Name: Speaker Session: Rissi Palmer
Start: 2025-11-11T19:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-11-11T20:30:00-05:00
Location: 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, United States, Virginia 24201

Join us on Tuesday, November 11 for a Speaker Session with Rissi Palmer. With the breakthrough 2007 single, “Country Girl,” from her self-titled debut country album, Rissi Palmer made history as the first Black female country artist to ascend the Billboard Hot Country Singles Charts since Dona Mason in 1987. Palmer swiftly captured attention, ranking among iTunes’ Top 5 Best-Selling Country Artists with her digital EP the same year.
Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: In-person at the Birthplace of Country Music, Performance Theatre and streamed on Radio Bristol’s YouTube Channel
Cost: Free and open to the public
REGISTER TO ATTEND IN PERSON: https://www.tixr.com/groups/bcm/events/speaker-session-rissi-palmer-138042?_gl=1*1x1xftk*_gcl_au*MjA3MDI5MDQwMy4xNzQ1MjQyMTcy
Undeterred by the hurdles faced as a Black woman in mainstream country music, Palmer has forged her own path, independently releasing three albums. Among these works are the children’s album, Best Day Ever, the soulful Back Porch Sessions EP (2015), and the critically acclaimed Revival (2019), lauded by Rolling Stone as one of the Top 25 Country-Soul Albums of all time.
Throughout her career, Palmer has always championed underrepresented artists. As the host of Color Me Country Radio with Rissi Palmer on Apple Music, she challenges listeners to reconsider their perceptions and stereotypes surrounding people of color in the country music landscape. She has also established the nonprofit Color Me Country Artist Grant Fund to help support emerging artists of color. In 2023, Palmer was one of nine artists featured in PBS’s American Masters: In the Making series, spotlighting her influence on American culture. The documentary RISSI PALMER: STILL HERE provided an intimate glimpse into her life on tour, her creative process, and balancing professional endeavors with family life.
Today, Palmer stands as a prominent figure in both country and Americana music. Her performances have graced illustrious venues such as The White House, The Grand Ole Opry, Lincoln Center, and the Apollo Theater. She has made national TV appearances on ABC News Live, CBS Mornings, CNN, Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight and PBS NewsHour, while garnering recognition from prestigious publications including Associated Press, Essence, New York Times, Parade, PEOPLE, Rolling Stone, UPROXX, Washington Post, and more.
Notably, Palmer holds the distinction of being one of only eight Black artists to have singles charted in any genre, highlighting her enduring impact on the music industry. Palmer continues to tour across the US and overseas and serves as a correspondent for CMT Hot 20 Countdown. She also holds the esteemed position of Governor at the Recording Academy Nashville.