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Rare fiddle from country music star Roy Acuff up for auction

A rare piece of Tennessee music history is ready for purchase on an auction website. The fiddle belonged to Country Music Hall of Famer Roy Acuff.

A rare piece of Tennessee music history is on sale in Missouri.

One of Country Music Hall of Famer Roy Acuff's favorite instruments will be sold to help Goodwill continue its mission to help others.

Acuff was known for playing his fiddle starting in the 1930s and putting on a grand 'ole show as part of the Grand 'Ole Opry. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1962.

Music brought people together in Union County, especially the music of the Acuff family.

Roy Acuff's instrument of choice was the fiddle. His music reached past the state lines and into the world.

A rare fiddle, hand-made by Evart Acuff, is up for auction at a Goodwill in Kansas City.

"Roy was born in Maynardville," Martha Carter, treasurer of the Union County Historical Society, said. "He's played all over the world at some point in time, and his name is recognizable."

Carter helps run the Roy Acuff museum and Library in Maynardville.

"(Acuff's) personality would have gotten him to the moon, if that's where he wanted to go," Carter said.

Acuff's chosen instrument was hand made by his uncle Evart Acuff, who only made a handful of fiddles.

He numbered each one.

"This one had an interior information sticker that said number 19," Gary Raines, with Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas.

That 19th fiddle is up for auction.

"Says it was handmade by Evart Acuff, in August of 1945, in (Maryville), Tennessee," Raines said.

Raines said they don't know who donated it, but the donor wanted to help others.

"It was donated to one of our stores in North Kansas City, and we were excited to receive," Raines said. "Hopefully we can get this in front of the right market, the right people, who care about country music and want to buy this."

The auction had a high bid of $2,500 as of Tuesday night, but Carter said it's worth much more to the history of country music.

"It was just a way to get together, and everybody did something," Carter said.

Carter said they have similar fiddles made by Evart Acuff at the museum in Maynardville.

The auction is open until 9 p.m. Saturday night, if you're interested in the fiddle.

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