America’s music history focus of new exhibit
The nearby GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi has opened a new exhibit: “Music America: Iconic Objects from America’s Music History.”
With close to one hundred objects representing the American music, the exhibit, curated by the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music (BSACAM), tells the story of how music has informed, interpreted and inspired national identity. 
“Music has been deeply engrained in the fabric of American history since the nation was founded almost two hundred fifty years ago,” said Emily Havens, who serves as the executive director of the museum.
“The Music America exhibit helps tell the complex story of American music by featuring objects from artists of all genres, including those who put music from the Delta on the map,” said Havens. “Together, these artists and the songs they’ve made describe our national soundtrack. From rock and roll and country, to the blues, jazz and other genres, visitors will learn how music has shaped and interpreted our national identity.”
“In curating this exhibit, we didn’t just want to focus on the history of rock and roll in America, or country, or blues, we wanted to tell the story of how all of these genres together have shaped our identity as a nation,” said BSACAM Executive Director Robert Santelli. “With the Delta being at the heart of so much music history, we are thrilled to be bringing the Music America exhibit to the GRAMMY Museum in Mississippi. There are so many stories to be told, specifically from Delta musicians alone, and we can’t wait to share those with visitors.” On display through April 13, 2025, the exhibit will feature iconic objects from artists such as Lead Belly, Sam Cooke, Bob Dylan, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimi Hendrix, Billie Holiday, Buddy Holly, Whitney Houston, B.B. King, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra.
Visitors can also enjoy an interactive “Song Bar” that will enable them to hear performances by some of the artists highlighted in the exhibit, along with additional melodies that demonstrate the depth, breadth and productivity of American musicians.
The GRAMMY Museum Mississippi is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in person at the box office, or by visiting GrammyMuseumMS. org. The museum is located at 800 West Sunflower Road in Cleveland.
