Marty Stuart and Autry Museum in Los Angeles Sparkle & Twang

The Autry National Center of the American West in Los Angeles has a brand new exhibit that shares the history and heart of country music. It’s like a temporary Country Music Hall Of Fame “West.” The exhibit takes you on a tour through the life and times of American Music with Sparkle and Twang: Marty Stuart’s American Musical Odyssey. The exhibition tells the story of country music icon Marty Stuart’s personal experiences with some of the most famous stars of American music, highlighting several of the greatest performers on the country, bluegrass, rockabilly, and Southern gospel scenes.

Visitors are invited to join the journey of Stuart’s life and witness the road traveled by the beloved musicians encountered along the way. Discover what life on the road really meant, and learn about the struggles and triumphs these performers experienced in order to succeed. This uniquely American collection underscores the importance of style and sound with performance costumes, handwritten lyrics, personal letters, musical instruments, and unpublished photographs of such legends as Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Porter Wagoner, Johnny Cash, and Bob Dylan. The fashion-rich collection includes such items as Elvis Presley’s sweater, Jerry Lee Lewis’s black boots, Johnny Cash’s white tuxedo, a Bob Dylan outfit, and a Patsy Cline dress. The exhibition would not be complete without a life-size dressing room and interactive performance stage. Plus, listening stations, ambient audio, and video documentaries can be found throughout.

“I made it my mission to save the historic relics of country music, not just because they were
things I loved, but to preserve them as cultural artifacts,” says Marty Stuart.

The exhibition features an entire section devoted to the life and career of Johnny Cash, including artifacts from Cash’s early career to the development of his singular style and sound. Several of
Cash’s performance outfits are on display along with his handwritten lyrics, guitars, and artifacts from the infamous gig at Folsom Prison in 1968.

The exhibition’s grand finale is a section called The Masters, featuring a full-spectrum representation of the many pioneers of sound and style. It includes wardrobe, instruments,
and personal belongings of Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, Johnny Horton, George Jones, Porter
Wagoner, Dolly Parton, Nudie and Manuel (fashion designers), Hank Williams, Jimmy Newton,
Hank Snow, Marty Stuart, and Connie Smith. These and other objects in the exhibit help carry on the legacy and history of American music.

The Autry National Center of the American West is an intercultural history center that includes the Southwest Museum of the American Indian, the Museum of the American West (formerly the Autry Museum of Western Heritage), and the Institute for the Study of the American West. Each institution maintains its individual identity; however, the convergence of resources allows the museum to expand our understanding of the diverse peoples of the American West, connecting the past with the present to inform our shared future. The Autry National Center’s executive offices are located in Griffith Park.