries spanning four continents.
Taylor SwiftsSpeak Nowtour was one of the most successful tours in all of music, and she has been an ambassador for country music, raising awareness of our genre literally around the globe, said Museum Director Kyle Young. We are delighted to be able to bring our visitors up close and personal with many of their favorite elements from the show, from the colorful and elaborate stage costumes and beautiful instruments, to the magnificent Juliet balcony that Taylor entered near the conclusion of each show and flew around the circumference of each venue.
Taylor is a dynamic live performer whose open heart and engaging personality allow her to make even the largest stadium shows an intimate experience, Young continued. Touring has always been a key element connecting music artists with their fans; those interactions help forge and strengthen the artist-fan relationship, and this exhibit speaks to that. And the opportunity came to us out of discussions we were having with Taylor related to our expansion-serendipity is a wonderful thing!
Earlier this month, Swift pledged $4 million to fund a new education center at the museum. Swifts gift, the largest capital contribution by an individual artist in the museums 45-year history, prompted the museum to name the new space the Taylor Swift Education Center. The center will open in early ! 2014. Th e gift was made in conjunction with the museums expansion capital campaign,Working on a Building: Country Music Lives Here.
Swift has for years been a generous supporter of the museums exhibitions, loaning the institution dresses, stage costumes and instruments for display; a free-standing, Taylor Swift multimedia exhibit has been one of the museums most popular attractions since its debut in May, 2010.
TheSpeak Nowexhibition will recreate 10 vignettes from the tour, including the following artifacts:
- Taylors Roberto Cavalli ombre gold bugle-beaded dress and shimmering red Gibson Les Paul model electric guitar, featured during Swifts performance of The Story of Us
- Taylors vintage ecru lace dress and Deering six-string banjo with rolled steel drum; fiddle players Marc by Marc Jacobs moss green crepe dress; male dancers soft-shoe costume including Brixton tartan plaid newsboy cap, shirt, pants, vest and oxfords; and numerous props including the 6 x 8 switchboard
- Taylors pale blue silk Marchesa gown with rhinestone bodice; and a white piano bench with tufted leather upholstery, both featured in Back to December
- Taylors red, sequined Jenny Packham slip dress and knee-high leather boots, worn during Better Than Revenge
- Taylors vintage purple silk halter dress; dancers costumes including a chiffon bridal gown with pearl- and bead-encrusted bodice, tulle veil and silk rose bouquet; two cotton-candy pink bridesmaids dresses with lace bodices and ruffled tulle skirts, and bouquets; grooms ivory tuxedo and black pants; clerics vestments; and props including retro microphone, all featured during Speak Now
- Taylor brand koa wood ukulele with mother-of-pearl inlay, whose happy sounds Swift elicited during her acoustic performance of Fearless
- Taylors sleeveless, flesh-colored Reem Acra gown with sequin overlay; female dancers ballerina costume, comprised of a gold and ivory brocade bodice and pastel tulle tutu, embellished with pas! tel tull e flowers, seed pearls and beading; male dancers tunic and leggings; and prop trees; all featured in Enchanted
- Taylors re-worked vintage dress, featuring leather corsetry; and the mallet she used to ring the bells during her performance of Haunted
- Taylors black Jenny Packham flapper-style slip dress with rhinestone embellishments; black knee-high leather boots; and Taylor brand sparkle guitar encrusted with Swarovski crystals and featuring a headstock outlined in crystals and embellished with a crystal 13, featured during Long Live
- Taylors golden Valentino ball gown, featuring layers of tulle and a sequin overlay; dancers and aerialists costumes; and the Juliet balcony in which Swift soared above the crowd during each performance of Love Story.
MUSEUM MEMBERS ENJOY A SNEAK PEEK OF THE EXHIBIT ON JUNE 5!Museum members can enjoy an exclusive sneak peak of this new Taylor Swift exhibit during theHot Nights at the Hallsummer concert series event on Tuesday, June 5, featuring a performance by hitmaker David Nail. TheHot Nights at the Hallseries, which debuted last summer, features live music, food, autograph signings and exclusive access to the Museum and Museum Store.Admission toHot Nights at the Hallisfreeto all Museum members. Membership at the Museum begins at $40 and includes admission to all three concert events as well as a year of free admission to the Museum and much more.A membership may be purchased at the event, by phone at(615) 291-8419or atwww.countrymusichalloffame.org/membership.
