Page 23 - The Magazine of AAA Ohio Auto Club – November 2020

William J. Purpura is editor of AAA Magazine.
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Another of his favorites is “I Loved Her First,” made famous by Heartland but written by Walt Aldridge and Elliott Park.
So where is all of this going? Gnezda says to keep your eye on artists like Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves and Tyler Childers.
“Country music has a lot of appeal to a lot of people,” said Gnezda. “That’s never going to change. That’s why it’s lasted as long as it has. Country really is American music.”
According to Gnezda, a new evolution may be coming called the Americana Movement, which brings to life storyteller songs that aren’t married to traditional country music sounds.
Are you willing to put a wager down on that bet? This could be fun to watch.
For assistance in planning a Tennessee road trip, talk to your AAA Travel agent or log on to AAA.com/Travel.
Tennessee Music Pathways
Ken Burns tells the story of “Country Music” in
his latest PBS documentary, but nothing compares to standing in the places where history was
made. The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development created a special “Country Music” Passport to help visitors discover 22 Tennessee destinations featured in the 161⁄2-hour documentary. The passport is available at any of the 16 Tennessee Welcome Centers.
Visitors can use the passport to guide their own country music pilgrimage along the newly launched Tennessee Music Pathways route, the Ken Burns Country Music Pathway. Stops include the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Memphis’ Sun Studios and more. Walk in the footsteps of legends, visit iconic places, get stamps and earn discounts and souvenirs along the way. Tennessee Tourism offers special commemorative prizes to travelers who visit five, 15 or all 22 sites included
in the Passport. Prizing is limited and includes a custom Hatch Show Print, the “Ken Burns Country Music: An Illustrated History” book and a branded Tennessee Music Pathways guitar. Passports expire Oct. 18, 2022.
For the full list of Passport locations and FAQs about the program, visit tnvacation.com/tennessee- music-pathways/passport.
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