KENTUCKY — Nestled along a quiet Kentucky highway in Renfro Valley stands an ornate, red building that's home to some of Kentucky music’s best talents.

John Lair, a Renfro Valley radio host and songwriter, said that time stands still in the charming Rockcastle county town.

"It's not merely a figment of the imagination, just a name dreamed up for a radio program," Lair said. "Renfro Valley is a real honest-to-goodness place down near the Hill Country."

Renfro Valley is home to The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The nostalgic hall opened in 2002 with a vision of bringing recognition to Kentuckians who have made a significant contribution to the music industry.

Just shy of 20,000 square feet, the museum is all about promoting music, according to its director Avery Bradshaw.

"We have over 60 inductees into the Hall of Fame and a really nice museum," Bradshaw said. "There's something for everybody here. Of course, it's all about music, Kentucky artists, singer songwriters, broadcasters, and we take a lot of pride in the museum and in the Hall of Fame itself."

A collection of artifacts and memorabilia highlighting the careers of music greats fill the museum. Familiar faces from past and present line the walls of each room, showcasing the great music talents born and raised in Kentucky.

"This is pretty much the highest honor that Kentucky can give to an artist being inducted into the Hall of Fame," Bradshaw said. "It's a huge honor for all of them and they all always want to come back and help out. And so it's a really good community thing. And it means a lot to be recognized by your home state as well."

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed things a bit, the hall of fame remains open 7-days a week, offering a safe experience for those who want to relive Kentucky music history.

"We have hand sanitizing stations all throughout the museum. If you touch something, one of the interactive displays, you can wash your hands. Everything's clean, sanitized, and so we try to take every precaution that we can. And we have a zero-incident report so far," Bradshaw said.

The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame; a hidden gem dedicated to promoting, preserving, and protecting the integrity of its inductees, with the honor, dignity, and respect that great Kentuckians deserve.