Bill Anderson knew that he was passionate about music “when I couldn’t turn it off.”

“I don’t know if it was chasing me or if I was chasing it,” Anderson said of music. “But fortunately, we caught each other.”

Known by his famous nickname “Whisperin’ Bill,” legendary singer-songwriter’s work is a staple to country music, and spans genres across the music industry. On Thursday evening (December 2), the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum celebrated its newest exhibit opening, Bill Anderson: As Far as I Can See. Its name references “City Lights,” Anderson’s song that he wrote from the top of a hotel overlooking the stoplights in Commerce, Georgia: “A bright array of city lights as far as I can see / The great white way shines through the night for lonely guys like me.” The latest attraction officially opened Friday (December 3), and runs through March 19, 2023.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum marked the occasion with a star-studded lineup performing some of Anderson’s songs. Trisha Yearwood took the stage singing “Once A Day,” followed by Vince Gill’s rendition of “Which Bridge To Cross (Which Bridge To Burn),” and a duet of “Whiskey Lullaby” by Jon Randall and Carly Pearce.

Speaking with iHeartRadio on Thursday, Anderson reflected on seeing the exhibit in his honor for the first time. He told his kids, with a laugh: “I said, if I went and done all this, no wonder I’m so tired. It’s been a lot of years, a lot of miles, lot of music, (and) lot of fun.”

Billy Greenwood

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