From Billboard · Tom Roland · · 1m 30s
Americana Music Conference Addresses Social Issues
Americana artists tackle suicide, climate change, and Dolly Parton's loss at conference.
In brief
Americana artists tackle suicide, climate change, and Dolly Parton's loss at conference. Americana artists discussed suicide, climate change, Hurricane Helene, and Dolly Parton's death at their conference, highlighting music's role in fostering resilience. Originally reported by Billboard.
Sheryl Crow's Emotional Moment
Sheryl Crow broke into tears revealing her mother no longer recognizes her but sings every word when she performs from the Great American Songbook.
“When Crow sings something from the Great American Songbook, her mom perks up and sings every word”
Americana Conference Themes
The conference addressed suicide, climate change, Hurricane Helene, wildfires, dementia, deportations, artificial intelligence, and Dolly Parton's loss.
“Between the songs and the personal stories of the genre’s artists, it tackled a bundle of difficult issues”
Amanda Shaw's Resilience
Amanda Shaw survived Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and said resilience helped her create music despite unpredictable outcomes.
“That’s something that has stuck with me, not just as an artist, but as a human being”
Americana Genre Evolution
Americana has grown from country music subgenre to include blues, bluegrass, gospel, soul, rock, zydeco, and rockabilly.
“It grew originally as a bit of a country music subgenre, consisting of sounds that were influenced by country’s roots”
Americana Honors Winners
Molly Tuttle won artist of the year, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings earned duo/group, Tyler Childers claimed album of the year, and Brandi Carlile won song of the year.
“Molly Tuttle took artist of the year, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings earned duo/group, Tyler Childers claimed album of the year for Snipe Hunter and Brandi Carlile walked off with song of the year for "Returning to Myself"”
Jesse Welles' Activism
Jesse Welles, emerging as this generation’s Woody Guthrie, addressed Minneapolis shootings in his song 'Good vs. Ice'.
“His work and his activism are inextricably linked”
Wynonna's Challenges
Wynonna faced her mother’s suicide in 2022, daughter’s incarceration, adopting her granddaughter, and learning about her biological father.
“All I knew to do was sing, and so that became our motto, sort of 'shut up and sing'”
Music as Connection
Sheryl Crow stated music finds people and makes them feel they’re not alone during cultural divisions.
“What music does, is it finds you and it makes you feel like you’re not alone”
Radio's Role in Cultural Change
Radio hosts face risks of alienating listeners but have a responsibility to champion artists addressing hard issues.
“You do run the risk of alienating [some] listeners if you’re really focusing on a particular side [of an issue]”
At a glance
Americana artists discussed suicide, climate change, Hurricane Helene, and Dolly Parton's death at their conference, highlighting music's role in fostering resilience.
