Marty Stuart gives collection of 22,000 artifacts to the Country Music Hall of Fame

Country star Marty Stuart has donated his massive collection of memorabilia — including a song handwritten by Hank Williams, a cowgirl costume worn by Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash's first black stage suit — to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum .

Why it matters: Stuart's stash includes more than 22,000 items that span the history of the genre. It is the largest personal collection of country music artifacts in the world, according to the museum.

The big picture: Stuart began collecting country music relics decades ago. He told " The Today Show " his passion for preservation was first ignited in an Eighth Avenue "junk shop" where he found a makeup kit labeled "Patsy Cline."

• He began saving as many mementos as he could, with help from friends like Dolly Parton, who sent a green dress she wore on "The Porter Wagoner Show."
• The end result is a collection that tells the story of country music.

What he's saying: "You can't put a price on this from a heart and soul value," Stuart told "The Today Show," noting that the items were "irreplaceable."

• "The entire culture was built upon a lot of these things," he said.

State of play: Two climate-controlled tractor-trailer truck loads brought The Marty Stuart Collection to the Hall of Fame and Museum. Additional donations will help support the storage and care of the collection.

Between the lines: Multiple financial donors pitched in to help make the acquisition possible, including the Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation and Loretta and Jeff Clarke.

Flashback: Stuart was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2020 .

• He began his own career in country music at 12, establishing himself as a mandolin and guitar prodigy. He played with Cash and other luminaries of the genre before receiving acclaim as a solo artist.
• Along the way, he emerged as one of the preeminent ambassadors of country music, helping to preserve and herald its history while welcoming newer artists into the circle.

The bottom line: At a ceremony celebrating Stuart's donation, Kyle Young, the CEO of the Hall of Fame and Museum, commended Stuart for his "extraordinary foresight and collecting skill."

• Young said the collection's arrival marked "a new chapter for the museum."

What's next: Many of the items from Stuart's collection will go on display as part of the museum's permanent exhibit on the history of country music.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with more details about the donation.

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