 Love House on the UNC campus | |
| Date | Wednesday, March 25, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Time | 5:30pm to 7:30pm |
| Address | Love House, 410 E Franklin St |
| City, State | Chapel Hill, NC 27599-9127 |
| Coordinates | 35°54′56″N 79°02′53″W / 35.915611°N 79.048158°W |
| Organized by | Center for the Study of the American South, UNC University Libraries, North Carolina Wikipedians |
Bring a laptop and help deepen Wikipedia’s coverage of country artists featured in the latest issue of the journal Southern Cultures — especially up-and-coming and underrepresented artists.
Wikicurious: Country Music's Mythology is happening on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the historic Love House in downtown Chapel Hill, hosted by the Center for the Study of the American South, the University Libraries at UNC-Chapel Hill and the North Carolina Wikipedians, with additional support provided by Wikimedia NYC.
The event will feature a talk by special guest Rissi Palmer, hit-making singer-songwriter and host of the podcast Color Me Country, and an exhibit from the archives of the Grand Ole Opry.
The event celebrates the publication of Southern Cultures' latest issue, Country Music's Mythology.
All are welcome, especially those who have never edited Wikipedia! Food will be provided!
This event is perfect for you if:
- You love discovering new music
- You want to help reduce content gaps in Wikipedia
- You love country music – of any era or subgenre
Come by any time between 5:30pm and 7:30pm to:
- Hear from special guest Rissi Palmer, hit-making singer-songwriter and host of the podcast Color Me Country
- Go behind the scenes of the issue's playlist, "Country Is All In Your Heart"
- See an exhibit of photographs and fan culture from the Grand Ole Opry’s archives
- Learn how to make Wikipedia edits that stick (Please bring a laptop or tablet)
- Expand Wikipedia's coverage of country artists, beyond the narrow gatekeeping of mainstream radio
- Meet local Wikipedians
- Enjoy dinner while you edit
- Earn CLE credit (if you're a UNC student)
- Enter to win a giveaway of the "Country Music's Mythology" issue of Southern Cultures
Registration & requirements
Please register on our Eventbrite page AND here on Wikipedia.
Please bring a laptop to edit.
Attendees will need a Wikipedia account to edit pages; please create your account here before the event. Please note Wikipedia usernames are public. You do not have to use your real name; it is recommended to use a pseudonym or nickname for your username.
For further questions, get in touch with the North Carolina Wikipedians via our mailing list.
All attendees are subject to Wikimedia NYC's Code of Conduct.
Details & Agenda
- Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026
- Time: 5:30pm to 7:30pm
- Location: Love House, 410 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-9127
- Registration: Please register for this event on our Eventbrite page AND here on Wikipedia.
- Requirements: Please bring a laptop or tablet so that you can join in on the editing activities.
Getting there and parking
The Love House is an easy walk from the heart of the UNC-Chapel Hill campus and from parts of downtown Chapel Hill.
If you’re arriving by car, note that limited on-site parking is available. Check out the UNC campus parking site and Visit Chapel Hill parking site for nearby options.
5:30 pm | Program begins + behind the playlist
- Check in
- UNC students scan the QR code for CLE credit
Talk: Behind the playlist: “Country Is All In Your Heart.” The playlist “Country Is All In Your Heart” is the soundtrack for the Country Music’s Mythology issue of the journal Southern Cultures. Highlighting up-and-coming artists alongside timeless icons, the collection presents an expansive view of country music – beyond the mainstream radio gatekeeping that tries to contain it within geographic, linguistic, racial, and cultural borders. The playlist’s creators will play clips, read journal excerpts, and draw a surprisingly straight line from John Denver to Beyoncé.
5:45 pm | Special guest: Rissi Palmer
Rissi Palmer, a musician based in Durham, North Carolina, became the first Black woman to earn a hit on the Billboard country charts in decades. In 2020 she founded the Color Me Country artist fund for artists of color in country music and started a podcast on Apple Music to highlight Black, Latinx, and Indigenous country artists. She joins us to talk about her work and why she’s so driven to support musicians outside the country music mainstream.
6:00 pm | How to make Wikipedia edits that stick
The North Carolina Wikipedians will show you how to edit Wikipedia – and, most importantly, how to make sure your edits stick. You’ll get the technical and philosophical tools you need to make your first edits, and then choose a topic from our work list to take on.
