Instructor Ed Rode celebrated with exhibition at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

MURRAY, Ky. — Murray State University’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communications (JMC) and the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business are proud to announce a major career milestone for Instructor Ed Rode. His documentary photography project, which spans more than 30 years of music history, is currently being honored with a solo exhibition at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Titled Writers, Pickers, and Stars: The Photography of Ed Rode, the exhibition offers an intimate, "behind the curtain" look at Nashville’s most iconic storytellers and players.

Rode, who serves as a full-time instructor at Murray State, has dedicated more than three decades to capturing the raw, candid moments of legendary artists. The exhibition features a curated selection of photographs from his 2024 book, Songwriter Musician: Behind the Curtain with Nashville’s Iconic Storytellers and Players. From a 1991 portrait of Chet Atkins to recent sessions with Vince Gill and Rhiannon Giddens, Rode’s work chronicles the evolution of the genre through the lens of a master documentarian. His deep roots in the industry have allowed him to capture rare scenes, such as playing snooker with John Prine or traveling across Tennessee with documentarian Ken Burns.

In addition to the ongoing exhibition, the museum will host a special "Music and Conversation" event on Feb. 28. The program will feature Rode in conversation with the museum’s Angela Stefano Zimmer, followed by performances from acclaimed songwriters Tony Arata, Matraca Berg and Don Henry—all of whom Rode has famously photographed. This celebration highlights not only Rode’s artistic achievements but also the professional expertise he brings to the classroom, where he helps shape the next generation of visual storytellers at Murray State.

The exhibition Writers, Pickers, and Stars is located in the museum’s first-floor gallery and will remain on display through August 2026. Visitors can purchase Rode’s book, Songwriter Musician, directly at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Store. For more information on the exhibition and the upcoming February program, visit the Country Music Hall of Fame website, countrymusichalloffame.org.