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Songwriters in the round 2026
august 29

TEnth-annual Songwriters in the round TO BE HELD Aug. 29, 2026

Join us for an exciting 2026 event!

STAR's Tenth-Annual Songwriters in the Round is set for Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026 in Lenoir City! 

We look forward to exciting performances in an intimate setting inside Shangri-La's indoor arena. Dinner will be provided by Chuy's Tex-Mex of Knoxville, and a social hour will precede the songwriters sharing their songs and the stories behind them.

If you or your organization are interested in being sponsors for the 2026 Songwriters in the Round, check back soon to learn more about opportunities we have available!

Meet the 2025 SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Premier Sponsors

VIP BAR SPONSOR

ELITE SPONSORS

BAR SPONSOR

Pat Kennedy

DESSERT SPONSOR

Chris & Julie Ramsey

PATRON SPONSORS

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Meet the 2025 Songwriters

Makayla Lynn

Named by Rolling Stone Magazine as a "New Artist You Need To Know", Canadian-born Makayla Lynn is a fresh face in Nashville making a name for herself on both sides of the border. Spending time at No. 1 on CMT's 12-Pack Countdown, two-time East Coast Music Award-winner in Canada, and sharing her music through an unforgettable live show, Lynn's growth as a songwriter through her teens has allowed her artistry to find its place in the world of Country/Americana storytellers much like her influences.

​A prolific songwriter whose lyrical depth runs deep beyond her years, Lynn can be found writing with the impressive likes of Trisha Yearwood, Lori McKenna, Luke Laird, Brandy Clark, Jay Knowles, Gordie Sampson, Marcus Hummon, Leslie Satcher, Matraca Berg, Ashley Monroe, Ronnie Bowman, Carter Faith, Jillian Jaqueline and many more.
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As both a songwriter and an artist, Lynn is trailblazing a fierce path for herself in Nashville. Gifted with the ability to storytell deeply and profoundly paired with vocals that never seem to miss a note, Lynn is an artist/writer who is here to stay.​

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Kylie Frey

Singer/songwriter Kylie Frey is a modern-day troubadour with a bold, independent spirit that infuses her rich storytelling and traditional country style.

The Louisiana native grew up in a rodeo family, learning to rope and ride at a young age, but it was her relentless desire to sing in front of a crowd that drove her to Nashville. Now, with 10 No. 1 singles on Texas radio, Frey is touring with the likes of Cody Johnson, Casey Donahew, and Randall King.

Frey's affinity for the stage, and the road, continues to gain momentum. She made her Grand Ole Opry debut in 2023, and she was a semi-finalist on NBC's America's Got Talent. Frey was also named to the CMT Next Women in Country Class of 2024.

With her newest music, she continues to establish herself as an undeniably familiar, yet fresh, voice in country music, poised for her biggest chapter yet.
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Dave Kennedy

Dave is a storyteller above all else, and it’s easy to see why. His songs paint a cinematic portrait of America as his characters' journey through love, heartbreak, humor, sin, redemption, revenge, and perhaps even a few of the songwriter’s own footsteps along the way.

​Bringing these songs to life is a voice so soaring and powerful you can’t help but be swept away into his world by the end of the first chorus. He navigates his way through each story and each world with a dynamic presence of both strength and subtlety that appreciates both the peaks and the valleys, the highways and the backroads, the loves lost and lingering in his mind.

What perhaps makes Dave unique is that he is just as much a fan as he is an artist.  He is the true embodiment of the idea that “a rising tide lifts all ships” and is a constantly searching for opportunities to not only further his own career, but to lift up and support the entire songwriting community as well. It’s for all these reasons that Dave has a reputation as one of Nashville’s most respected songwriters and artists, and why artists like Travis Tritt, Riley Green, Whiskey Myers, Drake White, Larry Fleet, and others are eager to continue writing and performing with Dave Kennedy.

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Dan Smalley​

Dan Smalley may just now be making a name for himself, but he sings with the voice of experience. The Alaska-born military brat who came of age in Shreveport, Louisiana, has a way of making you believe what he’s singing.

Smalley expresses a fresh take on Country music that knows tradition, inspired by the greats of the genre and infused with the swampy sounds of his roots, the Gospel of hardwood church pews and the impassioned delivery of Soul music. His first Full-Length Record THE STATE OF COUNTRY MUSIC, released Independently(Smallside Records) through Onerpm May 10, 2024 and was Nominated for 2024 BCMA International Record of The Year. 

As a songwriter, artists like Ashley McBryde(Grammy Nominated album “Never Will”) Trace Adkins, Randall King, Joe Nichols, Leftover Salmon, Jerrod Nieman, Makayla Lynn, Dillon Carmichael and others have included Smalley co-writes on their recent releases. 

Smalley’s delivery on stage has landed him on bills alongside Willie Nelson, Allison Kraus, Turnpike Troubadours, Ashley McBryde, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Eli Young Band, Justin Moore, Dwight Yoakam, Randy Rogers Band, Ryan Bingham and a list of notable others both in the US and abroad.

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2024 Event Highlights 

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