Well, it's the only place in the world that elevates the instrumental, sound and style unique to bluegrass music.

The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Owensboro, celebrates the genre with interactive, interactive exhibits, jam sessions, clogging lessons and events.

It's located just a few miles from the homeplace of the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe, the man who helped popularize the museum and broaden its appeal, is moving on after nine years.

Last week, RNA Shot talked to Chris Joslyn, the center's former executive director, about the museum and what's next for him.

More as we go on the road to Owensboro.

Chris, Joslyn, thank you so much for taking a few minutes.

Oh, it's a pleasure to be with you, Renee.

Thank you.

Well, so most everyone has read about your sudden departure from the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

And after nine successful years.

Right.

First of all, congratulations.

So thank you.

Absolutely.

Because you have really helped elevate this space, what it represents not to just the community, but to this state.

Right.

And ways that probably you didn't imagine, but certainly are very fruitful.

So when you look back on your nine years, what are you most proud of?

Well, I think about the people when I came here, of course, I love bluegrass music and I wanted to see this flourish, but I wanted it to flourish for the sake of this community and for the Commonwealth.

I mean, bluegrass music is so uniquely Kentucky, and I wanted to be involved in building something that just became a national and international destination for Kentucky's music because there's so much more to to discover about the Commonwealth.

Once you're here and I just wanted to play that for Owensboro, to play its part as being a gateway to all that.

So I've just loved the relationship.

So I'm very energized by that and and the connection of the people who come through the door here at the Hall of Fame.

So it's been a real joy.

Well, and it's and it's fun to watch, especially children groups, school groups come in and they get to play because there's the pickin parlor and they can put their hands on a banjo and play it.

And they become so engaged.

And it's fun for them.

And we know what music does for creativity and even the ability to perform math and science.

I mean, there's a lot of translatable skills when you have some music inclination.

There's something about the human spirit we just light up when it comes to music, play music, listening to music, participating in some form or fashion.

And bluegrass lends itself to that very well.

You're it's it's great to see that unfold before our very eyes.

Yes.

And in the nine years you've been here, I mean, this is the only Mecca, shall we say, to bluegrass music, To bluegrass music in the world, right?

I tell people we're like Tigger, we are the only one.

And so to be able to live it out like this and this building and with and with the support of so many folks around the Commonwealth has just been an absolute joy, I think.

I think bluegrass music deserves a destination like this.

The Commonwealth deserves a destination like this.

So for me it's always been about just living out more fully what's already true about Owensboro and the state of Kentucky and bluegrass music.

And I think the best is yet to come.

But it's it's it's been fun to be part of playing a small part in some of the accomplishments thus far.

Do you feel like you left anything on the table?

You did.

You put it all out there.

If you said, okay, if I had one more month or one more year, I would do x, Y, Z.

Well, as you dream, you just always, always want to dream big.

And that's that's been my goal here, being sensitive to the people on the ground right in front of me here, but also wanting to dream very big beyond the four walls of this building, beyond beyond the county line and the state line to to to point people here to to Owensboro.

And I think I think we've created some some really good momentum around that.

But I do think someone coming in with with fresh spirit and fresh eyes and fresh creativity, there's no telling how much more this can grow and really be a beacon for this genre that continues to grow.

And it's in the hands of a new generation, too.

They're just doing incredible things with that.

And we see that here weekend in, week out, international visitors to we see that weekend week out, very energizing.

So while we were setting up, while we were here, you know, taping some programs, we noticed a clogging class out in front.

Right.

We could hear them in the back.

But and they were they were mostly young people, right?

I mean, everybody looks young to me, but, you know, they look to be 20 somethings, even younger, you know, And so you think about these traditions that are suddenly and, like you say, uniquely Kentucky, that are not going to die with a generation that are be giving new life by a new generation, that's going to be really edifying.

Well, the.

Unique aspect about bluegrass music and traditional dance and all the things that we're about here, it's not really simply about entertainment.

There's a component of that that's very compelling, but it's really about connection.

It's about the human connection.

And I think that's where the really energy is.

Whether you're learning to play an instrument or coming together to learn, clogging and participate.

And we have groups here locally that that that take this dance and this music to places in our community that can't get to us.

So there's that other element of, wow, how can I use this creativity to love on other people and to invest in other people outside of the four walls of this building.

So it's just a full circle endeavor.

And and I love that I'm drawn to that personally.

Yeah.

And that's never going to leave you even though you leave this space.

The space will always be a part of you.

Right.

So tell us about your new venture.

Well, as an old country song said, you know, I was smart enough to leave my heart behind.

So my heart will always be with this music and with this community.

And we're not in a rush to leave this community.

But but when I think about investing in other people, my heart was definitely open and and I'm a person of faith.

And so I was drawn to the ministry model of an organization called Mission Lazarus that it's a faith based organization based in here in the US.

But they focus on a certain region in Honduras and in Haiti, and it's a holistic ministry approach.

Certainly it's cloaked in a biblical worldview, the Christian worldview, but trying to address some of the core issues that are that are keeping folks in poverty and barriers to helping them advance primarily education and vocational training and community health and and just seed capital micro-businesses and training and leadership training to build sustainable communities.

And in these different parts of the world, in Haiti and in Central America.

And I just love the model.

I think it's it's really investing in the future of these people in these communities.

And it will make a generational change.

So as development director, it's going to be my pleasure to tell that story and try to connect means here in the US with with funding some of those initiatives in Central America and Haiti.

And you won't be that far away.

You're just going to Tennessee.

That's right.

Yeah.

So you can still come back.

Absolutely.

Welcome.

Mat will always be out for her.

Absolutely.

And I'm a bluegrass musician first and foremost.

It's a family affair for me.

And we were coming to Kentucky long before I moved here for the music.

And I don't see that changing any time soon.

So speaking of music and the banjo in your arms.

Well, I'll sing.

I'll play if you'll.

Do a swan song.

Well, you don't want to hear me sing.

And I was anyone else.

I did not.

God did not give me a singing voice.

Well, I'll play a song that I've played many times since I came here nine years ago, and I'll let you name that tune.

It goes like this.

Beautiful rendition of my old Kentucky home and Forever It Shall be for you, friend.

Thank you so much for all you've done for the state of Kentucky.

Thank you.

Appreciate you.

God bless you.

You too.