Up-and-coming artist Shaboozey sparked a viral moment at the American Music Awards this week when he appeared with fellow upstart Megan Moroney.

Driving the news: During the presentation for favorite country duo or group, while Moroney was reading from the teleprompter, she said the Carter Family "basically invented country music." The Carters are known as "the first family of country music" and participated in the iconic Bristol Sessions.

• Shaboozey flashed a skeptical expression, paused briefly and chuckled before continuing with the script. Watch the clip.

Why it matters: The exchange is reviving impassioned discussions about diversity and inclusion in country music.

• The show drew attention to Black artists like Lesley Riddle who helped the Carter Family and other legendary acts develop country's bedrock sound.

Reality check: Country radio and award shows have skewed mostly white for decades, but Black artists helped shape the genre from the beginning.

• One of the most quintessentially country instruments, the banjo, is rooted in West African traditions. Enslaved Africans and their descendants created the instrument.

Flashback: Riddle befriended the Carters and played a vital role in their development, collaborating on their repertoire and teaching them songs.

• "Mother Maybelle" Carter credited Riddle with teaching her the guitar picking technique that became known as the "Carter Scratch."
• Icons like Chet Atkins emulated the same style.

Yes, but: "Riddle never recorded with or appeared on stage with the Carters, largely owing to the Jim Crow customs of the day," per the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

The big picture: Shaboozey rose to prominence thanks to a recent effort to reaffirm Black artists' place in country music.

• He was featured twice on Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" album, which drew new attention to inclusivity in the genre. Soon after "Cowboy Carter" came out, Shaboozey hit No. 1 with his record-breaking solo hit "A Bar Song (Tipsy)."
• Beyoncé collaborated with multiple Black country artists who have struggled to find a commercial foothold and shone a light on trailblazers like Linda Martell, the first Black woman to play the Grand Ole Opry.

The bottom line: The Carters' impact is certainly significant. Mother Maybelle's daughter June Carter Cash is getting inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this year.

• But the rich legacy of country music is far more diverse than some award shows suggest.

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Cheekwood Estate & Gardens announced a new $25 million overhaul of the botanical garden's parking and entrance.

Why it matters: Cheekwood currently uses Metro Parks property for its overflow parking. But that agreement with the city is expiring in 2027, and Cheekwood needs an alternative.

State of play: Overflow parking has gone to gravel lots on neighboring Metro Parks property for more than 40 years. But the latest agreement called for Cheekwood to develop an in-house parking plan.

• The new parking pavilion will add 750 parking spaces, electric vehicle charging stations and a spot for rideshare pick-ups, according to plans released yesterday.
• The project, overseen by the Hastings architecture firm, also calls for a new entrance plaza with a ticketing center and new gardens.

What they're saying: Cheekwood CEO Jane MacLeod called the project "more than just a solution to an important need — it's an investment in the future of Cheekwood and our community."

What's next: Fundraising for the project is underway. Construction is expected to begin next year.

• MacLeod said "the continuation of Cheekwood's programming as well as its financial stability is dependent upon" the completion of the new project.
• "We would not normally start a campaign in this economic climate, but we have no choice," she added in a statement. "This is a 'must have,' not a 'nice to have.'"

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🧳 A surge of events in Nashville is driving robust demand for hotel rooms. The city is adding nearly 3,000 new rooms this year. (WPLN)

🚨 Lawyers say some immigrants in Nashville have been illegally evicted following recent ICE arrests in the area. (Nashville Scene)

🦞 A really big honky-tonk "steakhouse" downtown isn't enough to satisfy Kid Rock's culinary ambitions. The controversial artist has opened a seafood restaurant in the Capitol View neighborhood. (WKRN)

It's not just you. Summers are getting warmer in Nashville and nearly everywhere else in the country, a recently updated analysis finds.

Why it matters: Hotter summers are one of the most tangible ways we're experiencing climate change — and they're a health risk for vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, low-income families.

• It's even chipping away at our sleep.

State of play: Average summer temperatures in Davidson County got about 2.5°F hotter between 1970 and 2024. That's about the same as the national average.

• The analysis comes from a new new Climate Central report that uses NOAA data and defines "summer" as June through August.

Flashback: 2024 was Nashville's hottest year on record, breaking the previous record that was set in 2023.

What's next: Summer 2025 is likely to be hotter than normal for much of the country, per the National Weather Service's seasonal outlook.

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