Trailblazing Women of Country

Kristina Train

Hailing from Savannah, Georgia, Kristina Train is a musician who splits her time between Nashville and the UK. Her debut album premiered on Blue Note Records followed by a second solo album released on Mercury Records. She has toured the world as a featured vocalist and violinist in Herbie Hancock’s band, collaborated with Dr. Dre, performed at The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, and made a fan of Bruce Springsteen. Train's voice is pure, richly embodied, and crystal clear, with a recognizable nod to the vocal traditions of Nat King Cole, Roy Orbison, and Dusty Springfield. While her take on modern crooning is familiar, it can also be excitingly idiosyncratic, as showcased in her latest releases, Rayon City and Body Pressure. www.kristinatrain.com

Rissi Palmer

With the breakthrough 2007 singles "Country Girl" and “Hold On to Me,” Rissi Palmer, a 2022 Grammy® nominee, made history as the first Black female country artist to ascend the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart since Dona Mason in 1987. Highlights of her two-decade music career include performances at The White House, Lincoln Center and multiple appearances at the Grand Ole Opry. Rissi has toured the country extensively sharing stages with Taylor Swift, The Eagles, Chris Young, Charley Crockett and more. She has also made numerous national tv appearances on CMT Insider, CNN, CBS Mornings, Good Morning America and Entertainment Tonight. She has also been featured in the Huffington Post, The New York Times, Newsweek, NPR's "All Things Considered," PEOPLE, Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal and Washington Post. In conjunction with her Apple Music radio show, Rissi created the Color Me Country Artist Grant Fund designed to support new country artists of color who are just beginning to build their music careers. www.rissipalmermusic.com