NASHVILLE, TN, June 4, 2026 – Last night, 19 Recordings took over downtown Nashville with a star-studded red carpet and live concert presenting “American Idols Live in Concert” at at the iconic Ole Smoky Distillery & Yee-Haw Brewing, 6th and Peabody.
Talent on site included: American Idol Season 24 winner Hannah Harper and American Idol Runner Up, Jordan McCullough, along with fellow Idol artists Keyla Richardson, Chris Tungseth, Braden Rumfelt, Brooks Rosser, Lucas Leon, Jake Thistle, Julián Kalel, Genevieve Heyward, Kutter Bradley, Will Moseley, Mattie Pruitt and Colin Stough.
Special guests of the evening included multi-platinum recording star, Billy Ray Cyrus, who performed a collaboration set with American Idol finalist, Chris Tungseth, and Season 5 American Idol finalist Bucky Covington, ending the set with a performance of the iconic song, “Achy Breaky Heart."
Executives in attendance were, Rachel Dax, EVP, Head of Production Sony Pictures Television Nonfiction; Devon Hammonds, EVP, Business Development and Strategy; Joey Arbagey, Executive Vice President of Music, 19 Entertainment; Scott Igoe, VP, Unscripted and Specials, ABC and Hulu; Megan Michaels, Executive Producer and Showrunner of American Idol; Curtis Heath, Board President & Chair, Guitar Center Music Foundation and Kelly Sutton, Grand Ole Opry Host.
This year’s event was supported by The Guitar Center Music Foundation, which raises critical funds for music education programs and schools in need. Throughout the concert event, fans had the opportunity to support The Guitar Center Foundation by donating to the cause. Each $10 donation on-site at the Takeover earned fans a single entry to win one of three Taylor Guitars, which were given away at the end of the night.
19 Entertainment, a part of Sony Pictures Television, is led by executive producers Eli Holzman
and Aaron Saidman. In addition to its global hit American Idol for ABC, 19 Recordings has launched the music careers of platinum artists, including Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry, Fantasia, Phillip Phillips, Lauren Alaina, and more recently, Gabby Barrett, Chayce Beckham, Iam Tongi, and Jamal Roberts.
NEWLY RELEASED SINGLES FROM AMERICAN IDOL 24 FINALISTS:
Hannah Harper - “Married Into This Town” and “String Cheese”
Jordan McCullough - “Dear God” and “Goodness of God”
Keyla Richardson - “I Love The Lord” and “Glitter in the Air”
Lucas Leon - “The Crazy Kind”
Jake Thistle - “Hiding in the Vacancy”
Julian Kalel - “Heartstrings”
Genevieve Heyward - “Don’t Mind If I Do”
Kutter Bradley - “Fake a Smile”