This coverage provided by the Americana Music Association:
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Thursday, September 17, 2026
Americana Music Association Announces Award Winners with Dolly Parton Tribute
Brandi Carlile Takes the Americana Stage for John Prine’s 80th Birthday Celebration
By Wil Comstock
MCAU Contributing Writer
Northern Lights and Oh Boy Records celebrate John Prine’s 80th!
Hosted by Brandi Carlile, 9/16/2026
Miraculously, once again, I was able to grab a front row seat to this glorious event. This year each artist performed a John Prine song. Some even had personal stories to tell.
Several years ago, Brandi Carlile, was one of the guest artists on a cruise ship with Prine. In her cabin, Brandi’s wife, Catherine, was beside herself trying to quiet their first-born child. She handed the baby to Brandi. Remembering what her mother once told her about quieting babies, Brandi made an enclosure, circling the baby with towels to make her feel secure. She then reached for her curling iron and began doing her hair for John Prine’s encore, a duet about to take place in a few minutes. Hearing a crash, Brandi turned around to see the baby on the floor, now screaming, with blood all over. With tears in her eyes, she handed the baby to her wife, saying she had to get downstairs to the show. When John came backstage, Carlile was waiting with a trembling upper lip and a few tears running down her face. When John asked if she was okay, she explained what happened. He replied, “This won’t be the last time you make your wife cry, or the last time you drop the baby.” Making Brandi smile. They went on stage and sang the tune, “Angel of Montgomery.” That was the song Carlile chose to sing today.
With Chauntee on cello and Monique on violin, the supremely talented Sister Strings delighted us with Prine’s “Caravan of Fools,” for which they received a standing ovation. Girls! When is your album coming out?
Emily Scott Robinson did a warm and lively performance on “Spanish Pipeline,” a favorite of mine. While Olivia Wolf did a little tongue in cheek on “Long Monday.” Sean McConnell had many in tears on his rendition of “Hello in There.”
Brandi’s cousins The Carlile Family Band (teenagers Caroline and J Jay) contributed “Summer’s End.” Caroline told us that when she was a little girl, her parents told her to hold one of their hands when getting off an elevator. When on an elevator at a folk event, Caroline reached up and grabbed a hand. It was John Prine’s! Her mother snaped a photo!
Riley Downing did a heartfelt rendition of “The Other Side of Town” with his Missouri working class vocals. And who could forget Tré Burt’s delivery of “The Late John Garfild’s
Surprise guest Tommy Prine, John Prine’s son, sang his father’s first breakup song (written when he was just 19), the heartbreaking “Far From Me.” It’s great to see him walking in his father’s footsteps while at the same time carving his own way as a singer-songwriter.
Thanks to Northern Lights for another great show!
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Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Amy Grant and Melissa Etheridge Rock the House During AmericanaFest
By Wil Comstock
MCAU Contributing Writer
Americanafest Tuesday Evening at the Station Inn, 9/15/26
Leaving behind the sweat and heat of the hopping BMI Rooftop Party, Chuck and I headed over to 3rd and Lindsley. I prayed for a free parking space on the way over. We grabbed the last one on the side of the building! Then, we were offered the last two seats in the venue!
After introducing ourselves to the nice people at our table, Aubrie Sellers took the stage. The woman next to me showed me her phone. I read “Daughter of Lee Ann Womack and Jason Sellers.” Well, what do you know about that! Sellers is part of the new wave of Country artists. Her edgy songs mixed with traditional country vocals set her apart from the pack. My favorites were “Far from Home” and “My Love Will Not Change.”
