FRONT ROW AT NMAAM PRESENTS JON BATISTE
7x Grammy, Emmy, and Academy-Award Winner Returns to Nashville for Exclusive Museum Experience Exploring the Creative Process Behind His ‘New Americana’ album Big Money—Nominated for Best American Roots Performance, Best American Roots Song, and Best Americana Album.
NASHVILLE, TN – December 11, 2025 – The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) announces FRONT ROW at NMAAM presents Jon Batiste, an intimate conversation and museum exhibit opening celebrating the artist’s triple Grammy-nominated Americana album Big Money on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 5:30 PM. FRONT ROW at NMAAM positions members at the center of transformational moments in Black music history through intimate artist encounters that blend conversation, performance, and cultural immersion.
The December 17th three-part experience transforms NMAAM’s Main Concourse into an immersive cultural moment. Up to 400 guests will gather in circular seating around Batiste for a 90-minute program featuring moderated dialogue with Americana Music Association Executive Director Jed Hilly, spontaneous piano performances, and behind-the-scenes insights into the album’s creation. The museum will showcase curated artifacts from the Big Money recording sessions and tour, alongside an exclusive, never before seen recording session photo retrospective by legendary Grammy Award winning and Big Money album co-producer No I.D.
“Jon Batiste’s Big Money represents the evolution of American roots music—drawing from gospel, R&B, folk, and jazz traditions while creating something entirely new,” said Dexter D. Evans, Deputy Director of Strategy & Advancement at NMAAM. “FRONT ROW gives our members unprecedented access to artists at pivotal moments in their creative journeys. This isn’t just a concert or a lecture—it’s being in the room where music history happens.”
After the December 17th event takes place, many of the artifacts will remain on display at the museum offering fans as well as Music City industry professionals direct engagement with one of the year’s most celebrated albums. Grammy Award-winning resident DJ Smoke will open and close the evening with curated sets, while No I.D.’s photography and the Spiritual Manifesto video will be displayed throughout the museum on multiple digital screens.
FRONT ROW at NMAAM prioritizes member access, with current NMAAM members receiving exclusive discounted admission at $30. New attendees can join NMAAM and gain event access starting at $70 for Individual memberships, with all ticket purchases including full-year membership benefits.
Following the November success of the PJ Morton pop-up concert—which sold out 400 tickets in 24 hours and drew music industry leaders, local dignitaries, and passionate music enthusiasts—NMAAM expands its artist programming model to create sustainable, recurring opportunities for members to experience living music history.
EVENT DETAILS:
• What: FRONT ROW at NMAAM presents Jon Batiste
• When: Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 5:30 PM
• Where: National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
• Capacity: 400 guests
• Tickets: Current NMAAM members $30 | New memberships from $70 (includes event access + full-year membership benefits)
• Information: nmaam.org/event/jonbatiste
ABOUT JON BATISTE:
Jon Batiste is a 7x Grammy, Emmy, and Academy-Award Winner artist, composer, and bandleader whose work spans jazz, R&B, soul, and American roots music. His 2025 album Big Money, produced in collaboration with No I.D., has earned three Grammy nominations in the Americana categories, marking a bold artistic evolution that honors traditional American music forms while pushing genre boundaries. Batiste has performed at the White House, Carnegie Hall, and prestigious venues worldwide, earning recognition as one of the most versatile and innovative artists of his generation.
ABOUT FRONT ROW AT NMAAM:
FRONT ROW at NMAAM is the museum’s signature intimate artist series, creating exclusive access to transformational musicians through conversation, performance, and cultural immersion. The members-first programming positions NMAAM as the institutional home where music industry professionals and passionate music lovers experience history in the making. The Jon Batiste exclusive event marks the evolution of NMAAM’s artist experience programming following the sold-out success of the PJ Morton pop-up concert in November.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC:
The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) in Nashville, Tennessee, is the only museum dedicated exclusively to preserving and celebrating the influence of African Americans on American music and culture. Through interactive exhibitions, educational programming, and live experiences, NMAAM shares the story of the American soundtrack—one that would not exist without the African American contribution. NMAAM is located at 510 Broadway in downtown Nashville. For more information, visit nmaam.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Sydnie Davis
Marketing Manager
National Museum of African American Music
marketing@nmaam.org
(615) 525-8979
TICKET INFORMATION:
nmaam.org/event/jonbatiste
