Country Music Hall of Fame to Undergo Multi-Million Dollar Expansion

Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum had to go through an unexpected -- and unwelcome -- renovation earlier this year after flood waters damaged parts of the famous building. Now the fully-recovered landmark, which houses some of the most historical artifacts in music history, is planning a multi-million dollar expansion which will allow even more memorabilia, and ensure the museum will attract music lovers for generations to come.

Plans were recently announced to connect the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum with a new hotel and convention center, as part of a more than $30 million dollar plan that was approved last week. As part of the elaborate design, the renowned museum would connect to a brand-new hotel, currently being built by Omni Hotels & Resorts. The increased property would also boast another entrance in addition to the one currently located on Fifth Street in downtown Nashville. The combined new project will become the headquarters hotel for the Music City Center.

While the project is being coordinated by Omni, the museum will pay for the expansion through a 60-year lease to Nashville's Convention Center Authority to the tune of one payment of $500,000 each year for the next 60 years.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has received much recognition and financial help thanks in part to Keith Urban's outspoken commitment to preserving the legacy of the famous site. The triple-Grammy winner has hosted two 'All for the Hall' concerts, raising around $1 million for the site, with help from performances by Taylor Swift, John Mayer, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Little Big Town and several others.

Former duo Brooks & Dunn also made a large financial contribution to the Hall of Fame and Museum earlier this year, when the pair generously donated the proceeds from their sold-out farewell show. "We're really proud of the Hall of Fame and everything it stands for," Ronnie Dunn explains. "It's really cool that we have it here in Nashville and are very proud of the heritage that comes with it."

Currently, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosts items from Tammy Wynette, Elvis Presley, The Statler Brothers, Mother Maybelle Carter, Barbara Mandrell and dozens more of country music's most famous faces through the years.

The Music City Center is scheduled for a 2013 grand-opening.