Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum Kicks Off 2026 Songwriting Camps

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Cindy Mabe, Anna Rae, Lydia Sutherland, Troy Tomlinson & Tenille Townes

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s beginner-to-intermediate songwriting camp kicked off this week with artists and industry participants including singer-songwriters Tenille Townes and Anna Rae and Founder and CEO of Joan of Arc Music Cindy Mabe. 

Songwriting camp at the museum offers aspiring songwriters ages 12-18 a week-long experience to hone their craft and learn from professionals. Each camper is paired with a professional songwriter who serves as a mentor and co-writer. Camp activities include songwriting lessons, instrumental and vocal performance technique, demo recording and Q&A sessions with guest artists and music industry professionals. Camp culminates in a showcase in the museum’s Ford Theater, where campers perform their original songs written throughout the week. This year’s campers hail from all across the country.

Initially launched in 2016 as the “Summer Songwriting Lab,” the program began with a single session serving 13 campers. It has since expanded to accommodate around 50 students each summer across two, week-long sessions in June and July. By the end of this summer, the camps will have served nearly 400 students since the program’s inception.

July’s intermediate-to-advanced camp will include CEO of Universal Music Publishing Troy Tomlinson with songwriter Lydia Sutherland. Registration for next year’s camp will open in January 2027.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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