StarWalk facts for kids
The StarWalk was a special outdoor display in Nashville, Tennessee. It honored famous country music artists who had won Grammy Awards. Imagine a sidewalk where stars left their handprints and personal messages in cement! It was a bit like the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, but for country music legends.
What Was the StarWalk?
The StarWalk project was a team effort. It was created by the Fountain Square entertainment area and the Nashville branch of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. Fountain Square was a big place with shops, businesses, and fun things to do. The StarWalk plaques formed a low wall along a pretty path next to a lake. Each plaque was framed in shiny brass. They were quite large, about 3 feet by 6 feet, and weighed a heavy 700 pounds!
Honoring Music Stars
The StarWalk officially started with a big party on January 27, 1987. At this event, the first 10 artists chosen for the StarWalk were announced. These included popular groups and singers like Alabama, Chet Atkins, the Charlie Daniels Band, Crystal Gayle, Loretta Lynn, Ronnie Milsap, the Oak Ridge Boys, Jerry Reed, Conway Twitty, and Dottie West.
The first ceremony to place the plaques happened in August 1987. By then, 50 artists had been chosen! Most of them came in person to leave their unique handprints and messages. Some of the other famous names added that day were Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash, Tammy Wynette, Wynonna and Naomi Judd (known as The Judds), Lynn Anderson, and Ricky Skaggs.
The plan was to add five new Grammy-winning artists every year. The original wall had space for 150 plaques, and there was even room to make it bigger later. More stars joined the StarWalk over the years, including Dolly Parton (in 1988), Jeannie C. Riley (1989), the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1990), Garth Brooks (1992), Emmylou Harris (1993), Brooks & Dunn, and Earl and Randy Scruggs (1997).
Where Did It Go?
In the early 1990s, the StarWalk moved to a new home at the Opryland theme park. But Opryland closed its doors in December 1997. After that, the plaques were moved again. They were placed outside the famous Grand Ole Opry House. Eventually, the StarWalk display was taken down for good without much fuss.
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