AUSTIN, Texas — The LBJ Presidential Library is set to dazzle music enthusiasts with its latest exhibition, “Music America: Iconic Objects from America’s Music History.”
Curated by the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music, in association with the New Orleans Jazz Museum and Hard Rock International, this immersive showcase celebrates the rich tapestry of American music and its cultural impact.
Grammy-nominated musician Ruthie Foster was among the first to experience the exhibit.
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She expressed her awe at the diverse musical influences showcased. Foster remarked on Texas’s unique musical environment and praised the exhibition’s reflection of this diversity.
“I had to come to really witness this. All of the different genres being represented here mean a lot,” said Foster.
The exhibition, which runs through August, features over one hundred objects representing the best of American music history.
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From Janis Joplin’s letters and Whitney Houston’s iconic costumes to Taylor Swift’s guitar, visitors will be treated to an unparalleled journey through the country’s musical heritage.
Robert Santelli, founding executive director of the Springsteen Archives, highlighted the significance of premiering the exhibition at the LBJ Presidential Library, given President Johnson’s tenure coincided with a transformative period in American music.
“Not only do we have a longstanding relationship with the library, but so much of America’s greatest music history occurred in the 1960s when President Johnson was in the White House. It seemed only natural that this exhibition, which also celebrates America’s 250th birthday in 2026, begins in Austin, one of the country’s most important music centers, and will then travel to other presidential libraries and museums across the country,” said Santelli.
The exhibition’s debut in Austin underscores the city’s status as a pivotal music hub. It is planned to tour other locations nationwide.
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Interactive elements, such as the “Song Bar,” allow visitors to immerse themselves in performances by featured artists, offering a dynamic exploration of American music’s evolution.
The director of the LBJ Library, Mark A. Lawrence, expressed his hope that the exhibition would help visitors gain a deeper appreciation of the cultural and artistic shifts during the LBJ era.
“I hope this one-of-a-kind collection will give visitors a deeper appreciation of the role music has played in the broad sweep of American history and encourage them to reflect on the LBJ era, a period of incredible cultural and artistic change,” said LBJ Library Director Mark A. Lawrence. “These iconic objects will bring that transformation to life and transport us to another time period, as only music can.”
Notably, the collection also includes items from renowned artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Prince, Madonna, and Elvis Presley, alongside artifacts like Leonard Bernstein’s baton and John Coltrane’s saxophone.
Jimmie Vaughan, brother of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, expressed the emotional impact of seeing his brother’s guitar among such esteemed company.
He hoped the exhibition would evoke a sense of pride in American cultural contributions.
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“It’s overwhelming to be in here with the musical history,” said Vaughan. “I hope that it makes him proud of America, and this is a lot of the good things that came from America’s pop culture.”
“Music America: Iconic Objects from America’s Music History” promises to be a captivating tribute to the nation’s musical legacy, inviting visitors to explore the melodies that have shaped American culture for generations.
A partial list of artists and objects include:
- Leonard Bernstein’s baton
- John Coltrane’s saxophone
- Chuck D’s handwritten lyrics to “Fight the Power”
- Gloria Estefan’s sequined dress from her 1996 tour
- Woody Guthrie’s signed “This Land is Your Land” lyrics
- Billie Holiday’s fox fur stole
- B.B. King’s guitar “Lucille”
- Madonna’s wedding dress from the “Like a Virgin” video
- Willie Nelson’s cowboy boots given to him by Gene Autry’s widow
- Elvis Presley’s 1956 Tupelo, Mississippi, concert shirt
- Prince’s “Purple Rain” shirt and “Cloud” guitar
- Bruce Springsteen’s outfit worn on the “Born in the USA” album cover
- Taylor Swift’s guitar and costume from the Taylor Swift reputation Stadium Tour
- Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Number One” guitar
EDITOR NOTE: #TBT or Turning Back Time is an award-winning series of stories by CBS Austin This Morning Anchor John-Carlos Estrada. The series will focus on the history of Central Texas and its impact on the community. If you want to share a story idea with him – email him (jcestrada@cbsaustin.com) or message him on social media via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
