The Music City Walk of Fame has announced three new inductees: multi-platinum Country artist Eric Church; Joe & Linda Chambers, co-founders of the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum; and Butch Spyridon, who after 32 years is retiring from the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.
The induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Music City Walk of Fame Park. Members of the public are invited to view the ceremony. Joe Chambers passed away on September 28, 2022, and will be inducted posthumously.
“This class of inductees represents what makes Music City special with Country artist Eric Church who is at a highpoint of his career with his music and new Lower Broadway venue, along with the Chambers, who have made it their life’s work to recognize the hard work of Nashville’s musicians through the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum,” said Kevin Lavender, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp and Executive Vice President at 5/3 Bank. “Butch is the architect of the Music City brand that has made Nashville a top global destination. He has championed many major initiatives to showcase the Music City story, including the Walk of Fame attraction. His impact on the Nashville community is undeniable.”
The induction ceremony will bestow the 98th, 99th and 100th stars on the Music City Walk of Fame. Inductees are recognized for their significant work of preserving the musical heritage of Nashville and for contributing to the world through song.
Global superstar Garth Brooks will be in attendance to induct Spyridon and the Chambers, and Church’s presenter will be announced in the weeks to come.
As the 2020 CMA Entertainer of the Year, Church is a 10-time GRAMMY nominee whose most recent chart-topping album was the Heart & Soul triple album. His 2011 Chief was a 3x Platinum-certified album that included the iconic “Springsteen.” In 2019, he set Nissan Stadium’s concert attendance record during his Double Down Tour with more than 56,000 fans and became the first artist to sell out the venue with a solo lineup. He plans to open a six-story bar, BBQ restaurant and music venue called Chief’s on Lower Broadway. Joe & Linda Chambers’ non-profit museum honors musicians of all genres of music by preserving and showcasing the historical instruments played on recorded songs. The Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium also includes the GRAMMY Museum Gallery.
Spyridon has led the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp for 32 years, guiding Music City into a top global destination with record visitation, a global reputation and world-class amenities. He branded it as Music City, making it attractive to professional sports teams and corporate relocations and elevating the quality of life by drawing world-class events, restaurants, retail and hotels. As part of the Events Industry Council Global Awards, he is a 2022 Hall of Leaders inductee, considered the lifetime achievement award in the meetings, conventions, exhibitions, hospitality and travel industry. He was named to the global Top 100 Most Influential People in the Events Industry list in 2022.
The Music City Walk of Fame was created in 2006 on Nashville’s Music Mile, a roughly one-mile stretch that connects downtown to Music Row. Permanent sidewalk medallions with the names of inductees are displayed in a star design.
The Music City Walk of Fame is an official project of Music City Inc., the charitable foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp and is produced with the support of founding sponsor Gibson. Additional sponsors include the City of Nashville and Metro Parks and Recreation. Nominations are open to the public and are accepted in the categories of Artist, Musician, Songwriter and Producer/Music Industry Executive. Application forms are reviewed by the Music City Walk of Fame anonymous selection committee.