A FEW MOMENTS WITH BEN HALL OF THE COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME
Starting with this year’s sailing of The Country Music Cruise, we have a new beneficiary of our charity events. It’s the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. There can’t be anyone onboard the Country Music Cruise who questions the mission of the Country Music Hall of Fame. It feels like it’ll be a long partnership.
Now let’s hear from the Hall of Fame’s Vice-President of Development, Ben Hall, who joined us this year onboard the cruise. He’ll tell us a little more about how the Hall of Fame fulfills its mission and about his role.
We see your cell phone has a Mississippi area code. Is Mississippi your home state?
Sure is. A little town near Tupelo called Okolona. If anyone’s heard of it, it’s because there was a Bobbie Gentry song, “Okolona River Bottom Band.” She grew up around there, too.
What brought you to Nashville and then the Country Music Hall of Fame?
I came to Belmont University and I met country singer Charlie Louvin. This was near the end of his life when there was a resurgence in interest in him. I fell in with the Country Music Hall of Fame through Charlie. I was still studying at Belmont, but I was a volunteer at the Hall. Operating the elevator. Manning the box office. Anywhere they needed me.
The Hall was in expansion mode. They’d moved downtown from Music Square. Then a full-time position opened up in what we call the Development office. All told, I’ve been with the Hall for sixteen years.
And 2025 was your first Country Music Cruise?
Yes, and now I’m sorry I missed the others. There are a couple of guys at StarVista who look after the cruise, Mike Jason and Mike Robertson. Mike Robertson called to say that they were looking for a new charitable relationship. Of course, we were happy for it to be us. They invited me to come onboard and I was blown away by the quality of the line-up. The staff, too. The way it all runs so smoothly. I know what goes into planning just ONE event…on LAND! Talking to people onboard, I think everyone completely understands and supports the Hall of Fame’s mission and what it stands for. We’re a natural fit.
What was your first impression when you walked on-board?
I knew I was going to love it when I stepped on the elevator. The playlist was a survey of country music history. The first song up was the Browns’ “I Heard the Bluebird Sing,” and you don’t hear that song so much these days.
And the highlight for you?
I guess it was Jimmy Fortune. I love the way he relates to a crowd. It’s so natural. You can’t fake that. He’s a Hall of Fame medallion winner from his years with the Statler Brothers and it was so great to see the way he was honored by the audience as much as the way he honors the music. At the Hall, we’ve loved him forever. We couldn’t have a better ambassador.
During the auction to benefit the Hall, one of the guitars fetched $40,000 and the other fetched $50,000. Did that surprise you?
Man, did it ever! All the artists signed it so readily and with such passion. It was a spirited auction. All the guests were so into it, whether they were bidding or not. It was so gratifying to see everyone honoring the Hall.
And then you played the guitars.
I’ll tell you that came about. All the guests know Chuck Mead. Apparently, he’s the only artist who has been on every Country Music Cruise. Chuck’s wife, Brenda Colladay, worked for the Hall of Fame for five years as Vice-president of Museum Services. She was with Chuck and she knew that I play guitar, so she told Mike Jason that I should play a lick or two to show that these were real guitars and not props. It just became a fun moment. The host developed a little schtick to introduce me and I’ve never turned down an opportunity to pull a thumb-pick out of my pocket and play some Merle Travis.
In case anyone’s wondering, I should point out that those were not instruments from the Hall of Fame’s collection. We don’t give those away under any circumstances. The guitars we auctioned came from the Gibson Guitar company. They were new and unplayed, at least until I got hold of them!
Can you talk a little about what the Hall of Fame will do with the proceeds?
We’re a 501c3. We’re chartered as an educational institution. That’s where the money goes. You can see it most visibly in the exhibitions. People from across the country and around the world can learn the history and cultural significance of our music. We had nearly one-and-a-half million visitors last year. We try to educate generation after generation. We do it at the Hall itself. We do it in classrooms. And we do it virtually. We have K through 12 music programs. We see it as social and emotional learning through music. Most of our programs are free-of-charge. We’ve seen our programs bring students out of their shells. Writing songs, which is part of our programming, can do that.
And of course, we maintain the archive. The records, clothes, business records, instruments, memorabilia, and so on. We keep it all in a public trust.
Can guests look forward to seeing you next year?
I hope so! It was so great to be in such close proximity to country music’s biggest fans. Usually, when I go out to explain the Hall of Fame’s mission, there will be people in the audience who don’t get it. Everyone on the Country Music Cruise got it! So, yes, If I’m invited, I’ll be there!
- Colin Escott © 2025
Born in England, Colin wrote the definitive biography of Hank Williams, subsequently adapted into a movie starring Tom Hiddleston. He also wrote Good Rockin’ Tonight—Sun Records and the Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll. His work has appeared in many magazines, and he has won two Grammys for historical sets. He also cowrote the hit Broadway show Million Dollar Quartet.