Despite Black artists’ major contributions to country music and other traditions that get rolled into Americana, they’ve consistently been ignored if not outright abused. The Black Opry organization has been working very hard to build community and visibility and advocate for Black musicians and fans in country, roots, Americana, folk and beyond. Holly G founded the group in 2021, quickly expanding it with touring showcase The Black Opry Revue. This year, the organization established a new home base in Nashville. While continuing the organization’s previous efforts at the same intense pace, Holly G, Tanner Davenport and their crew co-organized LGBTQ rights benefit We Will Always Be and gun-reform advocacy benefit Together in Action, as well as launching a new intersectional organization called Country Any Way.Â
Best Musical Activists
