Early in the 1960s, as the Country Music Association's campaign to publicize country music was accelerating, CMA leaders determined that a new organization was needed to operate a country music museum and to carry out research and education activities beyond CMA's scope as a trade organization.
Tidligt i 1960'erne, samtidig med at er Country Music Associations kampagne for at udbrede kendskabet til country musik accelerede, besluttede CMA's  ledere at en ny organisation var nødvendig for at drive et country musik museum og til at udføre forskning og uddannelsesaktiviteter ud over CMA's anvendelsesområde som en brancheorganisation.