"Since Color Me Country has been on air, Rissi Palmer has quickly become a leader in the conversation pushing for more equity and inclusion in country music. Ahead of her stage takeover at The Long Road Fest we spoke to Rissi, Madeline Edwards, Chapel Hart Band, and Miko Marks about the work the show is doing for Black, Indigenous and other artists of color" - Matt Wickstrom 

You can read the article HERE. 

Thank you to the Grio for offering their platform. It was really beautiful to watch all the artists I’ve had on Color Me Country and Black Opry have a presence at CMA Fest this year. This was something I couldn’t have fathomed when I played my first fest in 2008. Next sentence… it’s time to go deeper. Click HERE to read the rest of my thoughts. 

Thank you to Edition Magazine for asking me to curate a playlist of and write about my influences for Black History Month. I had a great time putting this together. You can read and hear it all HERE. 

When Southern Cultures asked me to wax poetic about what love means to me AND create a special playlist just for Valentine's Day, I jumped at the chance! You can read my piece and hear the soundtrack to your Valentine's evening right HERE. 

What a way to end the year! Thank you so much, Guitar Girl Magazine, I had no idea you were putting me on the cover. Check out the digital issue now HERE, physical copies will be available mid January…

To see it all together is really something. I'm crying reading this, thank you for the acknowledgement and the reminder to keep fighting. My sisters showed out this year. Thank you Andrea Williams, Ann K. Powers, Jewly Hight, and Marcus K. Dowling. And this damn list of artists is like something out of my favorite playlist. To be named alongside these extraordinary women is unreal, read the whole thing HERE.

Of Billboard’s 2019 top 50 country artists, only one was black. Four were women. None of them were black women. Now, with country music under the spotlight as it never has been before, is it finally moving beyond its white, male image? 

Americana-folk singer Lady Nade explores the roots of country and Americana and its debt to black music, and reflects on her own place in a genre that is only now starting to confront its history. You can hear the full documentary HERE. 

Ron Wynn has been a friend, an ally, and someone I respect for years, since my beginning in Nashville. That’s what makes this honor so much grander for me. Thank you to Ron and to the Nashville Scene for honoring Color Me Country Radio w/ Rissi Palmer, I’m so grateful. You can check out the entire piece HERE.

Thank you so much to the Tennessean, especially Matthew Leimkuehler, for asking me to reflect on the last year in Country music. Hallowed Sounds includes pieces from Mickey Guyton, Allison Russell, Willie Jones, Darius Rucker, and more. I'm honored to be included in those voices. You can read the essay in full HERE. 

I had the privilege of interviewing the fabulous Jennifer Hudson about her starring role as Aretha Franklin in the biopic Respect for CMT Hot 20 Countdown… check it out!!!