6:30 pm | Edit-a-thon, dinner, and exhibit viewing
- Attendees can get food, spread out through the Love House, and edit/create Wikipedia articles
- Attendees are invited to view the exhibit “Here We Come Again,” which celebrates 100 years of the Grand Ole Opry: From autographs to photographs, and from behind the scenes to front of stage, we look back at the Grand Ole Opry through the lens of its most ardent fans. Garth Brooks gets a friendly squeeze. Paul McCartney only has eyes for Dolly. Charley Pride touches hearts and hands. And a group of nuns gather at the altar of country music.
7:15 pm | Wrap-up
- Reconvene for share-outs, prizes, and closing
- Keep in touch:
- Join the North Carolina Wikipedians Usergroup Mailing List to be notified about future events
- Sign up for the Wikicurious newsletter
- Follow Rissi Palmer and the Color Me Country podcast and artist grant fund
Edit list
Articles to create
- Aaron Vance – Nashville-based country musician, originally from Mississippi
- Alyssia Dominguez – “Weaving her Mexican American roots into modern country music, singer-songwriter Alyssia Dominguez spins a new twist on the genre.”
- Andrea Vasquez – Nashville-based country singer-songwriter; co-founder of the Country Latin Association. Featured on the playlist.
- Angie K – El Salvador-born musician and co-founder of the Country Latin Association.
- Autumn Nicholas – Durham-based songwriter & performer, originally from Fort Bragg.
- Brandi Waller-Pace – “Musician, educator, scholar-activist.” Appears in the issue.
- Charly Lowry – “An Indigenous singer of Lumbee/Tuscarora descent, Lowry was born and raised in the town of Pembroke.”
- Delila Black – “I've been developing my own Alt-Americana sound. I was born in Port Au Prince, Haiti. Immigrated to New York and now live in London.”
- D’Orjay the Singing Shaman – Canadian musician making “bold blues, honky-tonk and rock-flavoured roots with a distinct queer, Black twist.”
- Dzaki Sukarno – “country singer who was born in Japan but grew up near the Organ Mountains and the green chile fields of New Mexico.”
- Elexa Dawson – Oklahoma red dirt native and Citizen of the Potawatomi Nation, “with vocals as sweet as honey and lyrics that speak to the soul”
- Frankie Staton – “legendary musician, songwriter, and co-founder of the Black Country Music Association.” Featured on the playlist and in the issue.
- Gabe Lee – “Equal parts classic songwriter and modern-day storyteller, Gabe Lee has built his own bridge between country, folk and rock”
- Holly G – “Music journalist, artist manager, and ‘country music disrupter’ who founded the Black Opry to support Black artists in country, Americana, and roots music. Vocal advocate for underrepresented artists in the Nashville industry.” Featured in the issue.
- Howdy Glenn – “Unsung Black country artist.” “The Singing Fireman” from Inglewood, California.
- Jada Cato – “a queer, country-soul singer weaving southern roots, raw lyrics, and spiritual energy.”
- Jett Holden – Tennessee–based singer-songwriter.
- Joe West – “Singer Songwriter Joe West is the son of Sarge and Shirley West, the first and only African American Country and Western Duo”
- Julie Williams – “Julie Williams, a queer, biracial Nashville-based songwriter happens to be one of the strongest new voices to emerge in country music this decade.” Appears in the issue.
- Justin Harrington (aka Demeanor) – “an MC, banjo and bones player from Greensboro, North Carolina.” Featured on the playlist.
- Kären McCormick – “singer and songwriter born in Congo and grew up in Spokane, Washington.”
- Kapali Long (photos) – “Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) Singer-Songwriter within the Genres of Americana, Country, Blues & Folk”
- Kathryn Shipley – “A rising country, Christian contemporary and singer-songwriter, Kathryn Shipley earned herself a place in the first class of Color Me Country in 2021.”
- Lizzie No – “singer-songwriter, harpist, and guitarist Lizzie No established herself as one of the most exciting new voices in indie folk music.”
- Lori Rayne – “Alt country artist based in the Pacific Northwest,” “entering a new chapter she proudly calls ‘y’allternative’ — a blend of her Southern roots, country storytelling, and the rock-leaning edge that defines her sound.”
