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Key Points The Ryman’s 'Unexpected Company' exhibit features Clint Eastwood’s 'Honkytonk Man' artifacts. Exhibited items also include memorabilia from a Patsy Cline biopic, Harry Houdini, and Aretha Franklin. The Ryman Auditorium, built in 1892, is a historic landmark for music and cultural events. Clint Eastwood’s 1982 musical western Honkytonk Man is getting a second act — this time at one of the most famous stages in the world. Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium — known as the Mother Church of Country Music — has unveiled a brand-new exhibit, “Unexpected Company,” celebrating the wide range of performers, activists, and movie stars who have stood beneath its stained-glass windows over the decades. Among the featured artifacts are Eastwood’s hat and an annotated film script from Honkytonk Man, the Depression-era drama he directed, produced, and starred in. The display marks a full-circle moment, as several scenes from the 1982 film were shot inside the Ryman itself. RELATED: Mr. Christmas Announces Holiday Residency at Ryman Auditorium Eastwood’s Nashville Legacy Set during the Great Depression, Honkytonk Man follows itinerant western singer Red Stovall (Eastwood) and his young nephew Whit (played by Eastwood’s son, Kyle Eastwood) as they travel to Nashville, where Red dreams of performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage. Though Stovall is battling tuberculosis, his raw voice and storytelling spirit earn him one last recording session before his death — a poignant tribute to the grit and grace of early country musicians. The film’s bittersweet tone and musical authenticity struck a chord with country fans, and its Ryman-filmed scenes cemented the venue’s place in movie history. Based on Clancy Carlile’s 1980 novel, the film also featured Marty Robbins, famously for the song “El Paso,” in his final screen role before his death. Red Stovall’s story was loosely inspired by the life of “Singing Brakeman” Jimmie Rodgers, one of country music’s earliest stars. RELATED: Reba McEntire on the Dark Song That Became a Surprise Fan Fave: ‘Felt Like a Sign’ ‘Sweet Dreams’ and Patsy Cline’s Hollywood Connection Also included in the Ryman’s new “Unexpected Company” exhibit is a costume worn by Jessica Lange in the 1985 biopic Sweet Dreams, which chronicled the life and tragic death of country legend Patsy Cline. Directed by Karel Reisz and written by Robert Getchell, the film co-starred Ed Harris as Cline’s husband Charlie Dick, and earned Lange an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. The movie was partially filmed at the Ryman, bringing Cline’s story back to one of the very stages where she performed in real life. Lange lip-synced to Cline’s original recordings in the film, helping to introduce her timeless hits like “Crazy” and “I Fall to Pieces” to a new generation of fans. RELATED: Hall of Fame Rock and Country Artist Dies at the Age of 79 A Century of ‘Unexpected Company’ The Honkytonk Man and Sweet Dreams artifacts join an eclectic lineup in the new exhibit, which celebrates the Ryman’s long history of hosting more than just country stars. Other highlights include: Harry Houdini’s handcuffs, used during his 1924 Nashville performance. Jackie Robinson’s memorabilia and writings, tied to his 1962 speech on civil rights and the power of the vote. Aretha Franklin’s gown, from her 2010 and 2011 Ryman concerts. A Rowlf the Dog puppet, commemorating his appearances on The Jimmy Dean Show. RELATED: Vince Gill Set for Historic, Emotional Moment at 2025 CMA Awards “Unexpected Company” is now open as part of the Ryman’s daytime tour experience. Tickets and details are available at Ryman.com/Tours. About the Ryman Built in 1892 by Captain Thomas G. Ryman, the Ryman Auditorium originally opened as the Union Gospel Tabernacle. It became the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, earning its nickname as the Mother Church of Country Music. A National Historic Landmark since 2001, the Ryman hosts more than 200 concerts annually and has appeared in numerous films and TV series, including Coal Miner’s Daughter, The Johnny Cash Show, American Idol, and Nashville.
