New Christian Music Museum Wows Billboard and Baptists—Here’s Why
From Billboard to The Baptist Press, Contemporary Christian Music’s (CCM) new museum is creating more than just a cloistered hum.
The new Gospel Music Association (GMA Dove Awards) initiative opened on 3 October and is now the home of some of CCM’s biggest achievers and greatest achievements.
Dubbed the C & G museum – or The Museum of Christian and Gospel Music – its stated purpose is to educate, as much as it is to entertain.
This promises to be, CGM states, “a one-of-a-kind experience that blends history, music, and faith.”
Old-school Gospel & Contemporary Christian Music now has its own museum.
The Museum of Christian and Gospel music opened on October 3.
Great seeing the work of Mahalia Jackson and an army of others represented.https://t.co/5dkUY23TuE pic.twitter.com/hU2YKxrw0j
— Rod Lampard (@rod_lampard) October 16, 2025
Self-described as “a must-see, family-friendly destination”, the massive 1,000-square-meter complex, positioned in downtown Nashville, will “showcase memorabilia”.
Artefacts include “stage-worn outfits, instruments, handwritten lyrics, and interactive experiences.”
Such as a Newsboys’ ‘Take me to your leader’ music video outfit, and Stryper’s ’80s studded spandex.
The successful mainstream Christian metal band’s “full stage costumes are there,” a complete CCM magazine walkthrough observed.
As is “a life-sized video of Michael Sweet – Stryper’s frontman – who appears on a screen to tell stories straight from the stage.”
An additional standout exhibit is the museum’s “complete tribute” to the late Carmelo Domenic Licciardello (Carman).
On display are his Bible, Champion robe, and boxing gloves from the 1985 album and 2001 Champion film, the article said.
Focal Point
“While ‘museum’ is in the title, it’s more of an interactive experience,” CCM remarked.
“After all these years, the music that moves us finally has a permanent place in this world.”
Billboard and the Baptists were just as impressed with the $15 million project.
An obvious highlight for the Baptists – and I get why – was a Martin guitar owned by Keith Green.
When the museum unpacked it, they found a “set of unfinished lyrics”, which was quickly slipped into the Keith Green display.
Billboard’s buzz expressed a fresh level of enthusiasm for this chapter in Christian history.
The music industry magazine said, “Beyond its exhibitions, the museum is designed as a space for community.”
CGM has “a coffee shop, retail space, and the 100-seat Cal Turner Hall, which will host writers’ workshops, symposiums, and intimate concerts,” Billboard explained.
Quoting renowned CCM vocalist CeCe Winans, Billboard noted that the museum is much more than a building.
“It’s a place where stories of faith, perseverance, and the power of music come alive.
“The heart of Gospel music is to uplift and point people to Jesus.”
“We now have a beautiful museum where that impact can be celebrated and remembered for years to come,” Winans declared.
Featured Artists
While the media coverage has been immense, there’s been an odd absence of content from actual CCM artists discussing the museum.
Rebecca St. James and Ginny Owens seem to be exceptions.
In an X post, dated 5 October, St. James said she was “honoured and thankful to be a part of CGM.”
I’m honored and thankful to be a part of The Museum of Christian & Gospel Music, that opened this past week in the heart of Nashville, just steps from the Ryman!
If you’re in Nashville, come experience this celebration of God’s faithfulness through music. :) pic.twitter.com/dU9sRD3MKU— RebeccaStJames (@RebeccaStJames) October 4, 2025
Owens, another major CCM pioneer, shared a picture of her book with the simple caption, “Spotted at the newly opened Museum of Christian and Gospel Music in Nashville, TN!”
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee attended the opening, alongside a range of artists.
The museum, Lee said, is “an incredibly important part of the music industry in Nashville.
He then predicted that it “would become an important part of the tourism industry as well.”
I was proud to celebrate the grand opening of the Christian & Gospel Museum in Nashville — honoring voices of faith who continue to inspire our state & nation. pic.twitter.com/e0Xnp9iMYi
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) October 6, 2025
Steve Gilreath, a music industry vet, K-LOVE on-demand co-creator, and DOVE awards producer, is the museum’s executive director.
Sharing news of his appointment on Facebook, Gilreath said,
“Building K-LOVE on demand was a great joy, but producing 10 years of Dove Award Shows had always left a warm spot for the GMA inside his soul.”
Heading up the C & G museum seems to be, he concluded, “a perfect fit.”
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