NMAAM

Heartbeat Saturdays
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, 2026-04-04 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-03-14 11:30 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) and 2 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!

Nissan Free Wednesdays
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.

NMAAM Presents: Sounds In Cinema
2026-05-06 03:30 - 2027-05-12 17:00, 2026-04-01 03:30 - 2027-04-07 17:00 (America/New_York)
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.
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.

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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NMAAM Presents: ARTchives
2026-04-18 17:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York)
The archive is alive. And this time, you’re in it!
On Saturday, April 18th, ARTchives transforms NMAAM into a living canvas—where art, culture, and community converge. From a curated art exhibit, live music, and the creative energy shaped by Nashville’s Black art scene — we want YOU to add your own story as NMAAM’s living ARTchitects.
Presale tickets are available now!
Get your ticket and become part of the ARTchive!

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Drummer Boy
2026-04-12 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
AfricaNashville, Fort Negley, and the National Museum of African American Music present: Drummer Boy
Drummer Boy honors the bravery of Black soldiers who played a decisive role in the outcome of the US Civil War. It acknowledges the fierce legacy of their African ancestors and the real, hard challenges these men and women faced to win their freedom. AfricaNashville will feature musicians & dancers from Guinea, South Africa, Congo and the United States, this talented group of artists will be joined by a voice over by Landry Butler as well as a Gary Burke, a descendant of USCT troops for a Q & A at the end of the performance.
This event will take place in the Roots Theater at the National Museum of African American Music (510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203), at 3pm on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
Pre-registration is required, but there is no cost to attend.
Free Registration

Parking discounts available at the 5th & Broadway retail garage. Please register your vehicle and payment information digitally with Metropolis, then enter your license plate number at the parking validation kiosks inside the museum.

R&B Bingo
2026-04-11 21:00 - 2026-04-12 12:00 (America/New_York)
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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Women In Harmony® Summit
2026-03-28 08:30 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Women in Harmony® is an intimate morning summit and signature luncheon designed to inspire women as they step confidently into positions of leadership, creativity, and cultural influence.
Join us for a powerful half-day experience featuring Grammy-winning performances, authentic conversations with industry leaders, and a beautifully curated luncheon celebrating women who are shaping the future of music and entertainment.
For more information on Women in Harmony® weekend, visit the full webpage at nmaam.org/wih.

Destiny's Child Iconic Reimagined Tribute [LATE SHOW]
2026-03-27 20:15 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Experience the songs of a generation like never before. Reimagined through the elegance of a live string quintet and the glow of thousands of candles. The Destiny’s Child: Iconic Reimagined Tribute transforms the trio’s legendary catalog into a breathtaking live experience, where beloved hits are performed by a stunning string ensemble in an intimate, candlelit setting.
Hosted at the National Museum of African American Music, this unforgettable evening celebrates the harmony, empowerment, and cultural impact of the best-selling female group of all time.
The night will feature a special guest appearance from Mathew Knowles, who will narrate the experience and share exclusive stories about the rise of the iconic trio. VIP and Front Row ticketholders will enjoy an exclusive reception with Mr. Knowles.
Bar and Concessions Available: Signature Cocktails, Elevated Snacks and Light Bites.
Dress to impress, sing along, and celebrate the songs that shaped a generation.
Location: National Museum of African American Music
Show times: 7:00 PM CST & 9.00 PM CST
Early Show:
Doors Open: 5:30 PM
VIP Reception: 6:00 PM
Concert Begins: 7:00PM
Late Show:
Doors Open: 8:15 PM
Concert Begins: 9:00 PM
VIP Reception: 10:00 PM

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Destiny's Child Iconic Reimagined Tribute [EARLY SHOW]
2026-03-27 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States

