This spring, Nashville audiences will have multiple chances to hear from Dr. Don Cusic, one of country music’s most celebrated historians, as he appears at a series of events across the city bringing country music history to life through scholarship, storytelling, and film.
Howdy! The Minnie Pearl Story — co-authored with fellow historian Dr. Mary Ellen Pethel and the recent recipient of a prestigious Tennessee history book award — anchors many of these appearances. The book chronicles the life and legacy of Minnie Pearl, the Grand Ole Opry star whose humor and warmth helped define the genre for generations.
Upcoming Appearances:
March 30 — Tennessee State Museum Luncheon (Book Award Celebration)
Dr. Cusic and co-author Dr. Pethel will be honored at the Tennessee State Museum in celebration of Howdy! The Minnie Pearl Story receiving a Tennessee history book award. The event highlights the cultural significance of Minnie Pearl’s life and career, as well as the research and storytelling behind the book.
March 31, 1:00 p.m. — History Club at Fort Negley
At Fort Negley, Dr. Cusic will present to the History Club, offering a deeper dive into Nashville’s historical landscape and the figures who shaped its identity, blending regional history with country music heritage.
March 31, 5:00–7:00 p.m. — Documentary Screening: Jo Walker-Meador | Country Music Association
This special evening features a documentary on Jo Walker-Meador, the pioneering executive who helped transform the CMA and expand country music’s national reach — growing country radio exposure from just dozens of stations to thousands nationwide. Dr. Cusic, whose work spans the full arc of country music’s rise as an industry, will provide insight and commentary connecting her legacy to the broader evolution of the genre.
April 8, 6:30 p.m. — RCA Studio B: The Legacy of Minnie Pearl
Part of the ongoing Curb Lecture Series presented in partnership with the Metro Historical Commission, this event at the iconic RCA Studio B features Dr. Cusic delivering an in-depth talk on Minnie Pearl’s life, career, and lasting influence on country music and American culture. Admission is $10, with proceeds benefiting the Nashville Historic Foundation.
About Don Cusic
Dr. Don Cusic is an acclaimed American author, songwriter, and record producer, widely regarded as a leading historian of U.S. popular music. He has written more than 30 books — primarily focused on country music — including biographies of Eddy Arnold, Roger Miller, Chet Atkins, and Gene Autry, as well as a lyrics collection featuring Merle Haggard.
Cusic served as a consultant for Ken Burns’ documentary series Country Music and holds the position of Curb Professor of Music Industry History at Belmont University, where his former students include Brad Paisley and Chris Young.
In 2022, Cusic was inducted into the Western Music Association Hall of Fame for his lasting contributions to the preservation of American music history.
About The Nashville Historical Foundation (NHF)
The Nashville Historical Foundation is a nonprofit friends group that supports historic preservation projects and community education through Nashville Sites and other programs. A 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation assists the Metro Historical Commission in efforts to identify, protect, study, and interpret Nashville’s history. For more information, visit nashvillehistoricalfoundation.org.