Marty Stuart’s Way Out West: A Country Music Odyssey

Exhibit Info

On View - May 25, 2017 - May 25, 2017

The GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE explores the history of country music from the unique West Coast perspective featuring artifacts from the many iconic artists who spent their time there, including Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Buck Owens. The exhibit, inspired by the title of GRAMMY winner Marty Stuart’s recent release Way Out West, is co-curated by GRAMMY Museum Executive Director Scott Goldman and Curator Nwaka Onwusa. All artifacts come from the private collection of Stuart, who also serves as guest curator.

The West Coast, and California in particular, had a huge impact on country music and artists like Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard. Through Marty Stuart’s impressive collection of one-of-a-kind artifacts, we have the opportunity to teach Museum visitors about the vast history of country music through the unique West Coast/California perspective. For many West Coast natives who visit the exhibit, they’ll learn how their Golden State inspired some of our favorite country music and artists of yesterday and today.
– Scott Goldman, GRAMMY Museum Executive Director

On display in the Museum’s Special Exhibits Gallery on the second floor through Oct. 1, 2017, the exhibit will feature artifacts such as:

• Items From Marty Stuart’s Childhood


• Handwritten Lyrics To Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” And “Man In Black”


• Cash’s Martin D-45 Guitarbuck Owens’ “Pledge To Country Music”


• Unique Wardrobe Items From America’s “Most Colorful Hillbilly Band” Maddox Brothers And Rose


• Instruments And Wardrobe Items From Marty Stuart &Amp; His Fabulous Superlatives


• Photographs Captured By Stuart


• Handwritten Lyrics And Two Incredible Guitars From Merle Haggard


• Rare Performances, Interviews, And Much More!

I consider everything associated with the GRAMMY Awards or the extended Recording Academy family to be par excellence. The GRAMMY Museum, in particular, is special to me. Their exhibits represent the best of the best from all musical walks of life. It is indeed an honor for Marty Stuart’s Way Out West: A Country Music Odyssey to be the first exhibit shown at the GRAMMY Museum pertaining to the culture of country music. I hope people walk away from the experience enlightened and entertained with a whole new appreciation for the genre and the people who’ve created it.
– Marty Stuart