07/31/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame to Celebrate Grand Reopening Sept. 26
Free Daylong Celebration Featuring Live Music, Museum Tours, Food Trucks and a Hometown Finale by The Swon Brothers
MUSKOGEE, Okla. (July 31, 2026) — After a 16-month renovation, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame & Museum will celebrate its Grand Reopening with a free day of live music, museum tours, vendor booths, food trucks and special events on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Located in the historic 1903 Frisco Freight Depot in downtown Muskogee, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame has celebrated Oklahoma’s rich musical heritage since opening its museum there in 2003. Since its founding, the Hall of Fame has inducted 166 artists, groups and music industry professionals representing genres including folk, blues, rock, jazz, R&B, Broadway and classical music, as well as songwriters, educators, promoters and journalists whose contributions have helped shape Oklahoma’s music legacy.
Made possible through a partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the City of Muskogee, the renovation transformed the Hall of Fame into an interactive destination celebrating Oklahoma music while carefully preserving the character and history of the landmark Frisco Freight Depot. Visitors will experience interactive displays, an interactive album cover design station where guests can create personalized album artwork, the new Origins Listening Room honoring Oklahoma songwriters, a recording studio, an expanded catering kitchen and a state-of-the-art performance stage. Throughout the renovation, many of the depot’s original architectural features were preserved, creating a unique blend of Oklahoma’s musical heritage and the building’s historic past.
In 2024, Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell met with the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors to begin planning the renovation project.
“The excitement around Oklahoma music is at an all-time high. From well-known icons to up-and-coming homegrown stars, Oklahoma’s musical talent can’t be beat, and there’s never been a better time to reimagine how we tell these artists’ stories. The new, state-of-the-art Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame will do just that,” Pinnell said.
Tony Corbell, executive director of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, said the renovated facility is designed to serve both as a museum and as a destination for community events. “In addition to the musical history presented here in the numerous digital kiosks and video presentations, the building has been re-designed as a great venue and stage for events and celebrations. From fund-raising meetings and reunions, to civic organization events, even wedding receptions, the Hall of Fame offers a great choice for gatherings of all kinds, large and small,” Corbell said.
The renovation was designed by Tulsa-based Narrate Design. Hampton Creative, also based in Tulsa, led the Hall of Fame’s rebranding efforts, including development of its new logo and visual identity. A.C. Owen Construction served as general contractor, working with numerous subcontractors from the Muskogee area throughout the renovation.
The Grand Reopening celebration begins at 1 p.m. with free admission, live performances by local, regional and nationally recognized artists, museum tours, vendor booths and food trucks. A ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell is scheduled for 4 p.m.
The community celebration is sponsored in part by Visit Muskogee, the city’s official tourism organization, whose support is helping welcome visitors from across Oklahoma and beyond to experience the newly renovated Hall of Fame.
The celebration concludes with a performance by Muskogee natives and former finalists on NBC’s The Voice, The Swon Brothers. The nationally recognized country duo has toured with artists including Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley and has written songs recorded by fellow Oklahoman Blake Shelton. Recipients of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame’s 2013 Rising Star Award, their return to Muskogee will serve as the finale to the Hall of Fame’s Grand Reopening celebration.
The inaugural class of inductees in 1997 included Merle Haggard, Woody Guthrie, Patti Page and Claude “Fiddler” Williams. Other notable inductees include Vince Gill, Leon Russell, Gene Autry, J.J. Cale, Wanda Jackson, Kristin Chenoweth, Byron Berline, Jimmy Webb, Jim Keltner, Hoyt Axton and The Turnpike Troubadours. The Hall of Fame also recognizes outstanding emerging Oklahoma talent through its Rising Star Award.
The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame & Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, promoting and celebrating Oklahoma’s rich musical heritage.
For more information, visit www.music hall.com
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Carol Matza
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