NMAAM

Nissan Free Wednesdays
2026-06-03 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-06 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-01 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-03-04 10:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | NMAAM, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Experience NMAAM without the cost on our special Free Admission Days, sponsored by our generous partner, Nissan.
Free Wednesdays: Every first Wednesday of the month, enjoy complimentary access to the museum galleries.
On these days, simply show up, check in at the front desk, and immerse yourself in the history and influence of African American music at no cost!

RFID Interactive Wristbands are $5.00 each on Nissan Free Wednesdays and Community Days.

Heartbeat Saturdays
2026-05-30 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-05-23 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-05-16 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-05-09 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-05-02 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-04-25 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-04-18 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-04-11 11:30 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) and 7 more dates | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Join us every Saturday in the NMAAM lobby from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM for Heartbeat Saturday, a curated event that is free and open to the public. Experience vibrant music and community engagement with our resident DJ, Smoke!
DJ Smoke is a dynamic force in the music scene, known for blending contemporary beats with classic tracks to create an unforgettable atmosphere. With a keen ear for rhythm and an unmatched ability to read the crowd, DJ Smoke transforms every performance into a high-energy experience.
Heartbeat Saturdays are NMAAM’s community health initiative, meant to get your heart pumping and your feet grooving. We can’t wait to welcome you to our dance floor!

Playing Beyond The Field: Jock Jams
2026-04-23 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Jock Jams: A Listening Session with Soul’d Creative Collective
Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Time: 6 pm
Location: The Roots Theater, National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
Event Description:
Join us for a live listening session with Nashville’s Soul’d Creative Collective dedicated to exploring the “jock jam”—a category of songs and musical anthems that have become closely associated with sport. Audiences will be invited to consider: What does sport sound like? How do music and sport collide in real time? What does Nashville sound like through sport? With the help of a DJ, audience members will create a distinctive soundtrack to commemorate the event and put new songs and sports in conversation.
Join us before the event, beginning at 5 pm, for special after-hours at the Museum, featuring FREE admission, guided tours and light bites and drinks for purchase.
About Soul’d Creative Collective: Founded by Creative Director Christian Sinclair and Vanderbilt alum and former NFL player Jonathan Wynn, Soul’d Creative Collective is a Nashville-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that brings people together over the love of BIPOC arts and culture by focusing on education, collaboration, and access.
Jock Jams is part of Playing Beyond the Field, a free, three-part series exploring the historic relationship between music and sport, with a particular focus on Nashville’s robust African American musical and sporting legacies. Curated by the co-directors of The Sound of Victory, Courtney M. Cox and Perry B. Johnson, Playing Beyond the Field is organized in collaboration with the Vanderbilt Sports & Society Initiative and the National Museum of African American Music.

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IN THE POCKET: LITTLE ANTHONY & FRIENDS
2026-03-28 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | NMAAM, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Join us for an unforgettable evening with one of the most distinctive voices in American music history. Little Anthony—frontman of Little Anthony and the Imperials—helped define the sound of early soul and R&B with soaring vocals, heartfelt ballads, and timeless stage presence.
From the moment “Tears on My Pillow” hit the airwaves, Little Anthony’s voice became a cornerstone of doo-wop and soul music. With hits like “Goin’ Out of My Head,” “Hurt So Bad,” and “I’m on the Outside (Looking In),” he bridged genres and generations, influencing artists from Smokey Robinson to Prince. Over the decades, his group’s harmonies and Anthony’s emotional depth earned them induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and beyond.
In this exclusive 200-seat conversation, Little Anthony sits down with Brooke Moriber for an intimate conversation on a life in music—its challenges, triumphs, and the behind-the-scenes stories of songs that became part of America’s soundtrack.
From doo-wop beginnings to enduring legacy, this In the Pocket session is a rare chance to be in the room with a true legend and hear the music—and the man—up close and personal.

