The Color Me Country Foundation (CMCF) believes in supporting past, present, and future artists (with an emphasis on artists of color) by supplying knowledge and financial resources to help them in turn, help themselves. As an independent singer/songwriter, host of Color Me Country Radio on Apple Music, and subject of a recent PBS American Masters documentary, Rissi Palmer: Still Here, and recipient of the 2025 ACM Honors Lift Every Voice Award, I know what it feels like to navigate this business as a signed and independent artist. I also know what it’s like to exist in a genre where people like me make up less than a percent of the success stories. It is my goal to normalize and celebrate the complex and multicultural roots of Country music while empowering independent artists to save themselves.
Through the CMCAF, we seek to level the financial playing field for artists of color pursuing careers in Country/Americana/Roots music. Our application process is no frills: apply and you are granted. Since its inception in 2021, we have raised over $200k, given over 80 grants, and taken 19 BIPOC artists on 4 historic, all expenses paid trips to London to perform at the Long Road Festival on the first ever Color Me Country Takeover Stage in 2022-2025, and curated stages for Farm Aid and CMA Fest. It is our goal to make all programming, which includes workshops, residencies, and personalized career mentorship at the foundation free through this fund.
To reach our 2026 goals ($27k = admin costs, $100k = artist grants, $75k = programming), we need to raise a total of $202k. Please go to colormecountry.com for information or to make a donation.
TK Dubs Productions d.b.a. Color Me Country Foundation is a tax-deductible 501 (c)(3) non-profit. If you prefer to send a check, make it out to TK Dubs Productions, and mail it to P.O. Box 543 Durham, NC 27702.