The Palomino, a documentary about the most influential country music venue most people have never heard of, premieres at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Ford Theater in Nashville on April 25, 2026 at 2:30 PM. A panel discussion with cast members and filmmakers follows the screening. Tickets are available now at countrymusichalloffame.org.
Directed by Adrienne Isom and written by KP Hawthorn, the film tells the full story of The Palomino Club, a neon-lit honkytonk on Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood that operated from 1949 to 1995. Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, Merle Haggard, Elvis Costello, The Pretenders, and George Jones all passed through its doors. The West Coast proving ground for country’s rebels and outlaws, The Palomino helped shape what American roots music became.
“We didn’t go looking to make this film,” said Isom. “This is our first film and the story found us. Creating this movie has been the journey of a lifetime.” The project took seven and a half years to complete, drawing on unseen archival footage, raw personal memories, and interviews with artists, historians, and family members who lived the story firsthand.
The film features Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Dave Alvin, John Jorgenson, Chris Shiflett, and many more. The editorial team includes Emmy Award and ACE Award-winning editor Damian Rodriguez. Produced by L.A. and Nashville-based Mule Kick Productions, a female-owned company that has championed The Palomino’s legacy since reopening the venue for one night in 2018.
This is a piece of American music history that deserves to be seen.