Until Next Year: Reflecting on AmericanaFest 2026

by Sofi Scicchitano

Woo! What a week AmericanaFest 2026 has been! Saturday, September 19, was the last day of this exciting and busy week, ending the festivities with a bang at Gray Matters Studio for the final Olivia Management AmericanaFest 2026 Showcase.

Olivia Management artists Mary Gauthier and Jeremy Lister opened Saturday’s showcase, paving the way for an incredible afternoon that really brought to life the Americana and folk music scene in Nashville, Tennessee. Followed by Madeleine Kelson, Crow and Gazelle and more incredible artists, the final installment in the Olivia Management & Friends AmericanaFest showcase truly brought together the folk music community, as it was also free and open to the public. 

We were able to see a lot of our consulting clients and friends, many of whom came from out of town to perform. Both showcases were well attended with energetic crowds who were happy to participate in sing-alongs and even festive line-dances like the conga line, which was a highlight from my night at the Saturday showcase. 

Sara Beth Go and Nathan K. performing at Saturday’s showcase!

Artists Sara Beth Go and Nathan K. ended the night with relatable and inspiring performances, finishing with a festive conga line dance that every single audience member participated in. It was incredibly entertaining and heartwarming to see so many people having fun with each other.

As AmericanaFest 2026 comes to a close, the OM team is feeling so grateful and happy to be a part of the behind-the-scenes that allows for our artists and consulting friends to perform on stage and change people’s lives one song at a time. It has been a busy but fulfilling and successful week!

Covers of Our Artists We Love

By Kayla Pinckney

Our Artists’ Songs, Your Covers

There's nothing better than hearing fans make our artists' songs their own. Here are a few covers we've been loving!

Elles Bailey's rendition of Mary Gauthier's "Mercy Now" is absolutely beautiful.

It's always fun to hear a fresh take on a great song. Here’s this amazing cover by Kaitlin Rose Band's of Aaron Lee Tasjan's "On Your Side."

This beautiful cover of Derek Webb's "Wedding Dress" by Bill Robinson accompanied by piano it especially touching.

Lastly, we're bringing a little Christmas spirit to June with this cozy cover of Jeremy Lister's "Little Things" by Brigham & Brielle.

Hope you enjoyed these covers as much as we did! We love seeing fans connect with our artists' music.

Better Together: The Power of Collaboration in the Music Industry

by Saige Hoying

Music has always been a reminder that we’re better when we create together. There’s something genuinely special about hearing two artists collaborating on the same track as they challenge each other, blend ideas, and find something neither would’ve discovered alone. Working together opens a door to new perspectives, sounds, and emotions for both artists. Creativity thrives in community, and those shared spaces are what allow musicians and art to flourish and remain consistently inspired.

Here at Olivia Management, our artists know the power of collaboration in a creative space, and they’ve shown just how impactful it can be. To celebrate the community they contribute to and the music that comes from it, we’re highlighting some of their standout collaborations below. 

Mary Gauthier and Vince Gill - “Some Times” 

Among Mary’s most notable recent collaborations is the song she wrote with Grammy winner Vince Gill titled “Some Times.” The song is a beautiful testament to the painful and complex history of America and, as Mary recounts, was written “from deep conversations, hard truths, and the kind of honesty that co-writers come to when a really good song has us in its sights.”

Aaron Lee Tasjan - “Nightmare” Lafemmebear Remix 

Aaron Lee’s “Nightmare” reflects on the fear and danger queer individuals face, speaking on the rising violence and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. In an interview with Variety, Tasjan shares how much Lafemmebear (neo-soul/electronic artist and producer) added to the track after remixing it: “She was able to take it a step further… speaking to her own experiences and how she relates to what she’s seeing.”

Derek Webb and Abbie Parker - Dead Ringer Rubber Bridge

Collaboration in the music industry doesn’t always look like writing a song together. In the instance of Derek Webb and his wife Abbie Parker, their teamwork resulted in a new product helping guitarists everywhere. After realizing he loved the velvety tone of a rubber bridged guitar, Derek began working with Abbie to make the sound more accessible in the form of a detachable “Dead Ringer” rubber bridge that allows him to play music in his preferred artistic way.

