Jon Batiste Makes History At NMAAM’S Inaugural Front Row Activation

On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the National Museum of African American Music made history with its inaugural FRONT ROW activation—an intimate, sold-out evening featuring 7-time GRAMMY, Emmy, and Oscar-winning artist, Jon Batiste. More than 400 guests lined up around the block to experience a once-in-a-lifetime conversation and performance that epitomized what it means to preserve living history in real time.

Jon Batiste is a virtuoso pianist and multi-instrumentalist from Louisiana, best known for his genre-blending music, his charismatic style, and his tenure as bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He is celebrated for his work as an activist, educator, and all-star musician, combining traditional roots with modern artistry. His latest album, BIG MONEY, is nominated for 3 GRAMMY Awards this year: Best Americana Album, Best American Roots Performance for “LONELY AVENUE,” and Best American Roots Song for the title track, “BIG MONEY”.

The FRONT ROW experience began with a screening of Batiste’s short Spiritual Manifesto film, which provided context into the creation of the BIG MONEY album and delighted the audience with colorful behind-the-scenes studio footage and philosophical ponderings from the artist. What followed was a 45-minute fireside chat between Jon Batiste and Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association, who has championed Americana music for over two decades and was honored at NMAAM’s 2024 Honors Gala for his contributions to preserving and elevating the genre.

The discussion explored the impact of Batiste’s New Orleans roots on his music, the inspiration behind the new songs, and the complexities of preserving cultural diversity while integrating various cultural influences into one harmonious space.

As the talk wound down, Batiste invited long-time collaborator Nick Waterhouse, who has guitar, vocal, and production credits on BIG MONEY, to join him onstage. The duo then took to the instruments that had been conspicuously awaiting them in the center of the room—Batiste on piano and Waterhouse on guitar—and graced the crowd with live performances of a few key tracks from the record.

NMAAM’s Deputy Director of Strategy and Advancement, Dexter Evans, and Director of Curation, Dr. Bryan Pierce, delivered some words of appreciation to round out the evening. Together with Batiste, they unveiled the centerpiece of the one-night-only exhibition, including stage outfits adorned with hundreds of golden pins and brooches, instruments from the recording sessions, and a stunning photography retrospective by legendary producer No ID, whose behind-the-scenes documentation of the BIG MONEY creation process offered guests an intimate window into the artistry and collaboration that defined the album.

No ID is known by many as the “Godfather of Chicago Hip-Hop”. He has worked with some of the most legendary acts in the world, including Jay-Z, Kanye, Rihanna, and Drake. He founded ARTium Recordings as a joint label venture with Def Jam, which boasts some of today’s most promising acts, including Jhené Aiko and Logic. He was a key producer and collaborator on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album, and brought that same genre-bending energy to his recent work with Jon Batiste. 

Through FRONT ROW, NMAAM transforms exclusive cultural experiences into lasting community connections. As Board Member, Phil Thornton, put it: “FRONT ROW was a powerful reminder of what happens when music, culture, and intention align. Jon Batiste continues to lead with soul and purpose, creating moments that honor our history while pushing the sound and the spirit forward.”

Each ticket included a year-long museum membership, offering free gallery admission and continued engagement with the ongoing story of Black music. NMAAM is thrilled to welcome hundreds of new members who joined us in celebrating an artist actively shaping the American soundtrack. 

Batiste himself joined the ranks of these new members, becoming a major donor to NMAAM through his generous gift of the proceeds from the night’s ticket sales – another key moment of the evening. Donations such as these go far in helping NMAAM continue its mission of preserving, celebrating, and sharing African American music with the world. 

FRONT ROW represents NMAAM’s commitment to documenting and celebrating Black music as it happens, not decades later, but in the moment, with the artists who are shaping the sound of now.

Click here to view the full gallery of photos from the event.