NMAAM Presents: WOVEN WIND
2026-03-26 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
Woven Wind
March 26 – June 12, 2026
NMAAM Galleries
Opening Reception: March 26, 5:00-7:00 PM
Woven Wind is a groundbreaking multidisciplinary project that explores the complex harmonies between music, memory, and the African American experience. Drawing from the Lovell Quitman archive, a collection of plantation records and Civil War-era photographs, this exhibition constructs an artistic platform for education, conversation, empathy, and healing.
Artist Vesna Pavlović, in collaboration with Courtney Adair Johnson, Marlos E’van, Mélisande Short-Colomb, Rod McGaha, Jan Hillegas, and Woody Register, weaves together photography, video, sculpture, and sound to uncover buried histories and amplify unheard voices. Archival research, community engagement, and conversations with descendants of the enslaved inform every aspect of the installation.
Central to Woven Wind is a mesmerizing soundscape composed by jazz luminary Rod McGaha, which fills the galleries and invites listeners to connect with the resilience and artistry of the African American musical tradition. Large-scale photographic tapestries and immersive video works create a powerful visual landscape that bridges past and present.
“We are thrilled to showcase Vesna’s boundary-pushing work,” says Dr. Bryan Pierce, NMAAM’s Director of Curation. “Her multisensory approach invites viewers to experience music in a whole new dimension.”
“Through Woven Wind, we aim to activate the archive and attend to the voices of the enslaved and their descendants,” adds Pavlović. “It’s an invitation to remember together and work towards healing in the present.”
Don’t miss the premiere of the Woven Wind film during the opening reception on March 26, 5:00-7:00 PM. Meet the artists and special guests Sarah Hawkins and Terry Minor Jr., descendants featured in the project, as we gather to engage with this transformative work. The exhibition will remain on view through June 12.
Woven Wind is made possible by the Vanderbilt University Provost Office Bridge Fund, The National Endowment for the Arts Grant for Arts Projects, The Tennessee Arts Commission Arts Access Grant, Vanderbilt University Scaling Success Grant, Mellon Partners for Humanities Education Collaboration Grant, Curb Center for Art, Enterprise and Public Policy Catalyst Grant, Engine for Art, Democracy, and Justice, and the Roberson Project on Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation University of the South, Sewanee. Special thanks to the Toles family for welcoming us and allowing us to listen.

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615 Battle of the Drummers
2026-03-21 12:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Marching Matters Presents: 615 Battle of the Drummers
Nashville, get ready to feel the rhythm like never before!
Join us for an electrifying showdown as some of your favorite local Nashville high school drumlines go head-to-head, alongside dynamic college drumlines bringing the heat from beyond the city! From precision cadences to explosive beats, this is all about skill, sound, and showmanship!
Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: The Roots Theater at NMAAM – 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
Parking: The 5th & Broadway Retail Garage (Metropolis) – parking discount available with license plate inside the museum.

Bring your crew, rep your school, and come experience the power of drumline culture right here in the 615!

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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 Featuring Filmmaker and Director Barbara Hall and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: The Roots Theater, National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
RSVP Here

Event Description:
Join us to honor legendary Country Music Hall of Fame artist Charley Pride on what would have been Pride’s 92nd 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 and Bob Kendrick, President of the National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
Join us before the event, beginning at 5:30 pm, for special after-hours at the Museum, featuring FREE gallery admission 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.

Barbara Hall
Barbara Hall is a lover of remarkable human stories and music. She is an Emmy nominated producer/director who brings more than 25 years of experience in all aspects of development, producing and directing original programming from both traditional television and the digital realm.
Hall is the producer/director of award winning specials, series, long form documentary films, and concerts, including for PBS: Brenda Lee: Rockin’ Around (2024), Great Performances – Patsy Cline: Walkin’ After Midnight (2024), Ann Wilson & Tripsitter: Live In Concert (2023), Great Performances – George Jones: Still Playin’ Possum (2023), Minnie Pearl: Facing The Laughter (2023), Wynona Judd: Concert from My Place (2021), Loretta Lynn: My Story in My Words (2021), Iconic Women of Country (2020), and more, and she has helmed A&E biographies of numerous artists, including Blondie, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, The Monkees, Davy Jones, and Selena.
Hall’s American Masters feature Charley Pride: I’m Just Me (2019) was No. 6 on Billboard’s Best Country Music Documentaries and her American Masters feature Patsy Cline (2018) was No. 11 on Billboard’s Best Country Music Documentaries.
Hall is also the Founder and President of Clear Cut Inc., Vice President of TH Entertainment LLC, and consults on a wide range of music related rights.
She is the recipient of the 2024 “Proof of Concept” grant for social justice film Faithful Defenders and recipient of the 2025 Nashville Women in Film & Television ALICE Awards Trailblazer award.

