Audrey Ray to play Nashville-area showcase June 26

Michigan country artist Audrey Ray will perform at Whiskey Room Live in Franklin, Tennessee, on June 26 while she also records three new songs in Nashville with producer Kent Wells. The showcase lands during a busy creative stretch for the independent singer-songwriter, who has deep Tennessee ties and a growing live-music resume.

Why it matters: - Audrey Ray is using a Nashville-area showcase to support a new recording run and widen her reach in country music. - The Franklin performance also marks another step in Ray’s push as an independent artist with ties to Tennessee and Music Row. - Ray has already built a live following through more than 2,000 shows and appearances with national touring acts.

What happened: - Audrey Ray will perform an Artist Showcase at Whiskey Room Live on Friday, June 26, 2026. - The show is scheduled for Whiskey Room Live at Kings, 1910 Galleria Blvd., Franklin, Tennessee. - Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. - Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 on the day of the show. - Tickets are available at whiskeyroomlive.com. - Ray is also back in Nashville recording three new songs. - Ray is working again with Kent Wells, Dolly Parton’s longtime producer.

The details: - Ray is a Michigan-based country artist, singer-songwriter and self-taught multi-instrumentalist. - Her sound blends classic country twang with a modern country style. - Ray has performed with Clint Black, Uncle Kracker, Jon Pardi and Kelsea Ballerini. - Ray said Tennessee has always been part of her story and called the return to Nashville a full-circle moment. - Ray’s family has ties to Tennessee, and visits near Nashville helped shape her interest in country music. - Ray said she has had the chance to record with some of the best studio musicians in the business, including ACM and CMA nominees. - Ray recently released her first vinyl record, Cigarettes and Ashes, pressed at Third Man Records in Detroit. - Her music includes the original songs “’68 Mustang” and “Sparks,” recorded in Nashville with Kent Wells. - Ray has also played Faster Horses, WYCD’s Downtown Hoedown, The Ark in Ann Arbor and The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre. - The Franklin event will include special guests. - The venue will offer all ages admission, free parking, a full food and beverage menu and 50% off bowling after 9 p.m.

Between the lines: - Ray’s return to Nashville suggests she is leaning into the city’s studio network and country-music cachet while staying independent. - The combination of a live showcase and new recording sessions gives Ray a way to connect fresh material with fans in a market that matters to country artists. - Her Tennessee background and Michigan base give her story a regional crossover angle that could help her stand out.

What’s next: - Ray is set to record three new songs during her June trip to Nashville. - Fans can follow Audrey Ray at audreyraymusic.com, on Instagram at @audrey_ray and on Facebook at Audrey Ray Music. - More information about the showcase is available through the venue’s ticketing page.

The bottom line: - Audrey Ray is pairing a Franklin showcase with new Nashville recording sessions as she builds the next stage of her country career.