Kermit the Frog, Steve Martin banjos star in new Oklahoma City exhibit

The American Banjo Museum is striking a chord with music and pop culture fans with its latest special exhibit, ‘Pop! Goes the Banjo.’ The display brings iconic banjos from television, movies and stage performances to Oklahoma City, many shown to the public for the first time.

Kermit’s banjo returns to the spotlight

One of the main attractions is Kermit the Frog’s original banjo from the 1979 film “The Muppet Movie.” Visitors can relive the Oscar-nominated song “The Rainbow Connection” while seeing the beloved amphibian’s famous instrument in person.

‘Having my banjo on display in the same gallery with Steve Martin, Roy Clark and Ed Norton is truly an honor. And to think, those guys aren’t even amphibians!’ Kermit said in a statement.

Steve Martin’s legendary Gibson Florentine

Also featured is comedian and actor Steve Martin’s 1927 Gibson Florentine banjo, played during his 1970s “wild and crazy” stand-up comedy era. The instrument appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” “Saturday Night Live” and even “The Muppet Show.”

Hollywood and music history combined

Visitors can see the Vega Pete Seeger model banjo played by Ed Norton in his Oscar-nominated role in the 2024 Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown.”

The exhibit also includes the banjo from Disney’s 2002 film “The Country Bears,” as well as instruments owned by Roy Clark and Grandpa Jones. Two banjos used in Martin Scorsese’s 2023 epic “Killers of the Flower Moon” are also on display.

Exhibit details

‘Pop! Goes the Banjo’ is open now at the American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City’s Bricktown district. The exhibit runs through October 2026 and features multimedia presentations, interactive displays and stories celebrating the banjo’s cultural impact.

For more details, visit americanbanjomuseum.com or call (405) 604-2793.