Autographed Guitars Were Auctioned
Prior to Josh Turner’s Headline Performances


Pictured following the auctions are: (l. to r.) – Ryan Hallquist, the Museum’s Manager of Advancement,
Major Gifts; Mike Jason, StarVista LIVE President/Country Music Cruise Executive Producer;
winning bidders Jeff King and Eric Blankenship; and Mike Robertson, Country Music Cruise Executive Producer.
Photo credit: Sam Kerrigan/StarVista LIVE

Generous patrons – or Cruisers, as they are affectionately known – on last week’s sold-out Country Music Cruise 2026 raised almost $58,000 for the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s nonprofit mission of preserving the history of country music and making it broadly accessible to a global audience. 

Two acoustic guitars were autographed by artists performing on this year’s cruise and sold during a live auction prior to Josh Turner’s two headline performances on board Holland America’s m/s Eurodam ship. Both guitars were signed by Country Music Hall of Fame members Randy Owen of Alabama, Jimmy Fortune of The Statler Brothers, and Patty Loveless, as well as Turner, T. Graham Brown, Linda Davis, David Frizzell, Wade Hays, The Malpass Brothers, Neal McCoy, Chuck Mead, Shenandoah, and others. 

Successful bidders of each guitar were also presented a complimentary Honor Society membership to the Museum, which includes an invitation to its exclusive Medallion Ceremony, the annual induction of new Country Music Hall of Fame members.

The Country Music Cruise offered more than 100 live and unforgettable performances in seven venues throughout the week. Cruisers socialized with their favorite artists at meet-and-greets and had unprecedented opportunities to meet and mingle with the stars aboard the ultimate Country Music Party at Sea. A very special Grand Ole Opry at Sea performance returned for 2026. Popular television personality Nan Kelley returned to bring insightful interviews and artist introductions, and acclaimed chef Kevin Belton made his debut on the cruise and created unforgettable signature dishes and desserts on the ship. 

Reservations for next year’s seven-day cruise will be available beginning Thursday, February 12, 2026 at https://countrymusiccruise.com.

About StarVista LIVE:  StarVista LIVE creates unique entertainment experiences that bring fans together to relive their favorite moments, create new memories, and enjoy unparalleled access to the superstars they love. StarVista LIVE cruise events include the Malt Shop Memories Cruise, the Soul Train Cruise, the Country Music Cruise, the Flower Power Cruise, the ‘70s Rock and Romance Cruise, the Sandy Beaches Cruise, the Ultimate Disco Cruise, the Big Easy Cruise, and Abbey Road on the River festival. 

Additional information about StarVista LIVE can be found at:

www.StarVistaLIVE.com

https://www.facebook.com/StarVista-LIVE

https://www.linkedin.com/company/starvista-live

About the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum:  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. Among the most-visited history museums in the United States, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was awarded the country’s highest honor in the arts, the National Medal of Arts, in 2024. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, 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 Country Music Foundation operates Historic RCA Studio B®, Hatch Show Print® poster shop, Haley Gallery, CMA Theater, CMF Records, the Frist Library and Archive and CMF Press. 

More information about the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is available at www.countrymusichalloffame.org.

 

 

 

 

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Autographed Guitars Were Auctioned Prior to Josh Turner’s Headline Performances Pictured following the auctions are: (l. to r.) – Ryan Hallquist, the Museum’s Manager of Advancement, Major Gifts; Mike Jason, StarVista LIVE President/Country Music Cruise Executive Producer; winning bidders Jeff King and Eric Blankenship; and Mike Robertson, Country Music Cruise Executive Producer. Photo credit:...