THE NMAAM AND THE AMAF CELEBRATE A SPECIAL SHARED ROOTS EVENT FEATURING RUBY AMANFU AND KENNY SHARP

AMERICANAFEST 2026 opens where the music begins! Join the National Museum of African American Music and the Americana Music Association Foundation for a special evening celebrating the shared legacy that connects Black music to the heart of Americana.

The evening brings together Nashville’s musical past, present and future inside one of the city’s most important cultural institutions. NMAAM’s mission is to educate the world, preserve the legacy and celebrate the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack, making the museum a fitting setting for an AMERICANAFEST event rooted in the musical traditions that continue to shape Americana, soul, R&B and roots music.

The evening features an opening reception at 4:00 PM followed by remarks from Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association, and NMAAM Board Member Shannon Sanders; a featured display of the Americana Music Association Legacy of Americana Award; a performance by Ruby Amanfu honoring the legacy of her late uncle, Dr. Paul Kwami, and the Fisk Jubilee Singers; and a 12-piece band set from rising Americana Soul artist Kenny Sharp.

Seats to the Shared Roots event are first come, first served. Admission is free with RSVP, open now: https://www.nmaam.org/event/shared-roots-americanafest-2026/

“NMAAM exists to preserve the musical legacy that continues to shape the American soundtrack, but preservation is most powerful when those traditions are alive and moving forward. Bringing Ruby Amanfu and Kenny Sharp into our Roots Theater during AMERICANAFEST is a beautiful example of that continuum — honoring the legacy of the Fisk Jubilee Singers while giving audiences an opportunity to experience where those roots are taking us next,” shares and William Jeffries, President, National Museum of African American Music.

“AMERICANAFEST is about bringing people together around the music that connects our history to where we are going. Kenny Sharp embodies that spirit. His music lives at the intersection of soul, R&B and Americana, and pairing his performance with Ruby Amanfu, niece of our beloved friend and Fisk Jubilee Singers musical director, Dr. Paul Kwami, creates exactly the kind of meaningful musical conversation that AMERICANAFEST is built to celebrate. The Fisk Jubilee Singers represent the past and present while Kenny Sharp represents the present and future,” says Jed Hilly, Executive Director, Americana Music Association.

“Kenny Sharp understands that great music doesn’t live inside a genre box. He brings Soul, Rhythm and Blues, Gospel, Hip-Hop and Americana together in a way that feels deeply rooted and completely contemporary. Having worked closely with the Fisk Jubilee Singers and spent my career championing songwriters and artists who move culture forward, I’m especially excited to see this musical lineage represented in one room at NMAAM during AMERICANAFEST,” says Shannon Sanders, Executive Director, Creative BMI Nashville, and board member of both NMAAM and the Americana Music Association.

Sharp’s performance comes at a defining moment in the artist’s rapid rise. Following the February 2026 release of his Speakeasy EP, Sharp has emerged as a singular force in Nashville’s Americana, soul and R&B community, bringing together the grit of Southern soul, the storytelling of Americana, and the energy of contemporary R&B.

In 2026, Sharp played Bonnaroo, made his national television debut on The Kelly Clarkson Show and, most recently, made his Ryman Auditorium debut opening for musical icon Gladys Knight. Sharp reignited Nashville’s R&B and soul scene while bringing that tradition to new audiences through an unmistakably contemporary lens. His AMERICANAFEST performance at NMAAM will showcase the full breadth of that sound with a full band and an extended one-hour set.

“I’ve always believed the music I make is part of a bigger conversation — one that started long before me and will continue long after me. To perform at NMAAM during AMERICANAFEST, alongside Ruby Amanfu and in a space that honors the roots of Black music, is a full-circle moment. I’m bringing the whole band, and we’re going to give Nashville everything we’ve got,” says Sharp.

The event also reflects the deep connections among Nashville’s African American musical history, contemporary soul and R&B, and the broader Americana community. NMAAM is the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the many music genres created, influenced and inspired by African Americans, from spirituals and gospel to jazz, blues, hip-hop and R&B.

About Kenny Sharp:
Kenny Sharp is a singer, songwriter and producer known for his signature genre-bending sound he calls “Brown Liquor Music.” Sharp began his career as a rapper focused on lyrical skill before signing with mentor LunchMoney Lewis to Prescription Songs. He has since become a sought-after name for his lyrics and melodies by film and television sync teams as well as music producers, artists and songwriters across genres, including hip-hop, pop and country. Sharp is a dynamic entertainer whose live show is reminiscent of Muddy Waters, Sly and the Family Stone and James Brown. In 2026, he released the Speakeasy EP, performed on The Kelly Clarkson Show, joined the Bonnaroo lineup and on August 13th, made his Ryman Auditorium debut opening for icon Gladys Knight.

About the National Museum of African American Music:
The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) is the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the many music genres created, influenced and inspired by African Americans. Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, NMAAM uses immersive exhibitions, interactive technology and live programming to educate and bring the musical heroes of the past into the present.

About AMERICANAFEST:
AMERICANAFEST will showcase artists and bands throughout notable venues in Nashville. The destination event also features a first-rate industry conference, bringing together the top tier of the music business to discuss current industry topics and issues through insightful panels and workshops.

The week of festivities kicks off with the Americana Honors & Awards, which celebrates Americana luminaries and welcomes the next generation of trailblazers while offering one-of-a-kind performance pairings at Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium.