Nashville, TN – June 6, 2026 – Last night, global music authority Billboard concluded its Billboard Country Live events, which took place at Category 10 in downtown Nashville. The free, two-day public concert showcase brought together an elite roster of country music’s most exciting stars, delivering an electric live music experience right in the heart of Music City. Driven by overwhelming demand, the venue reached maximum capacity multiple times, bringing in a record-breaking 32,000 fans throughout the entirety of the event.

The two-day concert series featured the genre’s defining hitmakers split across two high-energy nights. On Thursday, June 4 (Day 1), reigning CMA Awards Vocal Group of the Year, The Red Clay Strays headlined a powerhouse bill featuring Carly Pearce, Chase Rice, Corey Kent, Drew Baldridge, Hunter Hayes, Lanie Gardner, The Band Perry, The Grimm and Ty Myers. On Friday, June 5 (Day 2), ACM New Male Artist of the Year Tucker Wetmore took the headlining reins, leading a stellar showcase that included Alana Springsteen, Alexandra Kay, Ashley Cooke, Braxton Keith, Kaitlin Butts, Priscilla Block, Something Out West and Stella Lefty.

The festivities officially kicked off on Wednesday, June 3, with an exclusive rooftop gathering at Category 10 honoring Billboard’s Country Power Players. This premiere event recognized the most influential executives and industry tastemakers shaping the global trajectory of the genre today. The night featured several major honors, including the Icon award, presented to Miranda Lambert by Tom Douglas. HARDY handed the Rising Star award to Tucker Wetmore, while Matt Rife presented The Red Clay Strays with the Groundbreaker award. The Neal Agency’s Austin Neal was named Executive Of The Year, presented by his father Kevin Neal following an introduction by Billboard’s Executive Vice President of Charts & Data Partnerships, Silvio Pietroluongo and Riley Green took home the Hitmaker award, handed out by Clint Black.

Billboard Country Live Highlights:

• Carly Pearce made a surprise appearance on Thursday, announced just the morning of the show. She captivated the audience with a beautiful cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” alongside a hit-packed set including “If I Don’t Leave, I’m Gonna Stay,””Truck on Fire,” “What He Didn’t Do,” and “I Hope You’re Happy Now” (co-written with Category 10 bar owner and fellow country artist Luke Combs). Drew Baldridge also took the stage and announced his new album FARM FAITH FAMILY, debuted his midnight release “Diesel and Dirt,” and performed tracks including “Rebel,””Tough People,” and”She’s Somebody’s Daughter.”
• On the eve of dropping their new album Grateful, The Red Clay Strays closed out Thursday with an electrifying set. They opened with “Don’t Wanna Know” and followed it up with “Stone’s Throw,” pausing to note that this marked the band’s second time playing on Nashville’s famed Lower Broadway. Their powerful closing set also included “People Hatin’,” “Moments,” “Wanna Be Loved,” “No One Else Like Me,” “Wondering Why,” and more.
• Day 2 featured a wave of surprises and unexpected collaborations, including Stella Lefty bringing out Dan + Shay to sing their hit “Tequila,” comedian Matt Rife joining Ashley Cooke on stage for “Baby Blues,” Chanel West Coast performing an unreleased track titled “Tennessee,” and a performance by the Tennessee Titans Blue Crew featuring Chloe Holladay Hubbard.
• Headliner Tucker Wetmore capped off Friday night with a quick-paced, high energy set to a packed house. He sang tracks including “Proving Me Right,” “Wine Into Whiskey,” “3,2,1,” “Wind Up Missin’ You,” and “Brunette,” while also performing a brand-new, unreleased song “Who Told You That.” Billboard Country Live then concluded the evening with an after party featuring DJ-duo Country Night, with a surprise performance from Lil Debbie, the alter-ego of Avery Anna.

For this year’s events, Billboard was proud to partner with Under Armour. As a Category Partner of Billboard Country Live, Under Armour was integrated across key event touchpoints and fan-facing experiences, showcasing their latest product innovation, The Bouncy Tee, in partnership with Parker McCollum. Additionally, Gibson—the iconic, Nashville-headquartered global instrument brand—provided select gear, along with custom guitars for onsite giveaways.

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ABOUT BILLBOARD

Billboard is the ultimate barometer of success in music. Through its iconic charts, breaking news, thought leadership, multi-platform storytelling and world class events, Billboard tracks the world’s top musicians and the business that powers them. Since its origin in 1894, music leaders and fans across the world look to Billboard as the most trusted source for music information, spanning 15 countries and published in 10 languages. The prestigious Billboard Music Awards are the only premium awards ceremony that recognize musicians for their undeniable achievements on the Billboard charts, using pure data to determine the winners, rather than relying on opaque committees or undisclosed voters to select the honorees giving fans maximum impact at each year’s ceremony, as Billboard’s chart data measures fans’ engagement with their favorite music. Billboard’s other premium experiences range from the Billboard Power 100 to Billboard Women in Music, Billboard Latin Music Week, and Billboard Live, which connects the most impactful artists and industry leaders with fans from all cultures and corners of the globe.

ABOUT CATEGORY 10

Inspired by Luke Combs’ certified RIAA Diamond debut #1 hit, “Hurricane,” Category 10 is an off-the-charts entertainment experience, bringing the best in live music, line dancing, food and spirits. Category 10 is owned and operated by Opry Entertainment Group, a division of Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP), and designed in partnership with design and innovation firm, Journey. The entertainment venue’s flagship location is found in Nashville, Tennessee. A second location is scheduled to open in Las Vegas, Nevada, in fall of 2026. A third location is scheduled to open at Universal Orlando’s CityWalk in late 2027. For the latest updates on Category 10 visit www.category10.com and social media including Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube.

ABOUT UNDER ARMOUR, INC.

Under Armour, Inc., based in Baltimore, Maryland, is a global performance brand committed to empowering athletes everywhere. Since 1996, the company has advanced how athletes train, compete, and recover through innovative apparel, footwear, and accessories. In partnership with elite athletes and game changers, Under Armour is shaping the future of sport and inspiring those who strive for more. Learn more at http://about.underarmour.com.

ABOUT GIBSON

Gibson, the leading iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for 130 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, Gibson has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson portfolio includes Gibson, the leading guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including Epiphone, which has been on every stage since 1873, Kramer, the original MADE TO ROCK HARD guitar brand, MESA/Boogie, the home of tone, KRK, behind great music for over 30 years, and Maestro, the founder of effect pedals. Gibson is dedicated to quality, innovation, and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by all Gibson brands. Explore more at Gibson.com, Gibson App, and on Gibson TV, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and visit us at the Gibson Garage Nashville and the Gibson Garage London.