Zac Brown Band Previews Homegrown Exhibit in Country Music Hall of Fame

After years of hard work and much-deserved success, Zac Brown Band spent the afternoon on Tuesday (7/19) going back in time at their new Homegrown: Zac Brown Band exhibit for the Country Music Hall of Fame.

During a sneak preview of the exhibit, the band and media members got to see some of the most treasured mementos from their country music journey. Starting all the way from the handwritten lyrics of “Junkyard” to a collection of awards they’ve won for their music, the exhibit moved them in a touching way that made them reflect on how far they’ve come throughout their time as a band.

“We don’t often look back to see what we’ve built. Seeing everybody and seeing everybody’s personal things, all the memories attached to every one of them, even from all of our beginnings, it’s kinda emotional for us. It’s pretty amazing what we can do as a unit together,” said Zac Brown.

The band also discussed how some of those items on display got there, whether it be from their own personal collections they’ve kept or how the significance became so strong for certain objects.

“It shouldn’t be a surprise for us that we’re so emotional because we’re all such emotional people,” bass guitarist John Driscoll Hopkins explained. “As I walked past the bass guitars that I named for my girls, I’m reminded of what those names meant to me when I named them. So now I’m having this relapse of inspiration about it and it’s like flipping through a history book or a journal, almost, and remembering why you did something in the beginning and making you revisit that emotion. It’s pretty intense and awesome.”

While talking about their past memories, the band also shined light on the future with their work on Camp Southern Ground and the developments for the campus. They plan to use the area to provide a space for a number of people, from sleepaway camps to support centers for military families to even more opportunities that will unfold as the camp opens.

One thing is for sure: Zac Brown Band is beyond grateful for all they’ve been able to do throughout their careers and the exhibit is living proof of all they’ve accomplished.

“We’re doing some things and people are paying attention. We take that seriously, first of all. Hence, that’s why we’re doing such incredible outreach by starting Camp Southern Ground. We know people are paying attention, so we’re grateful for that. But it still seems like, ‘Wow, this is really happening.’ To effect people to a level we can’t even comprehend…,” said percussionist Daniel de los Reyes.

The Homegrown: Zac Brown Band exhibit will open to the public on July 22 and will run until July 2017 at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.