Program Highlights:

“Stories Behind the Songs” format featuring behind-the-scenes stories from iconic recording sessions
Interactive musical moments where you’ll guess classic songs from Little Anthony
Authentic conversations between Little Anthony & Brooke Moriber
Meet & Greet opportunity
Limited bar service featuring wine, beer, and signature cocktail

GENERAL ADMISSION $30
What’s Included:

Access to full 2-hour “Stories Behind the Songs” conversation
Complimentary refreshments throughout the evening
Post-event meet & greet with Little Anthony
Access to limited bar for purchase

VIP EXPERIENCE $50
What’s Included:

Everything in General Admission PLUS:
Exclusive 45-minute meet & greet with Little Anthony (8:15 PM 9:00 PM)
Priority seating for optimal viewing and interaction
One complimentary drink ticket for bar service
Exclusive signed poster featuring NMAAM + Little Anthony (not available elsewhere)
Early entry at 6:30 PM for networking with fellow VIP guests
Priority access to meet & greet

Event Details:

Capacity: Limited to 200 guests for intimate conversation setting
Duration: 2 hours including intermission and Meet & Greet
Parking: Available at 5th + Broadway garage with discounted parking
Age Recommendation: All ages welcome, content appropriate for music enthusiasts of all backgrounds

“In the Pocket” launches NMAAM’s signature quarterly series featuring intimate conversations with celebrated musicians and their friends, colleagues, and collaborators.
Questions? Contact NMAAM at (615) 709-0595 or visit nmaam.org

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Playing Beyond The Field: Charley Pride - I’m Just Me
2026-03-18 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Charley Pride: I’m Just Me: A Film Screening and Live Discussion with Director Barbara Hall
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Reception: 5:30 pm
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: The Roots Theater, National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Event Description:
Join us to honor legendary Country Music Hall of Fame artist Charley Pride on what would have been Pride’s 82nd birthday in a special evening celebrating his musical and sporting legacies. Often referred to as Country music’s “first Black superstar,” the late Charley Pride was both a renowned American Country artist with deep ties to Nashville and a baseball player who started his professional career as a pitcher in the Negro American League. This event will explore Pride’s expansive career in professional baseball and his rise within Country music’s commercial ranks, unpacking how his experiences in each provided Pride with a unique perspective to reflect upon larger questions of identity and belonging in two of America’s most distinctive and foundational cultural forms. Join us for a screening of Charley Pride: I’m Just Me, an insightful documentary that traces Pride’s distinctive life and career, followed by a live discussion and Q&A with the film’s director Barbara Hall.
Join us before the event, beginning at 5:30 pm, for special after-hours at the Museum, featuring FREE admission, guided tours and light bites and drinks for purchase.
Charley Pride: I’m Just Me is part of Playing Beyond the Field, a free, three-part series exploring the historic relationship between music and sport, with a particular focus on Nashville’s robust African American musical and sporting legacies. Curated by the co-directors of The Sound of Victory, Courtney M. Cox and Perry B. Johnson, Playing Beyond the Field is organized in collaboration with the Vanderbilt Sports & Society Initiative and the National Museum of African American Music.
About the film:
Charley Pride: I’m Just Me traces the improbable journey of Charley Pride, from his humble beginnings as a sharecropper’s son on a cotton farm in segregated Sledge, Mississippi to his career as a Negro American League baseball player and his meteoric rise as a trailblazing country music superstar. The documentary reveals how Pride’s love for music led him from the Delta to a larger, grander world. In the 1940s, radio transcended racial barriers, making it possible for Pride to grow up listening to and imitating Grand Ole Opry stars like Ernest Tubb and Roy Acuff. The singer arrived in Nashville in 1963 while the city roiled with sit-ins and racial violence. But with boldness, perseverance and undeniable musical talent, he managed to parlay a series of fortuitous encounters with music industry insiders into a legacy of hit singles, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Narrated by Grammy-nominated country singer Tanya Tucker, the film features original interviews with country music royalty, including Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker and Marty Stuart, as well as on-camera conversations between Pride and special guests, including Rozene Pride (his wife of 61 years), Willie Nelson and fellow musicians.

