Grammy, ACM & CMA Winner White To Perform Free Concert Oct. 10 Alongside Special Guests
RISON - Rison’s premier event, the Rison in the Fall Festival will celebrate its 36th year Saturday, Oct. 10 with a headlining show from one of the most unforgettable voices of 90s country music - Grammy, ACM and CMA award winner Bryan White.
Rison Shine Community Development, Inc. is excited to welcome White to Rison. With more than 5 million albums sold worldwide, 21 charted singles, and six #1 hits — including “So Much for Pretending,” “Rebecca Lynn,” “Someone Else’s Star,” “I’m Not Supposed To Love You Anymore,” and “Sittin’ On Go” — White carved out a place as one of the decade’s true hitmakers. His soaring duet with Shania Twain, “From This Moment On,” anchored the biggest-selling female album of all time.
White will be joined on the Rise Up Rison stage by special guest Americana singer-songwriter Ward Davis. Additional acts on the lineup include country outlaw Wyatt Putman, viral star of “The Voice” Cori Kennedy, and the rebel spirit of Whoa Dakota.
In addition to the music, this year’s event will also be known as the Fall Into Fitness Festival in partnership with Absolute Health. The festival will kick off with a Run/Walk 5K and 12-Mile Bike Ride! Fitness stations and more will be set up around the festival to encourage physical activity and help you meet your step goals throughout the day.
“We’ve got one of our biggest lineups to date,” said Douglas Boultinghouse, festival director. “We are looking forward to having Bryan White deliver a spectacular show in our town alongside some very special guests, all with Arkansas ties to country music.”
Since its revival in 2019, the festival has welcomed top-billed performances from Charles Esten, Rissi Palmer, David Nail, Julie Roberts, Erin Enderlin and Twitty & Lynn. Though 2025’s headliner Sunny Sweeney was unable to perform due to inclement weather, Boultinghouse still considers her part of the Rison in the Fall family of artists. He noted he hopes to have the star return to Rison in the future.
The 36th Annual Rison in the Fall Festival is sponsored by Donnie and Charlotte King, Rison Pharmacy, FBT Bank, Stella-Jones, Gateway Bank, Absolute Health, Green House Cottages of Southern Hills, Edward Jones Advisor Jacob Wilson, Cycle & Marine Supercenter, Rison Serenity Wellness Spa, RENEO Chiropractic, Roy Phillips, James and Karla Wilson, Entergy Arkansas, Connect Bank, ShopWise Grocery, My Berry Patch, Douglas B Design, Cleveland County Herald, Jefferson Regional, Holt Builder’s Supply, State Representative Sonia Barker, C&L Electric, C&L Broadband Connect, Gentiva Hospice, Remax Platinum Team Jaggers, Rally Networks, Double M Firearms, Pizza Pro and Melhorn Bros. Feed.
Additional activities for the 2026 Rison in the Fall Festival and Fall into Fitness Festival are expected to be announced over the summer.
Festival Food Trucks & Vendors
Rison Shine is accepting applications for vendors for the Oct. 10 festival. Spaces are limited within Main and Third Streets, so vendors are encouraged to sign up now.
Registration forms can be accessed online at www.clevelandcountyarkansas.com or by stopping by the Cleveland County Herald office. Fees are $50 for vendors and $200 for food trucks.
For more information on vendors, contact Boultinghouse at (870) 510-2433.
Entertainment Headed to Rison, Arkansas
Bryan White
From the moment his Platinum-selling debut album hit, White was unstoppable, racking up awards like the CMA Horizon Award, ACM Top New Male Vocalist, and CMT Artist of the Year, while earning multiple CMA and ACM Male Vocalist nominations. By the late 90s, he was sharing arena stages with Alan Jackson and Vince Gill, and co-headlining the blockbuster Something to Talk About Tour with LeAnn Rimes—one of the highest-grossing tours of 1998.
White’s songs have been recorded by Wynonna, Diamond Rio, Sawyer Brown, Joe Diffie, and LeAnn Rimes, while his own “God Gave Me You”became a global anthem, exploding across Asia and taking him around the world to adoring fans.
