The Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, located in
Carthage in
Panola County in
East Texas, honors those who have made outstanding contributions to
country music and were born in the state of
Texas.[1] This includes singers, songwriters, disc jockeys, and others.[2]
In the center of the exhibit area, a replica of a 1930s
theatermarquee reminds visitors of the role of country music in film. A
juke box nearby allows visitors to select the country songs that they wish to hear played while touring the museum.
The marquee serves as the entrance to the
Tex Ritter Museum.[3] A native of Panola County, Ritter was one of the first singers inducted into the hall of fame when it was established in 1998. It also has an exhibit on Ritter's son,
John Ritter.[4]