Next up, Amy Grant. Although I’ve seen her in the round in the last 20 years, this was the first time I saw a full set of Amy’s during that time period. I joined the crowd at the foot of the stage. Yes, I’ve been a fan since Grant’s first album. She reached back into her catalog, opening with “Nobody Home” and “Walk on Water.” Up front, the sound wasn’t too good, more than a little disappointing. At 65, and after open heart surgery and a serious bike accident, Amy seemed contemplative and reflective. A quieter woman than the one I saw on arena stages so long ago. Except for her number one hit “Baby Baby,” most of her set came from her new album “The Me that Remains.” I loved the ethereal “Beautiful Lone Companion” and the song she wrote with husband Vince Gill, “Until We Get It Right.” If I headed for home at this point, I would have been filled to the brim.
Reaching for my phone and opening the AmericanaFest app, I found that Maggie Rose would be next. I was not familiar with her, but let me tell you, I will not forget her! She commanded the stage. What presence, what vocals, what a dress! Her mix of classic rock and blues reached back to the sixties but was every bit in the present. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I sure liked “I Could Get Used to It” and “In This Life.” The house was on its feet when Melissa Etheridge walked out during “Poison in My Well.” Their voices blended well and lifted the song to a new level. I’ve got to pick up one of Maggie’s albums. You should too!
What can I say about Melissa Etheridge that you don’t already know? Powerful, sassy vocals; a gunslinger on guitar; and a Kansas native living in sunny California. She set the mood for the evening opening with “Don’t You Want a Woman.” Lawd girl! All of the numbers were from her new album “Rise,” except for the last song. I could hear every lyric and every word she spoke. That doesn’t happen much for me anymore. Although I have several of her albums, I gained a lot of respect for her as a lyricist tonight. She used direct, open and honest words to convey her thoughts. She was funny and in a surprising way, quite endearing. Highlights for me were “Matches” with Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” sandwiched in the middle. And the closing number, “Come to My Window.” What a night!
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AmericanaFest Kicks Off with BMI Rooftop Party
“Americana Music is about all sorts of different music. It is very free and open: a world where people just like authentic music.” — John Oates (AmericanaFest has kicked off in Nashville, and I couldn’t be happier and more excited. This is the music event of the year that draws musicians and music lovers from around the world. The BMI Rooftop kickoff was a prime example, with food, drinks and live music overlooking downtown Nashville. There were no strangers there. Visitors were friendly and eager to introduce themselves while eating BBQ and sipping on their favorite mixed drinks. I met a lady with purple hair from Iowa and a couple from Florida, who decided to stop off in Nashville before heading to Montana on vacation. The music was outstanding with performances by Meels, Flying Mojito Bros, and Hayes Carll. Each year, my friend and staff writer Wil Comstock and I hit the town to cover the festival for my online blog, Music City Arts Update. If you haven’t been to the festival, I would strongly encourage you to take in a show or two this week. Once you do, expect to be hooked. I am attending while juggling my busy teaching at a local college. The music performed by singers, songwriters and musicians has deep roots in genres ranging from blues and jazz to folk, country and rock. You always hear a refreshing mix of the unexpected. Here are a few photos from the BMI event. More coverage to come!) #ChuckWhiting #ChucksDiary #AmericanaFest #RooftopOnTheRow #MusicCityArts 9-16-26
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Monday, September 22, 2025
AmericanaFest: Joe Henry and Mike Reid Take Music Fans to Heaven
By Wil Comstock
MCAU Contributing Writer
City Winery
Sept. 12 (Friday)
Ron Pope went viral on My Space in 2007. He released four independent albums before signing with Universal Republic, which released two singles. After that, Pope created his own label, Brooklyn Basement Records. His appeal to the party crowd was evident on the swamp rock numbers “Let’s Get Stoned” and “Nobody’s Gonna Make It Out Alive.”
Joe Henry and Mike Reid met as fellow instructors at a local song camp. Mike started the conversation by asking Henry who his favorite poets were. They hit it off right away resulting in Henry sending Reid some lyrics. The next day, Joe received an mp3 of what Mike came up with. This continued until there was an album’s worth of music. Joe took the original piano vocals and added sparse production.
