WOODY GUTHRIE CENTER® TO SHOWCASE STRONGER TOGETHER: THE POWER OF WOMEN IN COUNTRY MUSIC
New exhibit, presented and curated by the GRAMMY Museum®, celebrates some of country’s leading ladies
TULSA, Okla.— Dolly Parton, Rosanne Cash, Mickey Guyton, and Taylor Swift are among the artists spotlighted in Stronger Together: The Power of Women in Country Music, a GRAMMY Museum exhibit opening Oct. 22 at the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa.
Partially sponsored in Tulsa by Arvest Foundation, the exhibit traces the influence of female artists in country music. From the Carter Family to Kitty Wells, Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline, and Emmylou Harris, women have always been a part of country music. These legendary acts eventually made way for performers such as Alison Krauss, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Faith Hill and contemporary artists such as Maren Morris, Yola, and Brandi Carlile. Stronger Together: The Power of Women in Country Music celebrates these and many other artists who have shaped the genre.
“Women have always been, and continue to be, forces of nature in any musical genre, and we are proud to be shining a light on these country music artists,” says Deana McCloud, director of the Woody Guthrie Center. “We’re also excited to be adding items to the exhibit while it’s in Tulsa, including Wanda Jackson’s hot pink ‘80s fringed blazer, along with concert posters and original floorboards from the historic Cain’s Ballroom. Woody knew it, and so do these artists — we are all stronger together.”
“While country music has never lacked in producing radio hits and big stars, the stories of female artists who have made an impact and experienced great success often go untold,” said Bob Santelli, founding executive director of the GRAMMY Museum and curator of The Power of Women in Country Music exhibit. “This exhibit will serve to uncover those stories and highlight the women who continue to take the genre to new heights — from Maybelle and Sara Carter and Dolly Parton, to Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, and Kelsea Ballerini.”
Stronger Together: The Power of Women in Country Music will take visitors on a journey through the history of women in country music, from the early years and post-World War II, to the emergence of Nashville as a country music mecca. The exhibit will feature artifacts from such celebrated female country artists as Brandi Carlile, Maybelle and Sara Carter, Rosanne Cash, Caylee Hammack, Faith Hill, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Patsy Montana, Maren Morris, Dolly Parton, Minnie Pearl, Margo Price, Taylor Swift, Yola, and more.
Exhibit highlights include:
- Taylor Swift’s boots and dress from her “Tim McGraw” video
- Performance outfits from Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman and Karen Fairchild that were worn during the Dolly Parton tribute at the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards®
- Brandi Carlile’s custom Manuel Cuevas duster worn during the first all-female headlining set at the 2019 Newport Folk Festival
- The gown Maren Morris wore on the red carpet at the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards
- Caylee Hammack’s guitar, given to her by her father before she moved to Nashville, that survived a house fire
- Rosanne Cash’s Martin OM-28M acoustic guitar
- The guitar on which UK singer/songwriter Yola taught herself to play
- Plus, photos, handwritten lyrics, and more
The exhibit will be on display at the Woody Guthrie Center through March 2022. The current exhibition, Songs of Conscience Sounds of Freedom, will end its run Oct. 10. Reserve your time to tour the Woody Guthrie Center at woodyguthriecenter.org.
About The Woody Guthrie Center®
The Woody Guthrie Center, opened in 2013, features state-of-the-art exhibits, an extensive outreach and education program, and a concert series to bring his legacy to Tulsans and those who make the pilgrimage to what is a destination for Woody Guthrie fans worldwide.
The center is more than a museum; instead, it is a center of investigation for inspiration. By providing examples of Guthrie’s ability to use his creativity as a way of expressing the world around him, we hope to encourage others to find their voices and, through their educational programs, explore the power that lies within the creative process. For more information, please visit www.woodyguthriecenter.org.
About GRAMMY Museum®
The GRAMMY Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating a greater understanding of the history and significance of music through exhibits, education, grants, preservation initiatives, and public programming. Paying tribute to our collective musical heritage, the Museum explores and celebrates all aspects of the art form—from the technology of the recording process to the legends who’ve made lasting marks on our cultural identity.
For more information, visit www.grammymuseum.org, “like” the GRAMMY Museum on Facebook, and follow @GRAMMYMuseum on Twitter and Instagram.
FOR MEDIA INQUIRES, CONTACT:
Deana McCloud
WOODY GUTHRIE CENTER
918-574-2710
deana@woodyguthriecenter.org