The Country Music Hall of Fame Unveils Its NEW Muscle Shoals Exhibit
Explore the Country Music Hall of Fame’s newest major exhibition, "Muscle Shoals: Low Rhythm Rising," celebrating the legendary Alabama town that shaped some of music’s most iconic recordings. Image: Jason Kempin and John Shearer/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is celebrating the legendary music of Muscle Shoals, AL, with its newest major exhibition, Muscle Shoals: Low Rhythm Rising, now open through March 2028. The more than 5,000-square-foot exhibit explores how this small Southern town became a recording epicenter in the 1960s and 1970s, and how its influence continues to this day.
Muscle Shoals’ studios, including FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, created a distinctive, swampy Southern sound, blending genres such as R&B, country, and pop. Artists like Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, The Rolling Stones, Bob Seger, and Percy Sledge recorded some of their most iconic hits here. Today, the musical legacy continues with acts like Alabama Shakes, Jason Isbell, and John Paul White.
The exhibit features an impressive collection of artifacts, including musical instruments, original song manuscripts, and stage wear. Visitors can also experience interactive galleries with historical photos, audio recordings, and interviews with more than 50 musicians, producers, and artists who shaped the Muscle Shoals story.
To complement the gallery, an illustrated exhibition catalog is also available, with a foreword by Jason Isbell and essays from curators and music historians. An official playlist follows the exhibit’s narrative across decades of hits, now available to stream online.
Opening weekend celebrations featured special performances by Jason Isbell, Bettye LaVette, Spooner Oldham, and Dan Penn, as well as concerts and panels showcasing music legends and contemporary artists with ties to Muscle Shoals.
Muscle Shoals: Low Rhythm Rising is included with museum admission and supported by OneLouder. For more information, including exhibition hours and ticketing details, visit countrymusichalloffame.org.
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Brianna Goebel
Brianna is StyleBlueprint’s Associate Editor and Sponsored Content Manager. She is an avid fan of iced coffee and spends her free time reading romance novels.