Words & Music Night

43rd Annual

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Over the past year, the Museum’s Words & Music program helped thousands of students put their thoughts, feelings, and ideas into songs. Words & Music Night features a selection of those songs written by students from Tennessee, Texas, Michigan, Florida, Canada and Australia in collaboration with professional songwriters. Thank you for listening to the words of these students as performed by the professional songwriter paired with their classroom as part of Words & Music: Teach Language Arts Through Lyric Writing.

Words & Music Night 2022
Selection of Songs from the 2021-2022 school year

1. “Small Town Tennessee Girl”
Student songwriters: Brett Hardin and Duncan Smallwood, 12th grade
Professional co-writer: Raquel Cole

2. “Tired of All These Rules”
Student songwriter: Janzen Esterreicher, 9th grade
Professional co-writer: Tim Jones

3. “Current Change”
Student songwriters: Mr. Grandstaff’s Advisory Class
Professional co-writer: Chris Moyse

4. “Evil Furball”
Student songwriter: Lex Moore
Professional co-writers: Ellen Angelico and Kyshona Armstrong

5. “I Can’t Get Past Getting Over You”
Student songwriter: Olivia Taliaferro
Professional co-writer: Mason Lee

6. “Tomorrow”
Student songwriter: Allie Pyka
Professional co-writer: Shannon LaBrie

7. “Mates”
Student songwriter: Tyson Wills
Professional co-writer: Claire Wyndham

8. “What I Do”
Student songwriter: Nashville Big Picture High School Musicians Internship
Professional co-writer: Michelle Pereira

9. “The Pressure She Carries”
Student songwriter: Joseyline Umana
Professional co-writer: Anne Buckle

10. “Enough”
Student songwriter: Rhaelyn Dixon
Professional co-writer: Amirah Shantel

11. “Beachside”
Student songwriter: Skylar Lucky Kehoe
Professional co-writers: Adam Ollendorff and Kayley Walker

Songwriter Bios

In order of performance

Raquel Cole

Raquel Cole is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from British Columbia, Canada. She has fronted shows for Brothers Osborne, Diamond Rio, Jonny Lang, Scotty McCreery, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood, and others. Her most recent single, “Think About You,” was named one of SiriusXM Country’s biggest songs of 2021 and charted at #43 on the Canadian Country charts. Her song “Music is Medicine,” recorded by Marie Osmond, claimed her first Billboard Top 10 Country Album charting song. 

Tim Jones

Tim Jones is a singer-songwriter and member of the band Whisky Wolves of the West, along with musical partner Leroy Powell. Their first release Country Roots was heralded by Rolling Stone as one of the Top Ten Country EPs of 2018. Tim has contributed to hundreds of recordings including collaborations with Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes and Carl Broemel of My Morning Jacket, and has written songs for Nicki Bluhm Shelly Fairchild, Tony Lucca, Jaime McLean, Szlachetka, and Emily West.    

Chris Moyse

Chris Moyse grew up in New England and moved to Nashville in 2013 to pursue a music career. He won the 46th annual Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Competition and was selected to perform at the 2018 Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival in Texas. He has shared the stage with folk troubadours Tim O’Brien, Joe Ely, and members of Old Crow Medicine Show. Moyse released his first full-length album Bitter Ballads & Cynical Prayers in 2020.   

Ellen Angelico

Ellen Angelico is a multi-instrumentalist session musician and currently tours with country artist Cam. She has been featured on numerous records and has played on stages from the Grand Ole Opry to Križanke in Slovenia. The Nashville Scene called Angelico “one of the greatest utility players in Nashville.” Angelico busies herself producing YouTube videos for Fanny’s House of Music and also records her own music. Since January 2021, Ellen has proudly served Nashville as a Commissioner on the Metro Nashville Arts Commission.  

Kyshona Armstrong

Kyshona Armstrong began her career as a music therapist in mental health hospitals and correctional facilities. Kyshona has shared the stage with many artists, including Lake Street Dive, JD McPherson, Meiko, Margo Price, and Wynonna. Kyshona’s songs have been heard on network TV shows on ABC, CBS, and NBC, as well as on HBO’s Insecure. In 2020, Kyshona released her album Listen, which featured the song “Hear Your Voice,” co-written with British artist Danni Nicholls. The song was nominated for UK Song of the Year at AmericanaFest UK. 

Mason Lee

Mason Lee is from the West Texas town of Seminole. After learning piano at a young age and teaching himself to play guitar, Mason started writing songs. After high school, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and graduated with a degree in professional music. Mason released his debut EP, Something That You Know, in July 2016. He released his latest single “Music to My Ears” in May 2022.  

Shannon LaBrie

Shannon LaBrie is a singer-songwriter from Lincoln, Nebraska whose music possesses a unique blend of Americana and Soul. Shannon has performed over 900 shows across the United States and has opened for artists ranging from Valerie June and ZZ Ward to Gabe Dixon and Robert Randolf. Her song “She Got Soul” was recorded and released on Robert Randolf’s Grammy-nominated album Got Soul, and her music has been featured in many TV shows. NPR added her song “Firewalker” to their Top 20 Songs of 2020.  

Claire Wyndham

Claire Wyndham is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose music has taken her all around the globe. After achieving success in her native Australia, she moved to Nashville in 2010. She signed a publishing deal in 2013 and found her niche placing songs in film and television. Her songs have been featured on networks like HBO, CBS, NBC, The CW Freeform, and MTV. In 2022, she released an EP, Waves, with her newly formed duo, the Lonely Fighters.  

