Country music legend and trailblazer Charley Pride will forever be immortalized as a bronze statue joining the likenesses of Loretta Lynn, Bill Monroe, and Little Jimmy Dickens—as part of the Ryman’s Icon Walk on Wednesday, March 29th. This portion of the Ryman’s exterior property recognizes legends who have paved the way for Nashville performers. The statues of Bill Monroe and Little Jimmy Dickens were added in 2017 as part of the Ryman’s 125th anniversary, with Lynn’s joining in 2020. The statues, sculpted by artist Ben Watts, take one year to create.

When: Wednesday, March 29 | Media Check-in: 2:00 PM | Event Begins 2:30 PM

Where: Ryman Auditorium, 116 5th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219

Who: Pride’s beloved wife of over 60 years Rozene Pride and Charley’s son Dion Pride will be in attendance, along with Ryman Hospitality Properties CEO Colin V. Reed, Charley Pride fans, and more! The event is open to the public.

Why: During his 50+ years as a recording artist, Charley Pride enjoyed one of the most successful careers in country music history and is credited with helping break color barriers by becoming the first black superstar within the genre.

A global sensation, he sold tens of millions of records worldwide with his large repertoire of hits. A three-time GRAMMY® award and Recording Academy “Lifetime Achievement Award” winner, Pride garnered no less than 41 chart-topping country hits, including “Kiss An Angel Good Morning,” a massive #1 crossover hit that sold over a million singles and helped Pride land the Country Music Association’s “Entertainer of the Year” award in 1971 and the “Top Male Vocalist” awards of 1971 and 1972.

A proud member of the Grand Ole Opry, Pride performed concerts worldwide and toured the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand over the course of his career. In recent years, he received the Crossroads Of American Music Award at the 2019 GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi Gala in November of 2019, and the Country Music Association’s Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award one year later in November 2020.

On December 12, 2020, Pride died at the age of 86 from complications due to COVID-19. In 2021, CMT celebrated his life and impact as a musical pioneer with CMT Giants: Charley Pride. His memory and storied legacy continue to live on through his vast library of stories and songs, with forthcoming plans for a number of posthumous projects.

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Country music legend and trailblazer Charley Pride will forever be immortalized as a bronze statue joining the likenesses of Loretta Lynn, Bill Monroe, and Little Jimmy Dickens—as part of the Ryman’s Icon Walk on Wednesday, March 29th. This portion of the Ryman’s exterior property recognizes legends who have paved...