The '''StarWalk''' in Nashville, Tennessee, was an outdoor display of cement plaques honoring country music artists who had won Grammy Awards.<ref name="Cashbox">{{Cite magazine |date=February 7, 1987 |title=A Permanent Shrine for Country Music Grammy Winners |url=http://mirror.thelifeofkenneth.com/sites/www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/80s/1987/CB-1987-02-07.pdf |magazine=Cashbox |pages=24, 27 |access-date=February 17, 2019 }}</ref> Honorees left handprints and other personal markings along with written messages in the cement in the manner of Grauman's Chinese Theatre.<ref name="Cashbox"/> At its opening, it was touted as "the country music equivalent to the Hollywood Walk of Fame".<ref name="AP1987">{{Cite web |url=https://www.apnews.com/6fdce423ff3e624e016d874602627495 |title=Country Music Stars Initiate Sidewalk Memorial |date=August 5, 1987 |website=APNews.com |accessdate=February 17, 2019 }}</ref>
== Background == The StarWalk project was a joint venture of the Fountain Square entertainment district and the Nashville branch of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences.<ref name="AP1987"/> Fountain Square was a large area developed for business, shopping, and entertainment by Aladdin Resources Inc.<ref name="Cashbox"/> The cement plaques formed a low wall running along a scenic lakeside pedestrian path.<ref name="Cashbox"/> Each plaque was framed in brass, measured 3'×6', and weighed 700 pounds.<ref name="Cashbox"/>
== Honorees == An announcement gala was held on January 27, 1987, to promote the project and reveal the first 10 inductees: Alabama, Chet Atkins, the Charlie Daniels Band, Crystal Gayle, Loretta Lynn, Ronnie Milsap, the Oak Ridge Boys, Jerry Reed, Conway Twitty, and Dottie West.<ref name="Cashbox"/> The inaugural ceremony in August 1987 brought the number up to a total of 50, and most of them arrived in person to leave their marks. Beyond the 10 previously announced, inductees included Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash, Tammy Wynette, Wynonna and Naomi Judd, Lynn Anderson, and Ricky Skaggs.<ref name="AP1987"/>
The developers planned to induct five past or future Grammy winners every year.<ref name="Cashbox"/> The original wall had room for 150 commemorative plaques, and space had been set aside for expansion.<ref name="Cashbox"/> Later inductees included Dolly Parton (1988),<ref>{{Cite news |author=Staff |date=February 17, 1988 |title=Dolly Parton leaves prints at Star Walk |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7111464/dolly_parton/ |newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun |location=San Bernardino, California |page=A2 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122024717/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7111464/dolly_parton/ |archive-date=January 22, 2019 |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> Jeannie C. Riley (1989),<ref name="Mayor77">{{Cite book |last=Mayor |first=Alan |year=2014 |title=The Nashville Family Album: A Country Music Scrapbook |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1jGlBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA77 |location=New York |publisher=St. Martin's Press |pages=76–77 |isbn=978-1466885677 }}</ref> the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1990),<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1990-07-19-9003010080-story.html |title=Variety Works |author=Hurst, Jack |date=July 19, 1990 |website=Chicago Tribune }}</ref> Garth Brooks (1992),<ref name="Goldsmith">{{Cite news |last=Goldsmith |first=Thomas |date=March 19, 1992 |title=New stars travel Starwalk |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28981519/starwalk/ |newspaper=The Tennessean |location=Nashville, Tennessee |page=41 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301230809/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28981519/starwalk/ |archive-date=March 1, 2019 |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> Emmylou Harris (1993),<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mayor |first=Alan |year=2014 |title=The Nashville Family Album: A Country Music Scrapbook |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1jGlBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA84 |location=New York |publisher=St. Martin's Press |pages=84–85 |isbn=978-1466885677 }}</ref> Brooks & Dunn, and Earl and Randy Scruggs (1997).<ref name="Filippo">{{Cite magazine |last=Filippo |first=Chet |date=August 9, 1997 |title=Nashville Scene |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2AkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA24 |magazine=Billboard |page=24 }}</ref>
== Later years == By the early 1990s, the StarWalk had been transferred to a new home at Opryland theme park.<ref name="Goldsmith"/> After that venue closed in December 1997, the plaques were moved to locations outside the Grand Ole Opry House.<ref name="Mayor77"/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Chappell |first=Susan |year=2000 |title=The Opryland Insider's Guide to Nashville |location=New York |publisher=Random House |page=19 |isbn=0345408837 }}</ref> The display was eventually retired and removed without fanfare.
== See also == * Music City Walk of Fame
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Awards established in 1987 Category:Tourist attractions in Nashville, Tennessee Category:Walks of fame Category:Music of Nashville, Tennessee