RISON - Country music star Sunny Sweeney will headline this Saturday’s Rison in the Fall Festival with a free concert to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the festival, and the release of her newest album, Rhinestone Requiem.
The country music traditionalist will take the Rise Up Rison Stage at 7 p.m. to wrap up the festival.
Sweeney recently joined Festival Director Douglas Boultinghouse and Festival Founder Roy Phillips, for an episode of the Free Range Conversations podcast to discuss her upcoming performance and country music.
Sweeney, who was traveling back to Nashville through Arkansas at the time of the call, expressed her anticipation for the festival and returning back to Arkansas on Saturday.
With an extensive catalog of "maybe like a hundred and something songs recorded," Sweeney admits that picking a setlist for a 75 or 90-minute show is a challenge.
However, fans can expect a balance of her recognizable hits and new material.
"I try to do the ones that, you know, I think most people want to hear," she said, adding, "And then I love doing stuff off the new record too."
She confirmed that her popular hit, "From a Table Away," will definitely be included in the set.
Sweeney and Boultinghouse spent time discussing the authenticity of her new album, Rhinestone Requiem, especially in light of the new Traditional Country Album category at the Grammys. With Sweeney’s new album, she is eligible for nominations in the category this year.
Sweeney shared her philosophy on country music: "Every artist is entitled to think or perceive or put out anything they want and call it whatever they want.”
She explained the intentional approach taken for the new record: "We went down to Texas and we got, you know, the, the best little country pickers that we could get to make this record. And we chose everyone and everything intentionally."
Ultimately, the goal was to create a record based on her vision.
"We made a record that we perceived to be how country should be right now."
Sweeney also spoke about the importance of preserving the genre's legacy, stating, "Once those people are gone, I mean, there's, you know, it's on the shoulders of very few people to try to maintain, you know, the history of it.”
Boultinghouse likened Sweeney’s grit to that of country legend Loretta Lynn.
The conversation also touched on Sweeney's two radio shows on Sirius XM, where she initially avoided mentioning her own artistry "Just because, you know, I wanted people to, you know, find me organically as well and not like I'm shoving my artist stuff down their throat.” However, the exposure has proven "really great and really beneficial."
Boultinghouse noted that the festival team has heard from several people around the community that are avid listeners of Sweeney’s programs on the Sirius channels Willie’s Roadhouse and Outlaw Country.
Her sharp wit, which also shines through in her songwriting on tracks like "Backhanded Compliment," was a prominent topic. Boultinghouse praised her unique sense of humor, which even led to a comical inclusion in her rider—an emotional support animal. Sweeney admitted to being "a little bit of a smartass" and credited her touring life for some of the humor.
Sweeney also discussed a full-circle moment with her close friend and fellow artist, Erin Enderlin, who is a past guest of the Rison in the Fall Festival.
Both were surprised when they were offered opportunities to tour and write with Trisha Yearwood, with Sweeney recalling, "We were both, like, calling each other... like, oh, my God, this is crazy. Like eighth grade us, we're dying."
They also co-wrote a song on Yearwood's album, “Goodnight Cruel World,” which Sweeney says she is "pretty, pretty proud of" because "it speaks to so many different people."
The full episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ClevelandCountyHerald.com