The band at City Winery was comprised of Reid on piano, Joe on guitar, a pedal steel player, and Levon Henry (Joe’s son) on tenor sax and clarinet. The music swelled and took me off to another land, reminding me of mid-career Joni Mitchell. Mike Reid’s seasoned voice was the perfect vehicle for these songs. Heavenly! I especially enjoyed “The Bridge,” “Life and Time,” “History,” and the huge Reid/Shamblin co-write for Bonnie Raitt, “I Can’t Make You Love Me.”
I could listen to David Nail’s honest and aching voice all night. He sings country like it should be sung, from experience. He writes or co-writes most of his songs. He’s not afraid to talk about his depression, saying “It’s just who I am.” Highlights of the evening included “Strangers on a Train,” “Let it Rain,” and the new “I Got Everything I Want.”
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Sunday, September 21, 2025
AmericanaFest: The War and Treaty Tease, Flirt and Wail at Skinny Dennis
By Wil Comstock
MCAU Contributing Writer
WassTeam Party at Skinny Dennis
Featuring The War and Treaty
Sept. 13 (Saturday):
Grammy nominees The War and Treaty took the stage at Skinny Dennis (East Nashville) for a rousing and energetic late afternoon performance. Michael and Tanya Trotter gave their all on the steamy “Keep You Warm Tonight.” They teased, flirted and wailed on this up-tempo number. The confessional “Hey Judith,” a song about Tanya’s recently deceased mother, spoke to all who have lost a parent.
All of the musicians were top notch, enjoying every moment of sharing the stage with the dynamic couple. The addition of saxophone and trumpet beefed up their sound and raised the excitement on stage by several notches.
The upbeat scat-swing of “Crazy” had me dancing and swaying. They gave the band ample time to showcase their instruments as Michael left the stage and stood in the audience beside me. All of a sudden, I felt a warm arm around my shoulder.
I won’t forget this show! Mike preached a little and said he was going to run for president under the slogan “Shut the F**K Up,” saying people have the freedom to speak and the freedom not to speak.
They ended with the audience participation number “Can I Get an Amen,” as the crowd sang, danced and shouted their “amens” in appreciation of The War and Treaty’s splendid show.
AmericanaFest: Artists Bring ‘Hallelujah and Amen’ at Annual Gospel Brunch
By Wil Comstock
MCAU Contributing Writer
Gospel Brunch at City Winery
Sept. 13 (Saturday)
I always enjoy the Gospel Brunch; delicious chicken and waffles and a chance to see some new talent and a few old favorites.
Surprise guests, The McCrary Sisters, opened the brunch with a stirring rendition of “Amazing Grace.” It was set to the melody of “House of the Rising Sun.” Each sister took a verse, with Ann reaching deep down inside and crying out to God like I have never heard her before. Amen!
Artists of note were:
Uwade who is from West Africana and living in Charleston. Her sweet vocals and persona endeared her to the audience.
Courtney Marie Andrews who sounded a lot like an early Joni Mitchell with her lilting vocals and folk fingerpicking.
Jay Buchanan, who along with his band, put on quite a three-song show. His soaring vocals and magnetic stage presence made a fan out of everyone.
Tigers co-owner David Macias told us there would be a set change before the last guest came out. Sarah Potenza was the only person on the program who had not performed, so I rightly assumed it would be her. She usually has just her husband on guitar as backup. But out came the drums, bass, electric guitar and a baby grand, along with the talented Sista Strings on cello and violin. As the strings began, Sarah made her grand entrance in a sequined gown and sumptuously uttered the first line to “Nessun Dorma” from Puccini’s “Turandot.” (For those of you who are old enough, think of Areatha Franklin filling in for Pavarotti on the Grammy’s in 1998.) A stunning performance! She ended with a gospel choir backing her up on “Hallelujah Amen.” I’ve followed Sarah for 12 years and have been waiting for this moment; to have a company recognize her talent and give her the support she needs. Hallelujah and Amen.
(Follow us on social media @MusicCityArts.)