Frankie Staton

After nurturing skills as a singer and pianist at the High Point Market, the world's largest home furnishings trade show, Staton relocated to Nashville, TN in 1981 to share her unique style of piano playing and storytelling with a larger music market. While maintaining a residency as a performer at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center, Staton also performed in many of the iconic venues responsible for buoying Nashville’s status as Music City.
Despite being met with opposition from Nashville’s music industry, Staton consistently earned local opportunities including a position for 10 years as a performer on The Ralph Emery Early Morning Show while also making several appearances performing on the American talk show, Nashville Now. Staton made history after challenging the New York Times’ claim that stated diversity did not exist among country music’s performers and listeners by creating the first Black Country Music Showcase at the Bluebird Café in 1997. Within five years, Staton established a national platform for over 60 country singers of color across the U.S. who had struggled to gain opportunities in the country music industry.
On February 7, 2023, Staton recognized the underrepresented country artists of color of her generation whose dreams never materialized during her debut performance on the Grand Ole Opry. In 2023 Staton continues to make noise as one of this year's artists honored in the Country Music Hall of Fame's American Currents exhibit.