Bernie Taupin & Brandi Carlile confirmed for AMERICANAFEST 2026 Keynote Conversation

Nashville, Tenn. (August 10, 2026) — The Americana Music Association is proud to announce that legendary songwriter Bernie Taupin will be joined by 11x Grammy Award-winning artist Brandi Carlile for the 2026 AMERICANAFEST Keynote Conversation, taking place Wednesday, September 16, during the AMERICANAFEST Business Conference in Nashville.

Bringing together one of music’s most celebrated lyricists with one of today’s most influential singer-songwriters, the conversation promises to be one of the defining moments of this year’s festival. Without a moderator, Taupin and Carlile will explore the creative process, songwriting, artistic longevity, collaboration and the enduring power of authentic storytelling—hallmarks of Americana music.

Few lyricists have shaped modern music as profoundly as Bernie Taupin, who has spent more than six decades writing songs that have soundtracked generations through his illustrious partnership with Elton John and collaborations with Willie Nelson, Alice Cooper, Starship, Courtney Love and more. An Academy Award winner, two-time Golden Globe winner, recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize, the GRAMMY Trustees Award, and an inductee into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Taupin has long been recognized as one of music’s most influential storytellers.

The appearance also comes at a remarkable moment in Taupin’s career. In October, he returns as a recording artist with his first solo album in more than forty years, marking an exciting new creative chapter. Inspired by the reflections behind his acclaimed memoir Scattershot, Bernie describes the record as a “late-life manifesto,” distilling 76 years of life, creativity, and experience into ten deeply personal songs. Recorded in Nashville with producer Frank Liddell, the album features a guest appearance from Brandi Carlile.

Brandi Carlile continues to stand among the defining voices of contemporary American music. Fresh off the release of her acclaimed album Returning To Myself, Carlile has earned yet another Americana Honors & Awards Song of the Year nomination for the album’s title track, “Returning To Myself,” further cementing her place among the genre’s most accomplished writers. Currently in the midst of her “The Human Tour” —her biggest tour to-date—Carlile will perform at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena later this month along with upcoming stops at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre (three nights), Fort Worth’s Dickies Arena, Austin’s Moody Center and Santa Barbara’s Santa Barbara Bowl among many others. She will also headline All Things Go NYC on September 26 and All Things Go DC on September 27.

The pairing also reflects a unique artistic connection. Carlile and Taupin have collaborated through their work with Elton John, most recently co-writing the GRAMMY-nominated song “Never Too Late.” Together they represent two generations of master songwriters whose shared respect for craft, vulnerability and musical exploration makes for an extraordinary conversation.

“Bernie Taupin’s contribution to songwriting is immeasurable,” said Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association. “His words have become part of our collective musical vocabulary, inspiring generations of artists. Pairing Bernie with Brandi Carlile—one of today’s most fearless and celebrated songwriters—creates an extraordinary opportunity to witness two remarkable creative minds discussing the art of songwriting, the responsibility of storytelling, and the evolution of American music.”

For more than two decades, the AMERICANAFEST Keynote Conversation has welcomed some of music’s most compelling voices for thoughtful discussions that transcend genres and generations. Taupin and Carlile continue that tradition with what promises to be one of the most anticipated conversations of the 2026 conference.

Industry panels are accessible for AMERICANAFEST Silver Wristband Holders. To purchase a Silver Wristband, please visit americanamusic.org/americanafest/wristbands/.

AMERICANAFEST Keynote Conversation with Bernie Taupin and Brandi Carlile
Wednesday — 12:00PM (At the Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville Downtown)

About Bernie Taupin:
Bernie Taupin has written the soundtrack to millions of lives over the last six decades. His legendary songwriting partnership with Elton John produced one of the most celebrated catalogs in popular music, while collaborations with artists including Willie Nelson, Alice Cooper, Starship, Courtney Love, and others have cemented his standing as one of the defining lyricists of the modern era. His work has earned an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize, induction into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and most recently, the Recording Academy’s Trustees Award.

