DAY ONE

In collaboration with the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective

Thursday, October 23, 2025

National Museum of African American Music
510 Broadway | Nashville, TN 37203
 

12:30 p.m. CT

Doors / Check-In

2 p.m.

Disruptors by Design: Creating New Sounds

with Rico Nasty, Tayla Parx, & Tanner Adell

4 p.m.

Perfect Pitch: How to Make a Lasting Impression and Build Relationships 

with Latoya Bennett-Johnson, Serena Lloyd & Ryan Madora

Moderated by Jess Omokheyeke

5 p.m.

Curated Networking Mixer

Hosted by

GRAMMY U Mentorship Program Presented by Amazon Music 

7 p.m.

Artist Q&A and Performance by Mickey Guyton

Moderated by Brittney Spencer

 

DAY TWO

Friday, October 24, 2025

Riverside Revival
1600 Riverside Dr | Nashville, TN 37216
 

5 p.m. CT

Doors / Check-In

6:30 p.m.

KEYNOTE CONVERSATION

Finding Your Voice with Maren Morris

Moderated by King Princess

Livestreamed on the GRAMMYs YouTube & Twitch

8 p.m.

Closing Reception

Featuring GRAMMY U DJ Kewl Kat

MAREN MORRIS

Maren Morris has broken boundaries, smashed records, and affirmed herself as a dynamic vocalist, prolific songwriter, and showstopping performer on her own terms. Among numerous accolades, she has garnered a GRAMMY® Award, five ACM Awards, five CMA Awards, and three Billboard Music Awards, while earning dozens of multiplatinum and gold certifications worldwide and tallying billions of streams. Her catalog includes several acclaimed projects, including HERO [2016], GIRL [2019], Humble Quest [2022] and The Tree EP [2023]. Speaking to her versatility, she’s also the rare force of nature equally suited to collaborating with Zedd on the 6x-platinum “The Middle” and duetting with everyone from Taylor Swift, Stevie Nicks, and Sheryl Crow to Teddy Swims, Hozier, and Jessie Murph. Maren entered her bold new era in 2024 with the release of her August EP, Intermission, which she described as her “heart journey and gamut of emotions packaged into 5 songs”, covering loss, catharsis, sexuality and gratitude. After completing her RSVP Redux tour and several festivals to finish the year, Maren returned in 2025 to release her fourth album, D R E A M S I C L E, on May 9. Introduced by first singles “carry me through” and “bed no breakfast”, this album represents Maren staying true to the core of who she is, and the acceptance, release, and the reclamation of her strength and her light. 

KING PRINCESS

King Princess is the project of Brooklyn-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer and actor Mikaela Straus. She recently released her triumphant third album Girl Violence, out now on section1, made in collaboration with Jake Portrait (Lil Yachty, Alex G, Unknown Mortal Orchestra), and Aire Atlantica (breakthrough: SZA’s “Low”). Girl Violence is the sound of Straus picking up the pieces after her world fell apart – fighting for freedom, stepping back from the limelight and major label system, breaking up, moving away, and returning to Brooklyn where she was born and raised. Through it all, she somehow found the agency and creative spirit to fight the misconceptions and create the album she was destined to make, in a potent return to self. Perennially underestimated, she now wields the chip on her shoulder as a weapon, upping the ante and taking the reins on Girl Violence. 

 

RICO NASTY

From the moment she arrived, Rico Nasty stood out. Since her breakthrough as a teenager from PG County, Maryland with her own signature blend of bubbly melodies, rage raps, and skull-rattling beats, the artist born Maria Kelly has been an iconoclastic presence in the rap game. She’s been drawn from the jump to the juxtaposition of hard and soft, countering her sweet-and-sour Sugar Trap sound with the kind of vocal cord-shredding mosh-rap you hear everywhere today. Back then, label executives called her weird for songs like 2018’s paradigm-shifting “Smack A Bitch,” which kicked open the doors to a dominant new era of “rapper as rockstar.” At a time when female rappers dressed like WWE wrestlers, Rico was serving Sex Pistols meets Rainbow Brite. But for Rico, the aesthetic wasn’t a costume or a phase. It’s one thing to dress like a rockstar — to be a rockstar is another. 

TAYLA PARX

Tayla Parx has reshaped the music landscape with her discography, amassing over 6 billion streams and earning multiple Grammy nominations. Honored with Billboard's "Hitmaker" Award in 2019, she became the first female songwriter since 2014 to have three Top 10 hits on the Hot 100 simultaneously, including Ariana Grande's "7 rings" and "thank u, next," and Panic! At The Disco's "High Hopes." Parx is also one of only four Black women to have a #1 song on the Country charts.  

Parx has released three critically acclaimed albums: We Need To Talk (2019), Coping Mechanisms (2020), Many Moons, Many Suns (2024). She established TaylaMade, Inc. in 2020, which encompasses Parx Publishing and Parx Studios, which have partnered with the Recording Academy and American Express. Her entrepreneurial success earned her a spot on Forbes 30 Under 30. As an actor, Tayla has appeared in Hairspray, Gilmore Girls, Nickelodeon's True Jackson VP, and most recently in Spinning Gold, among others. 