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The Black Fashion Week: Runway Revival
2026-02-21 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
The Black Fashion Week: Runway Revival
Runway Revival is happening February 21st, 2026 at 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
Presented by The Black Fashion Week & The National Museum of African American Music.
This show is a high-fashion, immersive experience built around Seven Vices, explored as a spiritual and psychological concept, not tied to any one religion.
Each vice represents a mood, a human emotion, and a visual world. The entire show is designed to bring these energies to life through fashion, storytelling, and atmosphere.
Food Available For Purchase from Chef Mook: Chef Mook’s Instagram
Cash Bar Available with Specialty Cocktails
Doors: 7:00 PM
Show Starts at 7:30 PM
Instagram: The Black Fashion Week
Parking at NMAAM
We offer a discounted rate if you park in the 5th & Broadway parking garage (Entrance next to Eddie V’s)! You will need to download the Metropolis App on your phone BEFORE entering the parking garage and ensure your car and license plate number are registered within the app. Once completed, you’ll go through the gate and park in the B1 Level area. Before you leave the museum, there’ll be two kiosks in the lobby where you will enter your license plate number, automatically discounting your parking.

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Playing Beyond The Field: Sporting Soundtracks
2026-02-19 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Sporting Soundtracks: An Evening with the Players and Sounds of Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball
Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026
Reception: 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Location: The Roots Theater, National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
Event Description:
An interactive evening exploring the enduring relationship between music and basketball, featuring a panel of world-class professional women’s basketball players in conversation with Dr. Courtney M. Cox, author of Double Crossover: Gender, Media, and Politics in Global Basketball.
Join us for a lively playlist experience that invites audiences into a dynamic conversation exploring the importance of music for athletes, teams and regional fan communities. Players from Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball, back in Nashville for AU’s 5th season, will share how their personal and athletic musical profiles are amplified on and off the court, reveal behind-the-scenes moments where music and sport have intersected in their lives and careers, and examine how official team DJs curate the sounds and rhythms for players and fans.
Join us before the event, beginning at 5:30 pm, for special after-hours at the Museum, featuring FREE admission, guided tours and light bites and drinks for purchase.
Sporting Soundtracks is part of Playing Beyond the Field, a free, three-part series exploring the historic relationship between music and sport, with a particular focus on Nashville’s robust African American musical and sporting legacies. Curated by the co-directors of The Sound of Victory, Courtney M. Cox and Perry B. Johnson, Playing Beyond the Field is organized in collaboration with the Vanderbilt Sports & Society Initiative and the National Museum of African American Music.

RSVP Here

R&B Bingo - Valentine's Edition!
2026-02-14 21:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York) | TN
The chips will fall wherever the music lands! Prepare for an electrifying night of musical bingo at the National Museum of African American Music.
Let the rhythm guide your luck in five epic rounds of bingo, spanning the most iconic decades—’70s, ’80s, ’90s, 2000s, 2010s, and Trap.
Think you really know music? Our bingo game challenges even the sharpest music connoisseurs.
Win exclusive prizes in each round and compete for a grand finale treasure chest featuring goods from local Black-owned businesses to explore and support.
Come for the music, stay for the vibes. Let’s make it a night to remember—where the only thing more exciting than your bingo card is the soundtrack to your victory!
$25 General Admission | $20 Member
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Heartbeat Saturdays: Line Dance Edition
2026-02-14 11:30 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Join us every Saturday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM in the lobby of the National Museum of African American Music for Heartbeat Saturday—a free, public event centered on music, movement, and community.
This Heartbeat features couples line dancing, taught by 615 Line Soul Line Dance—the perfect way to move together just in time for Valentine’s Day.
The energy stays high with music by our resident DJ, DJ Smoke, whose seamless blend of contemporary hits and classic favorites keeps the dance floor moving and the vibes right.
Heartbeat Saturdays are NMAAM’s community health initiative, designed to get your heart pumping and your feet grooving. We’ll also be joined by local health and wellness vendors, offering resources and connections to support a healthy lifestyle.
Come dance, connect, and celebrate community—we can’t wait to see you on the floor.

