ABOUT THIS YEAR'S STORYTELLERS:
TRISHA YEARWOOD, Following three decades in the spotlight, numerous GRAMMY®, CMA® and ACM® Awards, countless multi-platinum certifications, and millions of fans entertained, the same passion still motivates and moves Trisha Yearwood. The singer, actress, author, chef, personality, and entrepreneur derives deep fulfillment from simply walking up to a microphone and pouring her heart out by way of a celebrated powerhouse voice. In 2019, Trisha unveiled her highly anticipated first full-length country record in over a decade, Every Girl. Every Girl: Deluxe includes a new acoustic re-recording of her first album’s lead single “She’s In Love With The Boy.” Trisha made history when the original “She’s In Love With The Boy” vaulted to #1 and cemented her as the first female country artist to have a debut single reach the top of the country charts. She made history once again in 2021, when “She’s In Love With The Boy” was named “the MOST listened to country song by a Female Artist in the history of Billboard’s Country Airplay Charts.” Trisha was recently inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame and celebrated her 25th Anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Trisha remains a timeless entertainer whose influence permeates multiple facets of culture. Beyond fifteen albums, she hosts the EMMY® Award-winning Food Network hit Trisha’s Southern Kitchen and her Facebook Live show, T’s Coffee Talk. At the forefront of a veritable lifestyle empire, she penned four New York Times-bestselling cookbooks and has designed cookware, furniture, home accessories, and more. She is co-owner of Friends In Low Places, the largest bar and honky-tonk in the Neon Neighborhood of Lower Broadway in Nashville, TN. The venue also features menus created by Trisha. A docuseries following the building of the bar and honky-tonk is airing now on Prime Video.
CHRISTIAN WIMAN is the author of twelve books and the editor of multiple anthologies. His most recent book, Zero at the Bone: Fifty Entries Against Despair, was featured in the New Yorker and was an editor’s choice from the New York Times. He has taught at Stanford, Northwestern, the Prague School of Economics, and is currently the Clement-Muehl Professor of Religion and Literature at Yale. Mr. Wiman has written for the New Yorker, the New York Times Book Review, the Atlantic Monthly, and numerous other publications. He is a former Guggenheim Fellow and holds an honorary doctorate of humane letters from North Central College.
MUSICAL PERFORMANCES BY...
KYSHONA, Kyshona is an artist ignited by untold stories and the capacity of those stories to thread connection in every community. With the background of a licensed music therapist, the curiosity of a writer, the patience of a friend, the vision of a social entrepreneur, the resolve of an activist, and the voice of a singer - Kyshona is unrelenting in her pursuit of the healing power of song. She lends her voice and music to those who feel they have been lost, silenced, forgotten, or alone. Through her organization Your Song, she facilitates therapeutic songwriting sessions with groups and individuals in hopes of reconnecting those who are divided.
TOMMY PRINE, son of the late John Prine, debuted his album "This Far South" in June 2023. Co-produced by Ruston Kelly and Gena Johnson, the album reflects Prine's journey through love, loss, and growth in his 20s. Inspired by his upbringing in Nashville and summers in Ireland, Prine's eclectic musical tastes shine through, drawing from influences like John Mayer, Outkast, and Bon Iver. His songs, filled with existential musings and emotional depth, have garnered attention, leading to performances at festivals and a debut at the Grand Ole Opry. With a unique style honed by watching his father play guitar, Prine is making his mark on the music scene, resonating with audiences nationwide.
NATALIE HEMBY, Since signing her first publishing deal at 19, Nashville’s Natalie Hemby has penned countless hit songs recorded by artists such as Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, Sheryl Crow, Lady Gaga, Labrinth, and Ed Sheeran, to name a few. A two-time GRAMMY winner, Hemby has also been recognized by the ACM, CMA, CMT, and NSAI Awards for her prodigious and versatile contributions to songwriting. She has released two solo albums; Puxico (2017), Pins & Needles (2021), and one as a founding member of the country supergroup, The Highwomen.