Song Suffragettes Honor Natalie Hemby During 9th Anniversary Celebration

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Pictured (L-R): Todd Cassetty, Natalie Hemby and Maddie Lenhart. Photo: Libby Danforth

The singer-songwriter collective Song Suffragettes celebrated their 9th anniversary with a sold-out show at The Listening Room Cafe last night (April 3).

The evening kicked off with a writers’ round hosted by Song Suffragette and Universal Music Publishing artist Carter Faith, who performed alongside Morgan Johnston, Valerie Ponzio, Shelly Fairchild and Warner Music Nashville recording artist Robyn Ottolini. Multi-instrumentalist and resident cajon player Mia Morris backed all performances in addition to performing an original song of her own.

A second writers’ round followed with singer-songwriters Gina Venier, Carmen Dianne, Victoria Banks and Jessica Wills Fisher taking the stage along with host Haley Mae Campbell and Mia Morris. In a surprise moment, Song Suffragettes alumna Maggie Rose took to the stage to perform a new song from her forthcoming project.

Next, Song Suffragettes’ Event Director Maddie Lenhart formally welcomed Rose back to the stage to act as interviewer for the night’s special guest. Song Suffragettes’ founder Todd Cassetty then introduced two-time Grammy winner Natalie Hemby before an inspired and jocular half-hour interview that covered topics ranging from her songwriting process to her inspirations.

Cassetty and Lenhart presented Hemby with the Song Suffragettes Yellow Rose of Inspiration Award, an honor bestowed on a female songwriter who has inspired the many Song Suffragette women who hope to follow in Hemby’s successful footsteps.

Pictured (L-R, back row): Grace Bowers, Carmen Dianne, Morgan Johnston, Valerie Ponzio, Natalie Hemby, Maggie Rose, Gina Venier and Victoria Banks. (L-R, front row):Todd Cassetty, Jessica Wills Fisher, Carter Faith, Robyn Ottolini, Haley Mae Campbell, Maddie Lenhart. Photo: Libby Danforth

“I love people. I love music. I love other people’s music,” says Hemby, who is also member of critically acclaimed supergroup The Highwomen with Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris and Amanda Shires. “I like to learn from people. And I think the moment you stop doing that, is the moment you should hang it up.”

Hemby also performed her brand new song written with Sarah Jarosz, “Good At What I Do” and “Rainbow,” recorded by Kacey Musgraves. For her unplugged performance of Grammy-winning “Crowded Table,” recorded by The Highwomen, Hemby walked through the packed house encouraging them to sing along.

As Cassetty recalled the nine-year history of Song Suffragettes and the successes of an all-female singer-songwriter collective, he noted two recent developments: the Monday night shows at The Listening Room Cafe and the launch of Song Suffragettes London, a monthly satellite show at The Camden Club in the UK.

“We’re so proud to continue to expand the Song Suffragettes collective of empowered women singer-songwriters,” says Cassetty. “From day one, our mission has been to present the depth of undeniable talent in the underserved female singer-songwriter community, and we will continue to do that as we gratefully enter our tenth year.”

Cassetty credited the nearly 400 women who have played Song Suffragettes as well as the all-female staff and interns for making it possible to have successful shows in Nashville and London. He also recognized and thanked returning sponsor The LSS Group, an all-female, entertainment-industry-focused wealth management group led by Eden Lopez, Leslie Schwartz and Paula Steinberg for their continued commitment as the presenting sponsorship of Song Suffragettes.

Visit the Song Suffragettes’ YouTube to see the entire anniversary performance.

Caela Griffin
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