Carowinds Summer Music Fest

Schedule:

8:30 PM: Carly Pearce at Paladium Amphitheatre

GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter Carly Pearce lit a fire with her debut album Every Little Thing and the PLATINUM-certified history-making title track, and she hasn’t slowed down since. Pearce’s 3x PLATINUM-certified “I Hope You’re Happy Now" with Lee Brice won both the 2020 CMA Awards Musical Event and 2021 ACM Awards Music Event, plus ACM Single of the Year.

Pearce, now a Grand Ole Opry and Kentucky Music Hall of Fame member, has come a long way from the pain she felt writing her critically acclaimed and commercially lauded third studio album 29 which includes Country Radio chart toppers “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” with Ashley McBryde and PLATINUM-certified “What He Didn’t Do.”

For the PLATINUM-certified “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” Pearce picked up her second consecutive ACM Music Event of the Year in 2022 and marked the third duet between two solo women to top Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. The song also took home the 2022 CMA Musical Event of the Year and won a GRAMMY® Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, marking Pearce’s first and making history as the first female pairing to win in the category.

In 2023, Pearce joined Blake Shelton’s BACK TO THE HONKY TONK TOUR and made her 100th performance at the Grand Ole Opry. As she closed out that pivotal 29 chapter with her first live album 29: Written In Stone (Live From Music City), Pearce now steps into the next chapter of her musical career with the praised release of her latest Top-20-and-rising single “we don’t fight anymore” (featuring Chris Stapleton), which earned her second GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

Pearce went on to release “country music made me do it,” to critical acclaim, performing the song at the first annual People’s Choice Country Awards and on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Pearce will release her highly anticipated fourth album, hummingbird, on June 14, continuing to resonate with her honest lyrics and timeless musicality.

7:00 PM: Niko Moon at Paladium Amphitheatre

Chart-topping country artist Niko Moon is all about making people feel good with his positive vibes and tunes. His first single “Good Time” went #1 on country radio and his other hits continue to climb the charts as he releases more music. Beyond being a solo act, Moon, a SESAC country songwriter of the year, has written eight #1 songs and over 40 major record label cuts for artists such as Morgan Wallen, AVICII, Dierks Bentley, Pitbull, Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts, and more.

6:20 PM: Hannah Ellis at Paladium Amphitheatre

The Campbellsville, Kentucky-native’s voice - a mix of favorite flannel, sparkling pink wine and welcome - is the friend we always wanted. Whether pouring from a car radio or your phone, the act named to Rolling Stone’s “Artist To Watch” list reminds you big leaps often come as a series of small steps when no one is looking.

Having paid for her University of Kentucky degree with her full-ride scholarship, she – with the full support of her family – started chasing her dreams. Like so many, that meant a trip to The Voice on NBC, a self financed EP, and moving to Nashville to begin the endless rounds of writers nights, meetings, making friends, and trying to find your way.

Hannah paid her dues, kept her focus and kept moving towards something she was sure she felt and knew was right. The fresh faced songwriter has since written songs recorded by artists, and been featured as a vocalist on songs, spanning multiple genres, including: Russell Dickerson, Carly Pearce, for KING & COUNTRY, Danielle Bradbery and Francesca Battestelli. Hannah Ellis’ “Wine Country” is available now, with more music to follow.