October 9, 2020

SGMA Hall of Fame and Museum to Relocate


The Southern Gospel Music Association announces that the lease on the building housing the SGMA Hall of Fame and Museum at Dollywood will not be renewed in 2021 because of the current operating environment. The museum was opened on April 17, 1999, and exposed millions of visitors to Southern Gospel history. SGMA President, Arthur Rice, says, “Sometimes the Lord leads us to a dry hole, like He did the children of Israel in Exodus 16. We don’t want to be murmurers, but we want to be grateful for what He’s given us and trust Him to supply what we need for the future. We would like to thank Dolly Parton, Dollywood and the Herschend family for giving us a home for twenty-one years. We could not have done it without you.” The expense of dismantling the displays, storing the thousands of Southern Gospel artifacts until another location can be secured is going to be a great challenge. If you can help us during this transition, it is needed more than ever.