Industry Ink: Brad & Kimberley Williams-Paisley, Lee Ann Womack, Erin Osmon, Words & Music

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Brad & Kimberly Williams-Paisley Receive Honorary Doctorates From Belmont

May Graduation at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee May , 2026. Photo: Sam Simpkins

Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley were awarded honorary Doctor of the University degrees at Belmont University during one of its spring 2026 commencement ceremonies May 8 at the Curb Event Center. Brad Paisley is a 1995 Belmont alumnus with a degree in music business and has long maintained a deep connection to his alma mater, establishing the Brad Paisley Endowed Scholarship in 2012, which has supported more than 70 Belmont students studying in the Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business. Williams-Paisley has been a member of the Belmont University Board of Trustees since 2022, and an active advocate for the University and its students. Together with her husband, she co-founded The Store, a free, referral-based nonprofit grocery store that began on Belmont’s campus and recently expanded to a second location at TriStar Centennial Medical Center.

“These two extraordinary individuals represent the very best of what Belmont hopes to inspire in its graduates: a life marked by excellence, generosity and a commitment to something larger than themselves,” says University President Greg Jones. “We bestow this honor with great care, recognizing it as the highest accolade the University offers. On behalf of our entire Belmont community, it is a profound privilege to celebrate Brad and Kim for the lasting impact they have made on our institution, Nashville and the world.”

 

Lee Ann Womack Performs With ‘American Idol’ Winner Hannah Harper

Hannah Harper & Lee Ann Womack. Photo: Patrick Wymore/American Idol

Lee Ann Womack joined American Idol winner Hannah Harper for a performance of “I Hope You Dance” during the show’s live finale this week. Harper became a viral breakout during her run on the show, winning over audiences with her heartfelt performances. She cited Womack as one of the influences whose storytelling and traditional sound helped shape her deep love of the genre.

“From the first time I saw Hannah’s videos, I was a fan,” says Womack. “Her voice has that rare quality that just stopped me right in my tracks the first time I heard her sing one of my songs. Beyond her incredible talent, I’ve really been moved by her heart. It’s been so exciting to watch America fall in love with her, and I was honored to be able to join her for the American Idol finale. This is just the beginning for Hannah Harper!”

 

Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum Hosts Book Talk With Erin Osmon

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Writer-Editor Allison Moorer, Stephen Wilson Jr. and author and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Writer-Editor Erin Osmon. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Author and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Writer-Editor Erin Osmon discussed her new book, Won’t Back Down: Heartland Rock and the Fight for America, during a talk at the museum last weekend. Stephen Wilson Jr., who grew up in John Mellencamp’s hometown, Seymour, Indiana, also performed during the event, which was led by the museum’s Writer-Editor Allison Moorer.

Osmon’s new book tells the story of the origins and tangled legacy of Heartland rock. Her account of heartland rock’s glory days delves into the making of its classic albums and songs, such as Bob Seger’s Against the Wind, Tom Petty’s Full Moon Fever and Bruce Springsteen’s numerous hits, as well as the centrality of often-overlooked women such as Melissa Etheridge and Bonnie Raitt. Osmon also traces the genre’s connections to country and Americana and explores the social, political and cultural developments that fostered the genre.

 

47th Annual Words & Music Program Celebrated At Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum Event

Avery Anna with Words & Music Night student and songwriter participants. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted its 47th annual celebration in honor of Words & Music, the museum’s flagship educational program, on May 11. School-aged participants and their families gathered in the museum’s Ford Theater, along with the evening’s host, Warner Records Nashville artist Avery Anna, to hear a selection of 14 songs penned by students in Nashville and surrounding areas. Anna closed the evening with a performance of her song, “Indigo.” Throughout the night, 16 students from grades third through twelfth performed their compositions alongside their professional songwriting partners and classmates. The program was recorded and will be shared on the museum’s website later this summer.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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