Marty Stuart's Priceless Collection


This appeared on WTVA.com - March 7, 2010

Country music star Marty Stuart pays a visit to the All America City. As we found out, music is not his only love in life, he also has a passion for collecting items that you can't buy just anywhere.

To many if his fans, Marty Stuart represents all things country. He said that's an honor he credits to his Magnolia State roots.

"Coming from Mississippi we had so much to choose, but I think you have to go at the end of the day with what really lives in your heart and country music is what touched my heart," Stuart said.

People usually recognize the musician, singer and songwriter for his style on and off the stage. However he said most fans don't know about one of his greatest loves, collecting memorabilia from people he said were music's greatest influences.

Stuart said, "Over here are the personal belongings of Hank Williams; Patsy Cline, the boots she passed away in; this is Roy Rogers, Jimmy C. Henry, Hank Snow, on and on. Johnny Cash's first black suit, all those kinds of treasures those are American treasures."

All treasures he said many people didn't show the respect he said he feels those things deserve.

"They were being lost and forgotten, thrown away sold in pawn shops around Nashville and it seemed way too important to me to sacrifice that part of America's story," Stuart said.

He said the items he collects don't add up to the average everyday stuff.

"There's a lot of people an older generation that understand these people and would probably pay for tickets to see some of these people perform. To a young person who's probably never been face to face with a lot of these people's legacy, it's educational, it's inspiring," Stuart said.

Stuart said that's what sparked his fascination with preserving what he said represent parts of the people he said are the music industry's inspiration of today.

Stuart said, "It's too important to turn lose, it's a great part of America's story."

He said that's the reason he will continue to gather the past for people to recall memories so that others who may not know will get a glimpse of country music history.

The items will stay on display at the Tupelo Automobile Museum until June 30, 2010.

By Kalisha Whitman


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