Rock the Ryman will return to the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Sept. 1. Celebrating the intersection of rock & roll and country music, the second staging of the event will again honor the legacy and impact of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees who have graced the Ryman stage. The event will be hosted by 2014 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee John Oates.
Featured artists include Wynonna, YOLA, Devon Allman, ROME, Sam Bush and Spencer Sutherland, plus more to be announced. Each artist will perform songs by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees who were influential to their careers. The concert will explore how country music has shaped rock & roll and how the genre has merged with today’s Americana, country and beyond.
The event is sponsored by Gibson, the iconic American instrument brand, and Gibson Gives, its philanthropic division supporting music education and wellness initiatives worldwide.
The inaugural Rock the Ryman concert, on March 1, 2025, was hosted by Charlie Worsham. The event featured performances by The War and Treaty, Gavin DeGraw, Maddie & Tae and more.
Rock the Ryman is the latest event in a long-term collaboration between the two institutions since Ryman’s official designation as a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark in 2022. The collaboration also includes a permanent exhibit on the Ryman daytime tour that features a rotating collection of memorabilia and stories from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees who have performed on its iconic stage.
Tickets to the Rock the Ryman concert go on sale to the general public on Friday, July 31 at 10 a.m. CT at ryman.com. Proceeds from the event will help preserve and celebrate the history of rock & roll and support education initiatives at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Ryman Auditorium. More information about the Rock the Ryman concert, Rock Hall at the Ryman exhibit, daytime tours and shows can be found at the Ryman site.
New additions to the Rock Hall at the Ryman tour exhibit for summer/fall 2026 include:
- Gibson “Appetite for Destruction” Les Paul prototype played by 2012 Rock Hall inductee Slash of Guns N’ Roses. The band was inducted in their first year of eligibility. Green Day did the honors.
- Custom-made jacket by Johns of Hong Kong and a pair of J.R. Barrett boots owned and worn by James Brown, who was one of the 10 inaugural inductees in 1986. Steve Winwood inducted the Godfather of Soul.
- Silk crepe tunic worn by 1993 inductee Etta James. The blues legend was inducted on her second nomination, with k.d. lang doing the honors.
- Bob Dylan’s Branded Garments vest and leather top hat worn in 1987. Dylan was inducted in 1988, his first year of eligibility. Bruce Springsteen gave the induction speech.
- Najee Classic white tuxedo shirt, tuxedo-styled trousers, and Brassboot-branded shoes owned and worn by Jerry Lee Lewis during live performances. Like Brown, Lewis was one of the 10 inaugural inductees in 1986. Hank Williams Jr. did the honors.
Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox
Sign Up