Jeremy Lister and Street Corner Symphony

Finding their beginning in NBC’s show The Sing Off in 2010, Street Corner Symphony has built an established career as an a cappella group. Tenor Jeremy Lister has remained a core member since the group’s founding, and together the group has continued to make energetic music and contribute to charitable causes while appealing to all audiences in many genres.

Ruthie Collins and Paul Freeman - “Come Around (For Christmas)” 

Under the group name “Little Lion,” American singer/songwriter Ruthie Collins and Welsh artist Paul Freeman created an emotional duet titled “Come Around (for Christmas)” that was featured in the Hallmark Movie A Royal Montana Christmas. Although the pair no longer make music together, the short-lived collaboration gave life to a beautiful work that will live on forever.

The Concept of Love: Seeing Love Through Our Artists' Eyes

by Jake Aurigema

Love is a complicated topic, etched into the heart of music and storytelling. In honor of the month of love coming to an end, we wanted to share with you some love songs our artists have written throughout their careers. From unexpected love to unaccepted love to apocalyptic love, our artists have been through it all.

In June of 2022, Mary Gauthier released “Thank God For You” on her album Dark Enough to See the Stars. This deeply vulnerable lyrical piece provides a flashback into Mary’s time in New Orleans and healing from her past. In a YouTube video titled “Behind the Music: ‘Thank God For You’”, Mary describes this track as “another love song, unapologetically expressing deep romantic love.” She talks about the joy of finally finding a love that works. Mary has always been an incredible writer, and this is just one beautiful example of her talent and passion for storytelling! 

“Thank God For You” by Mary Gauthier

Aaron Lee Tasjan released Stellar Evolution in April of 2024, which featured the song “Dylan Shades”, a poignant exploration of the societal shames of queer love and accepting that you might have to let them go. His lyrics cut like a knife when he writes, “You’ve been hurt too, and so, feel free to let me know if you need to let me go.” Aaron Lee explores the concept of love many times throughout his discography, so this song is definitely in good company. 

“Dylan Shades” by Aaron Lee Tasjan

In that same vein of society taking its toll on romantic love, Josh Radnor wrote a beautiful piece called “Apocalyptic Love Song” on his project, One More Then I’ll Let You Go, in 2021. The lyric “If the world is ending, I’d prefer to be with you” ties the entire piece together, reflecting on the desire for togetherness regardless of the circumstances. The concept of unconditional romantic love invites raw passion and real emotion to Josh’s art. 

Love isn’t only between romantic partners, and Ruthie Collins’ latest release, “Barefoot No Fence,s” encapsulates this perfectly. Written for her daughter, this song is all about a mothers love and how it transcends anything else she’s known. Collins sings “my love for you is endless, I want you to grow up barefoot, no fences,” painting a beautiful picture of the life she dreams of for her child.

Derek Webb likes to say that there’s one love song that makes its way onto every one of his albums and that such love song on his album The Jesus Hypothesis is based on his parents’ story; the all too common experience of losing a loved one to memory loss as they age. In the song “Car Crash,” Webb sings “I would give up the years if it meant half the pain, I don’t wanna live so long that I don’t know your name,” a heartbreaking declaration of love.

Street Corner Symphony’s song “Little Old Me” highlights how finding the right partner can bring you back to life again. The lyric “now I’m satisfied, I’ve got your company, you’re the one for little old me” shines a light on the kind of comfort you can find through love.

There’s no time to feel more grateful for love than around the holidays and Jeremy Lister paints such a genuine picture of this in “Baby, You’re the Best Gift of All” off of his Happy Holidays, Everyone album. Lister sings “I’ve got all I’ll ever need standing here in front of me,” beautifully capturing the true spirit of not only the holidays, but everyday.

These examples are only a small glimpse of how well our artists portray love through songwriting— in all its complexity, confusion, and courage. Take a listen to these pieces this February to expand your idea of what love can really mean.