TANNER ADELL

Fusing country song craft with the self-confident swagger of hip hop, and the unabashed excitement of pop, Tanner Adell has come a long way in a short few years – from her roots in California and Wyoming to Nashville’s cutting edge. A bi-racial singer-songwriter who celebrated 2024 with her first headlining tour (The Buckle Bunny Tour) and a cultural-icon collaboration (joining Beyoncé for “BLACKBIIRD” on the Grammy winning album Cowboy Carter), Adell has earned recognition from The New York Times, Billboard, and others, while bringing her patented brand of fierce femininity to stages across the US. Following her 2023 EP Buckle Bunny, and appearances on the 2024 BET Awards, Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular, NFL’s Christmas Day Halftime Show, and more, a new chapter of personal artistry begins with the single “Going Blonde.” Written by Adell alone on a Nashville barstool in May of 2022, “Going Blonde” brings new color to a distinctive country artist, who now wears her hair blonde in tribute to the mother she never met – and to the woman she has become. Tracking the impact of her adoption at birth, the tender acoustic ballad finds a soulful new talent claiming her identity while honoring the past, revealing a transformation of inner strength. The new track marks the first taste of Adell’s upcoming debut album, as a fearless creative force digs deep into her heart.

LATOYA BENNETT-JOHNSON

Latoya Bennett-Johnson is the VP of Global Sponsorships at Mastercard, leading music, entertainment and women’s rugby partnerships. As a former entrepreneur her keen eye for talent and brand personality enabled her to build successful and authentic artist brand collaborations and organic fan engagement. She's a proud graduate of Hampton University with a career spanning sponsorship, experiential marketing, and the Arts. Latoya enjoys traveling, creative projects, and family time. Her journey highlights her commitment to authenticity, excellence, and inspiring leadership. 

SERENA LLOYD

Serena Lloyd leads Human Resources at Big Loud, an award-winning independent record label based in Nashville. With over a decade of experience in the music, advertising, and PR industries, she oversees Big Loud’s people and culture strategy. Serena holds a Master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Brooklyn College and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Stony Brook University. She’s also deeply committed to mentoring emerging professionals and students who aspire to build careers in music. 

RYAN MADORA

Ryan Madora is a Nashville-based writer, content creator, and bass player. Her versatility as an instrumentalist has landed her touring credits including ZAYN, Jenny Lewis, Robben Ford, Molly Tuttle, Allison Russell, and country radio personality Bobby Bones.  

In addition to performing and session work, Ryan is a seasoned author and journalist who has written for Bass Player Magazine and No Treble. She published her first book, Bass Players To Know: Learning From The Greats in 2019 and was voted “6th Best Bassist of 2020” by Bass Player Magazine. An educator at heart, she creates content for her YouTube channel, has released multiple online courses and teaches privately.

JESS OMOKHEKEYE

Jessica Bisola Omokheyeke is the Executive Assistant and Project Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Recording Academy/GRAMMYs, where she develops initiatives that advance equity, representation, and access across the music industry. A skilled public speaker and event host, she’s led impactful programming nationwide, bringing people together through dialogue, education, and community-building. Named one of Variety’s 10 Assistants to Watch in 2025, she’s passionate about creating spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered to thrive. A Nigerian-American singer, songwriter, and performer, she releases music under the name SOLA—fusing R&B, pop, rock, and funk. Her latest single, “WHAT YOU WANT,” is an anthem of empowerment, authenticity, and non-conformity

MICKEY GUYTON

Mickey Guyton is a four-time GRAMMY®-nominated artist and country music trailblazer whose career has been defined by breaking barriers, inspiring audiences, and delivering unforgettable performances. Named TIME Magazine’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year in 2022 and CMT’s Breakout Artist of the Year in 2021, Guyton has become a powerful voice for inclusion and authenticity in country music.

With her critically acclaimed debut album Remember Her Name, she made history as the first Black artist nominated for Best Country Album and the first Black female solo artist to earn a GRAMMY® nomination in a country category. The album also garnered nominations for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance, cementing her place as one of the genre’s most important and groundbreaking artists.

 

BRITTANY SPENCER

Brittney Spencer is a celebrated singer-songwriter and rising star in country and Americana music whose career has been defined by authenticity, powerhouse vocals, and fearless storytelling. Known for her ability to blend country, soul, and pop influences with striking honesty, Spencer has emerged as one of Nashville’s most dynamic new voices.

With her critically acclaimed debut album My Stupid Life, Spencer showcases her unique perspective and genre-defying artistry, earning praise from Rolling Stone, Billboard, and The New York Times. She has shared stages with artists including Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, The Highwomen, and Maren Morris, and has captivated audiences on major platforms such as the CMA Awards, ACM Honors, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Named one of Spotify’s Hot Country Artists to Watch and featured in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Music, Spencer continues to challenge conventions and inspire through her music, bringing a fresh, inclusive spirit to the future of country music.