In support of the American Heart Association and Go Red For Women, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will serve as host for a spotlight exhibit, Something in Red, beginning this Friday and continuing through April 2012.
The special display, which will feature red ensembles from several country stars, couldn't have a more appropriate opening day--namely, Feb. 3, which is National Wear Red Day--and continue through April 2012.
According to an email correspondence from the Nashville-based museum, the red dress is a symbol of the fight against heart disease in women. In turn, a number of country artists have joined forces with the American Heart Association and the hall of fame to raise awareness of this disease, which is the No. 1 killer of women, by making their own red dresses available for this special exhibit.
"It’s so important for people, especially women, to understand the risks of heart disease and how to prevent it,” said country star Lorrie Morgan, whose own father, Grand Ole Opry star George Morgan, suffered from heart disease.
The following is a sampling of the dresses featured in Something in Red:
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Sara Evans’ full-length velvet sheath with feathers, designed by Victor Costa for Nahdree and worn at the 1999 Academy of Country Music Awards
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Naomi Judd’s leather-like jacket and skirt with bugle beading, rhinestones, and tulle crinoline, designed by Esben and Vanessa Ware and the Judds, and worn at the 1987 Country Music Association Awards
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The JaneDear girls’ Danelle Leverett’s strapless Daisy mini-dress with floral detailing, worn on the cover of the duo’s 2011 self-titled debut album; and the JaneDear girls’ Susie Brown’s shimmering cocktail dress, designed by Ryan Gamboa and worn at the 2011 Academy of Country Music Awards
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Lorrie Morgan’s full-length Caché gown with pleated bodice and spaghetti straps, worn on the Grand Ole Opry
Julie Roberts’ one-shouldered, matte jersey cocktail gown with rhinestone embellishments, made by Caché and worn on the Grand Ole OpryHere is a longer one from Susie Brown of the JaneDear girls, if you need it.Susie Brown:
"One of the things that I love about country music is how the songs hold personal lyrics and stories that can move people," said Susie Brown of JaneDear girls. "In the same way, it’s encouraging to see the tireless efforts of the American Heart Association who continue to move people and impact lives in so many ways.
"This red dress that I had the honor of wearing was designed by Ryan Gamboa," continued Brown, regarding her dress that is featured in Something In Red. "It is particularly meaningful because his mother has had a history of arthritis, which led to a great deal of damage to her heart. Her courage and strength and so many others like her is a reminded to me of why I do what I do."
Spotlight exhibits supplement themes and topics in the museum’s core exhibition, Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music. These short-term, informal displays provide a closer look at a particular person, group or aspect of country music, or they spotlight recently donated items or special anniversaries.
Rotated often, spotlight exhibits also offer a glimpse into the museum’s unique collection, which includes recorded discs; historical photographs; films and videotapes; posters; books; songbooks; periodicals and sheet music; personal artifacts such as performers’ instruments, costumes and accessories; and more.
Other current spotlight exhibits focus on the Academy of Country Music Awards, Bobby Braddock, Nudie Cohn, Bill Monroe, Rascal Flatts, Jean Shepard, Porter Wagoner and 2012 ACM Awards co-host Reba McEntire, the latter of whom has a now-famous red dress all her own on display.
For more information about the American Heart Association, Go Red For Women and National Wear Red Day, visit www.goredforwomen.org. And for more information about the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, 222 5th Ave. South, please access its official website or call 615-416-2001.
FYI: Don't forget that Saturday, Feb. 4, is Community Day at the local hall of fame, which means admission is free all day from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For those lucky enough to be in the site of the museum, it's a great opportunity to visit a world-class archive and museum at a price that can't be beat.
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