Michelle Pereira

Michelle Pereira is a singer/songwriter born and raised just outside of Toronto, Ontario. She has performed at various iconic venues around Nashville including 3rd and Lindsley, The Bluebird Cafe, City Winery, EXIT/IN, and The Listening Room. In March of 2019, Michelle was selected to be a part of ASCAP’s 2019 Guidance from Publishers for Songwriters (GPS) program. Michelle’s song “Homemade” won the Bluebird Café’s Golden Pick Contest for best original song in February 2020.

Anne Buckle

Anne Buckle—also known as WILDWOOD—is a descendant of the Carter Family and a Harvard graduate. A singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer, she has shared the stage with Charlie Daniels, toured with Augustana, and opened for the Chicks. Anne founded 3 Chords, an organization which teaches songwriting to Nashville’s refugee youth as a way of helping them share their stories. As a songwriter, she has penned songs for dozens of artists including David Archuleta, Jacob Westfall, and Marisa McKaye.  

Amirah Shantel

Amirah Shantel is a classically-trained vocalist, composer, songwriter, producer, and session singer. In 2017, the Nashville Industry Music Awards recognized her with a nomination for Best R&B/Soul Artist. She released her second EP, Simple as a Kiss, in 2020, and her latest single “Nothing to Say” has been featured on streaming playlists and UK radio. Amirah has performed her own music at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, and she frequently contributes vocal arrangements to other artists’ recordings. 

2021-2022 Participating Schools

Local Schools

An Array of Charm Camps for Youth Development – Nashville, TN
Battle Creek Elementary School – Spring Hill, TN
Battle Ground Academy – Franklin, TN
Brentwood Library – Brentwood, TN
Cane Ridge Elementary School – Antioch, TN
Cascade Elementary School – Wartrace, TN
Christ Presbyterian Academy – Nashville, TN
Christ the King School – Nashville, TN
Clarksville High School – Clarksville, TN
Clovercroft Elementary – Franklin, TN
Cockrill Elementary School – Nashville, TN
Creekside Elementary – Franklin, TN
Crockett Elementary – Brentwood, TN
Donelson Christian Academy – Nashville, TN
Dudley Head Start – Nashville, TN
East Robertson Elementary School – Cross Plains, TN
Ensworth School – Nashville, TN
Franklin Road Academy – Nashville, TN
Frederick Douglass Head Start – Nashville, TN
Grassland Elementary – Brentwood, TN
Harding Academy – Nashville, TN
Heritage Elementary – Thompson’s Station, TN
Homeschool Families
Hutchison School – Memphis, TN
Isaiah T. Creswell Middle School of the Arts – Nashville, TN
Joelton Elementary School – Joelton, TN
Julia Green Elementary School – Nashville, TN
Lakeview Elementary School – Mount Juliet, TN
Lighthouse Christian School – Antioch, TN
Linden Elementary School – Oak Ridge, TN
Lipscomb Elementary – Brentwood, TN
Lookout Valley Elementary School – Chattanooga, TN
Margaret Allen Middle School – Nashville, TN
Martha O’Bryan Center – Nashville, TN
Martin Luther King Jr. High School – Nashville, TN
McFadden School of Excellence – Murfreesboro, TN
McMinn County High School – Athens, TN
Nashville Big Picture High School – Nashville, TN
Nations Ministry Center – Nashville, TN
Northfield Elementary – Murfreesboro, TN
Oak Hill School – Nashville, TN
Oasis Center – Nashville, TN
Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School – Nashville, TN
Portland Gateview Elementary – Portland, TN
Portland High School – Portland, TN
Prescott South Middle School – Cookeville, TN
Preston Taylor Ministries – Nashville, TN
Red Bank Elementary – Chattanooga, TN
Riverdale High School – Murfreesboro, TN
Rockstar Afterschool Program – Mount Juliet, TN
Ruby Major Elementary School – Hermitage, TN
South Pittsburg Elementary School – South Pittsburg, TN
St. Mary’s Episcopal School – Memphis, TN
Stanford Montessori Elementary School – Nashville, TN
Sterchi Elementary School – Knoxville, TN
Stewarts Creek High School – Smyrna, TN
Stokes Brown Public Library – Springfield, TN
Sumner Academy – Gallatin, TN
Susan Gray Head Start – Nashville, TN
The Discovery School – Murfreesboro, TN
Thomas Magnet School – Shelbyville, TN
Thompson’s Station Middle School – Thompson’s Station, TN
Trinity Elementary School – Franklin, TN
University School of Nashville – Nashville, TN
Vanderbilt University – Nashville, TN
W.A. Wright Elementary School – Mount Juliet, TN
Waverly Central High School – Waverly, TN
Williamson County Schools Online – Franklin, TN

Distance Learning Schools

Since 1979, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has helped students tell their stories through its innovative Words & Music program. More than 150,000 students have learned to write song lyrics while developing key skills in language arts. Not only does Words & Music teach core curriculum, but it also connects young people to Nashville’s music community, pairing classes with songwriters who transform student lyrics into finished songs that are performed in an interactive workshop.

Learn more about the
Words & Music program

Watch Last Year's Words & Music Night

Educators who are interested in participating in the Words & Music program, please contact schools@countrymusichalloffame.org.

2021-2022 Words & Music Funders

Visit the sponsor's websites

Words & Music is made possible by the Country Music Association Endowment for Words & Music and is funded in part by American Airlines; Chet Atkins Music Education Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee; CMA; CMA Foundation; Dollar General Literacy Foundation; The Memorial Foundation; Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission; Nashville Predators Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; PNC Grow Up Great; and Tennessee Arts Commission.