Maren Morris, Live Nation Women’s Ali Harnell, and Brittney Spencer
Honored as “2024 Champions of The Year”
On October 15th of this year, Save The Music brought the Nashville music community together for our 5th annual “Hometown to Hometown” event, raising $300K in support of new music education programs for under-resourced public high schools. Co-hosted by Leslie Fram and Angie K, the evening was a celebration of music, featuring poignant speeches, electrifying performances, and a shared passion for empowering the next generation of musicians.
(L to R) Abbey Cone, Joy Oladokun, Brandy Clark, Maren Morris, Kellie Morris (Maren’s mother), Ali Harnell, Brittney Spencer, Angie K, Leslie Fram & Ruby Amanfu
(credit: Catherine Powell/Getty)
This year’s event honored three powerhouse women in the music industry: Maren Morris, Brittney Spencer, and Live Nation Women’s Ali Harnell as the 2024 “Champions of the Year.” Their dedication to music education and trailblazing careers were recognized throughout the night, with funds raised supporting the development of music technology programs not only in Nashville but also in their respective hometowns: Dallas, TX (Morris) and Baltimore, MD (Spencer).
Angie K and Leslie Fram (Left), Abbey Cone performance (Right)
The evening was packed with memorable moments, starting with co-hosts Fram and Angie K sharing stories about the transformative power of music education. Performances throughout the night captivated the audience, with highlights including Abbey Cone’s stunning rendition of “If You Were A Song” and Brittney Spencer’s show-stopping performance of “Bigger Than The Song,” which earned her a standing ovation. Spencer was later presented with her “Champion of the Year” award by Beverly Keel, Dean of MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment.
Brittney Spencer Performance (Left), Ali Harnell (Right)
Ali Harnell then took the stage for a thoughtful conversation about her career, moderated by Leslie Fram. A powerful performance by Allison Russell and Ruby Amanfu of Harnell’s passion project, “A Beautiful Noise,” brought the audience to their feet once again. Brandy Clark reflected on her collaboration with Harnell before presenting her with the “Champion of the Year” award. The performances continued with Joy Oladokun, whose spellbinding rendition of “What Would This World Do” set the stage for honoree Maren Morris’ emotional performance of “The Bones.”
Ruby Amanfu and Allison Russell Performance (Left), Ali Harnell, Ruby Amanfu, and Allison Russell (Center), Maren Morris Performance (Right)
One of the evening’s standout moments came from James Lawson High School, a Save The Music grant recipient in Nashville. Educator Tyler Meredith and students Jay J Roberts and Jailynn Boone shared their personal stories of how the music technology grant has impacted their school.
Student Presenters: Jailynn Boone (Left) and Jay J. Roberts (Right) of James Lawson High School
As we celebrate our event’s fifth year, “Hometown to Hometown” continues to make a significant impact. Since its inception in 2019, the event has raised $1 million, equipping 15 high schools with vital music technology tools and resources.
(L to R) Hosts: Angie K, Leslie Fram and Honorees: Maren Morris, Brittney Spencer, and Ali Harnell
A special thank you to our 2024 sponsors: CMT, Gibson Gives, Live Nation, MAXISIQ, and SiriusXM.