StarWalk

The StarWalk in Nashville, Tennessee was an outdoor display of cement plaques honoring country music artists who had won Grammy Awards.[1] Honorees left handprints and other personal markings along with written messages in the cement in the manner of Grauman's Chinese Theatre.[1] At its opening, it was touted as "the country music equivalent to the Hollywood Walk of Fame".[2]

Background

The StarWalk project was a joint venture of the Fountain Square entertainment district and the Nashville branch of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences.[2] Fountain Square was a large area developed for business, shopping, and entertainment by Aladdin Resources Inc.[1] The cement plaques formed a low wall running along a scenic lakeside pedestrian path.[1] Each plaque was framed in brass, measured 3'×6', and weighed 700 pounds.[1]

Honorees

An announcement gala was held on January 27, 1987 to promote the project and reveal the first 10 inductees: Alabama, Chet Atkins, the Charlie Daniels Band, Crystal Gayle, Loretta Lynn, Ronnie Milsap, the Oak Ridge Boys, Jerry Reed, Conway Twitty, and Dottie West.[1] The inaugural ceremony in August 1987 brought the number up to a total of 50, and most of them arrived in person to leave their marks. Beyond the 10 previously announced, inductees included Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash, Tammy Wynette, Wynonna and Naomi Judd, Lynn Anderson, and Ricky Skaggs.[2]

The developers planned to induct five past or future Grammy winners every year.[1] The original wall had room for 150 commemorative plaques, and space had been set aside for expansion.[1] Later inductees included Dolly Parton (1988),[3] Jeannie C. Riley (1989),[4] the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1990),[5] Garth Brooks (1992),[6] Emmylou Harris (1993),[7] Brooks & Dunn, and Earl and Randy Scruggs (1997).[8]

Later years

By the early 1990s, the StarWalk had been transferred to a new home at Opryland theme park.[6] After that venue closed in December 1997, the plaques were moved to locations outside the Grand Ole Opry House.[4][9] The display was eventually retired and removed without fanfare.

See also

References
  1. "A Permanent Shrine for Country Music Grammy Winners" (PDF). Cashbox. February 7, 1987. pp. 24, 27. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  2. "Country Music Stars Initiate Sidewalk Memorial". APNews.com. August 5, 1987. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  3. Staff (February 17, 1988). "Dolly Parton leaves prints at Star Walk". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, California. p. A2. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. Mayor, Alan (2014). The Nashville Family Album: A Country Music Scrapbook. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 76–77. ISBN 978-1466885677.
  5. Hurst, Jack (July 19, 1990). "Variety Works". Chicago Tribune.
  6. Goldsmith, Thomas (March 19, 1992). "New stars travel Starwalk". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. p. 41. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  7. Mayor, Alan (2014). The Nashville Family Album: A Country Music Scrapbook. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 84–85. ISBN 978-1466885677.
  8. Filippo, Chet (August 9, 1997). "Nashville Scene". Billboard. p. 24.
  9. Chappell, Susan (2000). The Opryland Insider's Guide to Nashville. New York: Random House. p. 19. ISBN 0345408837.
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