Bob Kendrick
Bob Kendrick was named President of the National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) in March 2011 where he is responsible for the museum’s day-to-day operations and the development and implementation of strategies to advance the mission of the 501 c3, not-for-profit organization. Since becoming President, he has helped orchestrate a more than $20 million turnaround that has helped the NLBM regain its vitality and financial stability.
Kendrick began his association with the NLBM as a volunteer in 1993 and served on the museum’s board of directors for five years where he was instrumental in shaping plans for the museum’s current home. He became the museum’s first full-time Marketing Director in 1998.
He has been responsible for the development of several signature museum educational programs and events including the Hall of Game which annually honors former Major League Baseball greats who played the game in the spirit and signature style of the Negro Leagues. In 2020, Kendrick’s “Tip Your Cap” to the Negro Leagues campaign went viral and was launched with four U.S. Presidents (Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter) celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the establishment of the Negro Leagues.
And while he doesn’t fashion himself to be a historian, Kendrick has become one of the leading authorities on the topic of Negro Leagues Baseball history and its connection to issues relating to sports, race, and diversity. He has been a contributing writer for Ebony Magazine and the national Urban League’s Opportunity Magazine.
In 2021, Kendrick teamed with SiriusXM Radio to create and host the acclaimed national podcast, “Black Diamonds.” The podcast was named the 2021 “Sports Podcast of the Year,” by Adweek. He has received national acclaim for his storytelling and narration as part of the epic inclusion of the Negro Leagues in the Sony/Playstation video game MLB The Show.
Kendrick’s list of awards and honors include the Mary Lona Diversity Award from the Greater Kansas City Black Chamber of Commerce and Citizen of the Year” from the Omicron Xi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. In 2009, The Kansas City Globe named Kendrick to the paper’s list of “100 Most Influential African Americans in Greater Kansas City.” He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. The Kansas City Call newspaper named him the “Person of the Year” in 2020. In 2021, the Beta Lambda chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity named him “Businessperson of the Year,” and he was bestowed honorary doctorate degrees from Judson University and William Jewell College, respectively.
A native of Crawfordville, Ga., Kendrick received a basketball scholarship to attend Park College (Parkville, Mo.) in 1980 and earned a B.A. degree in Communications Arts in 1985.

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Tiny Beatz
2026-03-14 10:30 - 11:30 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Join us for the second Tiny Beatz, a hands-on music and movement program designed for young learners! Children will explore rhythm, sound, and creativity through playful music-making and movement activities.
EXPERIENCE THE PROGRAM:
Rhythm Exploration Discover the joy of making music through hands-on rhythm activities
Movement & Music Develop coordination and confidence through playful movement exercises
Creative Sound-Making Explore different sounds and instruments in an interactive environment
Listening Skills Build essential listening and musical awareness through engaging activities
ADMISSION
Free with registration

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Story Soundz
2026-03-12 10:30 - 23:30 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Join us for our second Story Soundz, an interactive storytelling and music program for young learners. Children will bring stories to life through music, sound, and imagination while building early literacy skills in a fun, engaging environment.
EXPERIENCE THE PROGRAM:
Interactive Storytelling Engage with dynamic stories brought to life through sound and music
Musical Exploration Discover how rhythm, melody, and instruments enhance storytelling
Creative Expression Build listening skills, creativity, and self-expression through hands-on activities
Family-Friendly Learning Age-appropriate programming designed for young learners to explore early literacy
ADMISSION
Free with registration

Register Here

Sounds In Cinema: Zydeco Breakfast
2026-03-04 15:30 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
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.
Zydeco Breakfast is the story of one man’s inspiring journey into a world of rich musical culture in Southwestern Louisiana. It begins in a small cafe on the banks of the Bayou Teche and dives deep into the world of Zydeco music; telling the stories of some of this cultures most influential musicians, dancers and innovators.
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.

Good Aura Live: A Storm Relief Series
2026-02-28 19:00 - 23:00 (America/New_York)
In partnership with Aura Lounge and the Equity Alliance, we are proud to introduce Good Aura Live — an evening of music, unity, and impact that helps repair homes AND hearts. Our goal is to bring together music, comedy, and community to fund direct relief for individuals repairing storm-related damage to their homes. One-hundred percent of ticket sales and special cocktail proceeds go directly to a verified storm-relief grant fund. Join us for a party with purpose. Come for the party, and stay for the cause!
Date: Feb 28th
Time: 7PM – 11 PM
Donation Ticket: $20
Address: 2020 Lindell Ave Nashville, TN 37203

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Donté Everhart Presents: Legacy Live
2026-02-28 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
About Legacy Live
Join us for an all-ages, live experience that brings history, music, and legacy together in the museum. Explore the evolution of Negro spirituals, a foundational tradition in American music, and how their sound and influence continue to shape culture today. Through live music, narration, and poetic storytelling, Legacy Live reflects on our shared past and where we are going as a community.

About Donté Everhart
Born into a family of singers, instrumentalists, and religious leaders, Donté Everhart inherited his gifts from the rich musicality of his bloodline. He began his work as a musician, worship leader, and choir director for various organizations during his teenage years. Since completing his studies at the University of Memphis, Donté has traveled the world with his award-winning Christian music ensembles. He now returns to his home state of Tennessee to share the stories he has found at the intersection of music, spirituality, and legacy.