His impact on country music is undeniable — Bryan White’s voice, songs, and style continue to inspire today’s top artists, with his influence shaping the sound and careers of many of today’s leading country stars.
Today, Bryan White stands tall as a defining figure of 90s country—a voice that not only dominated the charts but continues to inspire and resonate across generations.
For more information visit www.bryanwhite.com
Ward Davis
Ward Davis is an acclaimed Americana musician and songwriter known for his soulful voice, poignant storytelling, and deeply authentic songwriting. Hailing from Monticello, Arkansas, Davis combines traditional country roots with a modern edge, creating music that resonates with both honky-tonk purists and contemporary audiences.
After moving to Nashville, he gained recognition as a talented songwriter, penning tracks for country icons like Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Trace Adkins. His solo career took off with the release of his debut album, 15 Years in a 10-Year Town (2015), which featured heartfelt songs that explore themes of love, loss, and redemption.
Davis’ follow-up albums, including Black Cats and Crows (2020), solidified his reputation as a powerhouse in the Americana and outlaw country scene. The album showcases his gritty lyricism and dynamic vocal range, with standout collaborations alongside Cody Jinks and other luminaries in the genre.
Known for his raw, emotionally charged live performances, Ward Davis has cultivated a devoted fanbase, drawing listeners with his blend of vulnerability and rugged charm. Whether performing solo or with a full band, his music captures the essence of timeless country storytelling, infused with a contemporary sensibility.
With a career defined by authenticity and a commitment to his craft, Ward Davis remains a vital voice in modern Americana and country music.
For more information, visit www.warddavismusic.com
Wyatt Putman
Proudly from the Natural State of Arkansas, Wyatt Putman was raised on the voices that defined Outlaw Country music.
Putman always finds himself looking back home for inspiration when it comes to writing music. Raw songs with grit, attitude, and authenticity create an energy at a show that can’t be denied.
For more information, visit www.wyattputman.com
Cori Kennedy
Cori Kennedy is a country singer-songwriter from West Concord, Minnesota, known for powerhouse vocals and story-driven songs rooted in real life and Midwest grit. Raised in a big, blue-collar family, her music reflects hard work, small town truth, and emotional honesty - blending a timeless country foundation with a fearless, modern edge.
Kennedy rose to national attention as a standout contestant on NBC’s The Voice (Season 28), where she joined Team Reba McEntire and advanced through the Battles and Knockouts, earning praise for her powerful vocals and emotionally grounded performances. Her ability to command a stage was on full display when she performed the National Anthem for the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium, delivering a career-defining performance in front of 66,000 fans.
Prior to the big stage, Kennedy made a name for herself in Cleveland County, Arkansas last year for a viral song she wrote about the 2022 Kingsland Water Tower shooting. The video of her performing the original “Hey Who Shot The Water Tower” in the style of Johnny Cash quickly surpassed over 20 million views.
Before fully stepping into music, Kennedy was an NCAA softball national champion - a chapter that instilled in her the discipline, resilience, and competitive drive that continue to shape her approach to both life and artistry. These qualities underpin her bold, story-driven songwriting, which blends traditional country storytelling with a contemporary sound that resonates across generations.
For more information, visit www.corikennedy-music.com
Whoa Dakota
Jesse Ott, known on the stage as Whoa Dakota, is the Little Rock-raised, daughter of a champion bull rider and a wild child mother.
After a decade in Nashville, she’s back where she’s most at home, Arkansas. Her debut country EP, Rhinestones & Rodeos (2022) explored the bones of the music of her upbringing with a tongue-in-cheek sass and rebelliousness from the traditionally southern ideology of her roots.
In the works is her latest exploration, Heartache & Holdin’. It maintains the classic country style while also delving into more journal-driven tracks that take on loneliness, longing, and the hope that drives every human experience.
Whoa Dakota has the outspoken rebel spirit of country legends and the chops to join them.
For more information, visit www.whoadakota.com