The Sea Has No Mercy arrives at a new creative peak for Taupin. Following the publication of his acclaimed memoir Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton, and Me, and with a feature documentary about his life and work currently in production, he turns the pen inward for the most personal project of his career. His first solo album in nearly four decades—and the first he has written entirely on his own—The Sea Has No Mercy distills a lifetime of experience into ten songs that are reflective and revealing, vivid and thoughtful, sometimes hushed, sometimes joyful, and sometimes elegiac. Recorded in Nashville with producer Frank Liddell, the album features guest appearances from Brandi Carlile, Lee Ann Womack, and Taupin’s daughter, Georgey.

About Brandi Carlile:
One of music’s most respected voices, Brandi Carlile is an Oscar-nominee, 11x Grammy-winner, 2x EMMY-winner and #1 New York Times Bestselling author. After pouring herself into projects with musical icons, Carlile is looking inward on her new album, Returning To Myself (Interscope Records/Lost Highway), produced by Carlile, Andrew Watt, Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon. The album debuted at #7 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, landed at #1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Albums, Top Rock Albums, and Top Rock & Alternative Albums charts, and has been praised as “one of the best albums of the year” (Variety). The record follows Who Believes in Angels?, the universally praised, Grammy-nominated collaborative album with her childhood hero Elton John, which debuted at #1 in the U.K. and top 10 in the U.S.

In the midst of yet another monumental year, Carlile was recently honored as one of TIME’s 2026 Women of the Year, performed a “gorgeous” (Billboard) rendition of “America The Beautiful” at Super Bowl LX and at the Statue of Liberty in celebration of America 250. She also kicked off her extensive “The Human Tour” with sold-out shows across the U.S. and Canada including “Be Human, A Concert for Minneapolis,” which was live-streamed in the wake of ICE raids throughout the state raising over $750,000 for the Minnesota-based Advocates for Human Rights.

Beloved by her peers, Carlile has worked with artists such as Soundgarden, Sam Smith, Alicia Keys, Hozier, Noah Kahan, P!nk and Dolly Parton, was named OUT Magazine’s Icon of the Year, awarded Billboard’s Women In Music Trailblazer Award and NMPA’s Songwriter Icon Award as well as multiple awards from the Americana Music Association. Carlile is also a founder of the Looking Out Foundation, which has raised over $9M for grassroots causes to date and lives in rural Washington state with her wife and two daughters.

About AMERICANAFEST:
AMERICANAFEST brings together hundreds of showcasing artists, industry leaders and music fans throughout the most notable venues in Nashville, Tennessee. To complement the nightly official showcases curated by a festival committee, multiple special events during the day allow agencies, labels and other industry entities to highlight their roster. The destination event also offers a three-day educational conference with networking opportunities, numerous panels, and premium industry interaction. The annual Americana Honors & Awards ceremony at Ryman Auditorium recognizes the groundbreaking figures of Americana music and celebrates the music achievements of the past year. AMERICANAFEST serves as a fundraiser supporting the initiatives of the Americana Music Association and its Foundation and will take place in Nashville from September 15-19, 2026.

About the Americana Music Foundation:
Established in 2020 by the Americana Music Association, the Foundation’s mission is to preserve the beloved art form known today as Americana music. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, with a global vision, the non-profit 501(c)(3) serves as a charitable and educational resource through partnerships with cultural and educational institutions, including those with New York University, Salt Lick Incubator, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, the National Museum of African American Music, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Grammy Museum.

About the Americana Music Association:
The Americana Music Association is a professional not-for-profit trade organization whose mission is to advocate for the authentic voice of American roots music around the world. The Association produces events throughout the year, including AMERICANAFEST and the Americana Honors & Awards program.

For more information about Bernie Taupin, please contact:
Allison Elbl | Shore Fire Media | aelbl@shorefire.com
Taylor Perry | Shore Fire Media | tperry@shorefire.com

For more information about Brandi Carlile, please contact:
Asha Goodman | Sacks Co. | asha.goodman@sacksco.com

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