The story of Americana is inseparable from the story of Black music in America. Blues, spirituals, gospel, and work songs. Folk, country, soul, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues. The banjo’s African roots. The blues’ imprint on country and roots music. The songwriting, storytelling, and rhythmic innovations of Black musicians. These are not footnotes to the genre — they are its foundation.
Yet many of these contributions have been overlooked or separated from the popular story of Americana. Our partnership with AMERICANAFEST is an opportunity to celebrate that shared history and honor the Black artists who have shaped it across generations.
Through live performances, intimate conversations, film, and special artifact reveals, this year’s programming brings those connections to life — from legendary voices to contemporary artists carrying the tradition forward. Because Americana was never a single sound. It’s an interconnected American story, with Black music at its root.
Valerie June, Americana artist // 353 Media Group for NMAAM
Every event is free and open to all. We encourage you to RSVP — seating is first come, first served.
Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association, in conversation with Jon Batiste, the 2026 winner of the GRAMMY Award for Best Americana Album // 353 Media Group for NMAAM
The McCrary Sisters, recipients of the Legacy of Americana Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 // 353 Media Group for NMAAM
Lucius “Spoonman” Talley, teaching artist – FN2S // 353 Media Group for NMAAM
The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) is seeking talented youth ages 9-18 to perform during Youth Amplified Open Mic as part of the museum’s AMERICANAFEST special events on Saturday, September 19, 2026. This exciting opportunity gives young artists a chance to showcase their talents in front of museum guests, families, and music lovers while celebrating the roots and future of Americana music.
On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the National Museum of African American Music made history with its inaugural FRONT ROW activation—an intimate, sold-out evening featuring 7-time GRAMMY, Emmy, and Oscar-winning artist Jon Batiste. More than 400 guests lined up around the block to experience a once-in-a-lifetime conversation and performance that epitomized what it means to preserve living history in real time.
The FRONT ROW experience began with a screening of Batiste’s short Spiritual Manifesto film, which provided context into the creation of the BIG MONEY album and delighted the audience with colorful behind-the-scenes studio footage and philosophical ponderings from the artist. What followed was a 45-minute fireside chat between Jon Batiste and Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association, who has championed Americana music for over two decades and was honored at NMAAM’s 2024 Honors Gala for his contributions to preserving and elevating the genre.
Batiste would then go on to win the Grammy Award for Best Americana Album for his 2025 album BIG MONEY at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2026.
The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) is the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the legacies of many music genres created and inspired by African Americans, from spirituals and gospel to jazz, blues, hip-hop, and R&B.
Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, NMAAM’s expertly curated collections invite visitors to discover the story of the American soundtrack by integrating history and interactive technology to educate and bring the musical heroes of the past into the present.
The National Museum of African American Music broke ground in early 2017 and opened its doors in 2021. Since then, NMAAM has welcomed visitors from across the country and around the world and has become a cultural landmark in the heart of Music City. It offers an experience that connects people through the power and legacy of African American music.
Full festival tickets and lineup available exclusively on the Americana Music Association’s official website.
