Rissi Palmer, a keen student of history, had long noticed problems with the way people talked about race in country music. Discussions often centered on the same small group of artists but never thoroughly investigated the past beyond Charley Pride — and she knew there was a rich history of artistic contributions out there. She … Read More
Brandi Carlile put on quite the show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in March and – bonus! – it was for a good cause.
The live-streamed event ended up raising over $100k for two roots-related music ventures, Rainey Day Fund and Color Me Country. Proceeds also benefitted Nashville music store, Fanny’s School of Music.
Alongside $10,000 from Fiona Prine and friends, Brandi Carlile’s livestream fundraising concert from The Ryman Auditorium raised $50,000 for the Kelly McCartney founded Rainey Day Fund, the McCartney and Rissi Palmer co-founded Color Me Country Fund, and Nashville’s Fanny’s School of Music.
Carlile’s donation of $1 per every ticket sold, plus CMT Equal Play matching those donations — up to $15,000 — and Carlile’s Looking Out Foundation matching the donations to all three organizations equated to this impressive total.
In the past year, Black women have been creating a space for themselves in the world of country music, an industry that has long kept them on the sidelines — or out of the game altogether… A number of other Black artists are hoping to gain similar traction. CMT’s “Next Women in Country Class of 2021,” includes six Black artists like Brittney Spencer and the group Chapel Hart. Other singers are finding ways to build audiences outside the typical avenues of country music, through social media and streaming platforms.
When Holler asked me to interview Rissi Palmer about the beautifully non-stop career ascension she is currently enjoying, I told them it wouldn’t be a typical interview between a journalist and an artist. It would lack objectivity because, at this point, our fates are pretty tightly bound, Rissi’s and mine.
Rissi Palmer is planting seeds that are growing into a movement. She accomplishes this by gifting grants to artists of color in country music through her Color Me Country Artist Grant Fund that not only provides a monetary donation, but serves as a symbol of support for the artists she believes in. Formed in partnership with Kelly McCartney’s Rainey Day Fund, the Color Me Country Fund is an extension of Palmer’s popular Color Me Country radio show on Apple Music that also works to spotlight the voices and stories of Black, Indigenous and Latinx artists that have shaped the history of the genre.
On March 28, Brandi Carlile will perform a livestream concert from the Ryman and donate $1 each for every ticket sold to Fanny’s School of Music and the Rainey Day Fund. CMT Equal Play will match those donations, up to $15,000, for Rissi Palmer’s Rainey Day offshoot, the Color Me Country Artist Fund.
Brandi Carlile couldn’t let her Sunday night (March 28) Ryman Auditorium livestream concert pass without bringing in a special guest for the occasion. R&B singer Monica joined the Americana star during the show for a collaborative rendition of the Highwomen’s song “Crowded Table.” … A portion of proceeds from ticket sales benefited the Rainey Day Fund — which offers assistance to LGBTQ+ artists, artists of color and artists with disabilities — and Fanny’s School of Music in East Nashville. CMT sent a matching donation to the Color Me Country Fund, which supports artists of color, and Carlile’s Looking Out Foundation matched the donations to all three organizations.