This morning, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum and Nashville Public Library celebrated the 10th anniversary of “String City: Nashville’s Tradition of Music and Puppetry” with the debut of several new additions to the performance. String City is an exciting story of country music’s evolving history told through nearly 100 puppets, ranging from DeFord Bailey to Johnny Cash to Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift. Marionettes, rod puppetry, animation and an ever-changing set tell the story of the genre as it relates to Nashville’s transformation into Music City.

New additions to the family-friendly program include representations of Kane Brown, Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker and Chris Stapleton. The museum’s Executive Vice President of External Affairs Lisa Purcell and the library’s Assistant Director for Education and Literacy Linda Harrison spoke at today’s performance in the museum’s Ford Theater, unveiling the new additions and acknowledging the anniversary of the long-running show and collaboration.

Free to the public, String City performances will take place 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. daily this week through Saturday, July 1. There will also be an evening show of String City for adults on Thursday, June 29, titled Marionettes and Margaritas, which will begin at 7 p.m. with a cash bar available beginning at 6 p.m. Learn more about upcoming String City programs and watch a video about the making of the show’s new additions here.

String City: Nashville’s Tradition of Music and Puppetry is co-production of Nashville Public Library and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Created and presented by the Library’s Wishing Chair Productions in collaboration with the museum, String City was made possible in part by a special gift from Judy and Steve Turner to the Nashville Public Library Foundation. Through the unique public-private-nonprofit collaboration, 269 shows have been presented to nearly 48,000 school students and families at no cost.

Steve Turner, the museum’s chairman emeritus, and his wife Judy were the driving forces behind the collaboration and launch of String City in 2013, and this 10th anniversary show run is dedicated to Judy Turner. Their vision was to introduce the story of country music to new generations and instill pride in the city’s rich history.

“For Middle Tennesseans of all ages, learning about the rich history of country music and those who helped shape it not only cultivates a sense of pride in our region, but also contextualizes the significance of Nashville’s cultural contributions to American history,” said Turner.

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum collects, preserves and interprets country music and its history for the education and entertainment of diverse audiences. In exhibitions, publications, digital media and educational programs, the museum explores the cultural importance and enduring beauty of the art form. The museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, and is among the most-visited history museums in the U.S. The Country Music Foundation operates Historic RCA Studio B®, Hatch Show Print® poster shop, CMF Records, the Frist Library and Archive and CMF Press. Museum programs are supported in part by Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission and Tennessee Arts Commission.

More information about the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is available at www.countrymusichalloffame.org or by calling (615) 416-2001.