Longtime Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum historian and editor Michael Gray has been promoted to vice president of museum services.Gray will be responsible for the care and management of the museum’s diverse artifact and archival collections, which include stage wear, instruments, films, photographs, recordings, a reference library and more. He will also oversee all planning, design and installation of exhibitions in the museum’s gallery spaces, as well as the museum’s online exhibits and digital archive.
Gray most recently served as executive senior director of editorial and interpretation, leading the editorial team and directing major exhibits and other special initiatives. During his more than 20 years at the museum, he has curated or co-curated a variety of significant exhibits, from the award-winning Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues, 1945-1970 and the current Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock, to biographical exhibits on Ray Charles, Sam Phillips and Kacey Musgraves.“Michael is not only an astute music historian and innovative storyteller, but also a well-respected leader within our institution and music community,” said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “His extensive knowledge, relationships and skillset are perfectly suited to continue the museum’s high level of commitment to preserving and interpreting country music and American history.”Gray’s notable recognitions include winning a Grammy for Best Historical Album as co-producer of the companion album to the Night Train to Nashville exhibit, as well as the 2021 Fletch Coke Award by the Metropolitan Nashville Historical Commission in recognition for his research and preservation work related to the rhythm & blues music scene in Nashville.“I have had the good fortune to spend the past two decades at the museum surrounded by a world-class collection, steeped in the educational and public programs we offer, and bolstered by collaborative, talented colleagues who are dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of this diverse and significant artform,” said Michael Gray. “I look forward to building on the exceptional work of my predecessor, Brenda Colladay, who set a high standard in elevating the museum and its educational mission.”
Brenda Colladay, who joined the organization as vice president of museum services in 2018, is stepping down from the role. She will remain on staff through mid-January to assist with the transition.An accomplished public history professional, Colladay led a variety of successful initiatives during her tenure, including a historically sensitive renovation of RCA Studio B and the expansion of the museum’s digital archive. She also guided the development and implementation of a number of exhibits, including the museum’s current major exhibit Western Edge and the museum’s first online exhibits, including Suiting the Sound: The Rodeo Tailors Who Made Country Stars Shine Brighter.“Beyond her many contributions seen and felt by our visitors, Brenda was instrumental in assembling a top-notch team of professionals to care for our unduplicated collection and making it more accessible to music scholars, researchers and fans,” said Young. “We thank her for her dedicated service and numerous advancements, and we wish her the best in her future endeavors.”