The Velvet Rope: Miguel
2026-02-11 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Join us at the National Museum of African American Music for a special pre‑concert happy hour celebrating Miguel’s return to the Ryman. From 6:30–8:30 PM, guests can enjoy curated cocktails, a live DJ set inspired by Miguel’s newest album.
This intimate mixer sets the perfect tone before the show, offering music lovers, culture‑builders, and concert‑goers a chance to connect, explore, and soak in the sounds that shaped Miguel’s artistry.
Location: National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
Admission: $10 per person. Capacity is limited.
Come raise a glass, vibe with us, and kick off your concert night in true NMAAM style.
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J-Dilla Day
2026-02-07 11:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Join us in celebrating J Dilla Day as four DJs pass the torch and keep the music moving. From Detroit to the world, J Dilla reshaped the art of producing. Each DJ will take turns on the decks, keeping his sound alive through a continuous set honoring his legacy.
Spins by BBOY Zero, Enxgmaa, DTLA Jams, & Carmine Prophets
🗓️ Feb. 7th 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 NMAAM Lobby (510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203)
🎟️ No Ticket Needed For Event

The Frequency: Music Industry Mixer
2026-02-05 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
The Frequency: State of Black Music & Culture
An Evening of Music, Ideas, and Connection at NMAAM
Join the National Museum of African American Music for an elevated evening exploring the future of Black music, culture, and innovation. This dynamic after-hours experience brings together artists, executives, entrepreneurs, and creatives for conversation, live performance, and community—set inside the museum’s iconic spaces.
Date: February 5, 2026
Time: 6:00–9:00 PM
Location: Rivers of Rhythm Galleries + Lobby
General Admission: $10
(Limited complimentary tickets available for invited partners)
The evening begins with a welcome reception featuring a live DJ, specialty cocktails, light bites, and a live digital art activation. Guests will then enjoy a series of short spotlight talks from leading voices shaping today’s music and creative industries, followed by live performances from rising Nashville artists and open networking throughout the galleries.
The night concludes with a brief closing moment and an opportunity to engage deeper with NMAAM through membership, exclusive perks, and a special raffle for new members.
Your ticket includes:

Access to all program sessions and live performances
Museum gallery access throughout the evening
Live art experience + DJ soundtrack
Networking with artists, industry leaders, and innovators
Specialty cocktails and light bites (while supplies last)

This event is designed for professionals, creatives, and culture-builders who believe in the power of Black music to shape global culture, business, and innovation.
Tickets are limited. Advance purchase recommended.

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Sounds In Cinema: Little Richard: King And Queen Of Rock 'N' Roll
2026-02-04 15:30 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
SOUNDS IN CINEMA
Where film meets music history. Join us for curated documentary screenings that explore the intersection of African American music and cinema, featuring authentic industry conversations and special guest appearances. Part of our Nissan Free Wednesdays programming, these screenings often include live discussions with the artists, producers, and music professionals who created the stories we preserve.
This month’s event will feature Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock ‘N’ Roll, which originally aired in 2023 as part of the docu-series American Masters.
The screening will take place in the Amazon theater in the back of our “One Nation Under A Groove” gallery beginning at 3:30 pm, and is open to all museum guests.
Free admission | Presented by Nissan

ABOUT NISSAN FREE WEDNESDAYS

Experience NMAAM without the cost on our special Free Admission Days, sponsored by our generous partner, Nissan.
Free Wednesdays: Every first Wednesday of the month, all visitors enjoy complimentary access to the museum galleries. On these days, simply show up and immerse yourself in the history and influence of African American music at no cost!

RFID Interactive Wristbands are $5.00 each on Nissan Free Wednesdays and Community Days.