- Natalie Jean – “Award-winning Americana Country Folk artist”
- Phoebe White – “Award winning, guitar playing, Jesus loving, yodeling cowgirl!”
- Roberta Lea – “Described as “country-neo-pop” with a “delicious, folky flare”, the Virginia native is known as a powerful songwriter and engaging storyteller.”
- Stephanie Jacques – “Nashville Based Singer-Songwriter & host of Jacques Talk”
- Súle Greg Wilson – “Drummer, dancer, folklorist, and researcher.” “Banjo is part of Súle's life because he feels it to be an ‘Antenna to the Ancestors’.” Appears in the issue.
- Tae Lewis – Country singer-songwriter & North Carolina native
- Tatiana Hargreaves – “On the forefront of an up and coming generation of old time, bluegrass, and new acoustic musicians.” Has taught bluegrass fiddle at UNC.
- The Kentucky Gentlemen – “Twin brothers Derek and Brandon Campbell bring a dynamic blend of country, R&B, and pop to every stage, captivating audiences with a sound deeply rooted in their Kentucky upbringing.”
- Timmy Dunn – “country-rock artist based in Henderson, Kentucky.”
- Tony Evans Jr. – “A rising country artist from Country Roads, Georgia, known for blending Southern storytelling with the soul of R&B.”
- Tray Wellington (photo) – “Breaking new ground in bluegrass banjo. He is widely recognized as one of the young lions on his instrument.” From Ashe Country NC. Appears in the issue.
- Valerie Ponzio – “Valerie Ponzio has made it her mission to shatter every precedent set for Latin artists in the world of country music.” Featured on the playlist & in the issue.
Articles to edit
- Alice Randall – “An American author, songwriter, producer, and lecturer. She is best known for her contributions to country music”
- Wikipedia article doesn’t mention that she was the first African American woman to write a #1 country hit
- Camille Parker – Country singer, “raised by her Jamaican grandmother and African American step-grandfather in Durham, North Carolina.”
- Article could be expanded; could use an info box
- Crystal Shawanda – Ojibwe Potawatomi blues and country music artist from Canada.
- Article needs citations
- Dusty & Stones – “A country music duo from Eswatini, Africa.
- Article flagged for neutral point of view; also could be expanded
- Hubby Jenkins – “an American multi-instrumentalist who studies and performs old-time American music. Former member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and the Rhiannon Giddens band.” Appears on the playlist.
- Article could be expanded.
- Jerron Paxton – “a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, drawing his style from blues and jazz music before World War II and influenced by Fats Waller and Blind Lemon Jefferson.” Appears on the playlist.
- Article needs citations.
- Kandia Crazy Horse – “American country musician, rock critic and writer.”
- Kyshona – “American singer, songwriter, and music therapist based in Nashville. Her songs incorporate elements of roots, rock, RnB, and folk and often feature themes of liberation and community.”
- Proofread, expand, add citations
- Larysa Jaye – “American singer-songwriter who blended acoustic soul, country, and rock. Earned recognition for her storytelling lyrics and for breaking barriers as a Black woman in country and Americana music.” Appears in the issue.
- Article flagged as orphan; needs citations; add links
- Laura Veltz – “American songwriter and musician. Previously the vocalist and multi-instrumentalist of family pop-rock group Cecilia.”
- Expand and add citations
- Leah Turner – Mexican-American country music singer from California. Appears in the issue
- Add citations; expand
- Lilli Lewis – “Folk and Americana singer, songwriter, and pianist based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Sometimes known as the Folk Rock Diva’.”
- Miko Marks – Americana singer based in Oakland, California, originally from Flint, Michigan. Featured on the playlist.
- Expand and update with new sources
- Neffy – Singer-songwriter from Arlington, Virginia, who won NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest in 2021.
- Expand & add info box
- Otis Taylor – “multi-instrumentalist whose talents include the guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, and vocals.” Mentioned in the issue.
- Add citations
- Petrella Ann Bonner – “Country music singer, songwriter, and music producer. ‘The first lady of country soul.’ Her career began with a bang in 1988.”
- Add citations
- Raye Zaragoza – “Singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Manhattan and moved to Los Angeles at 14 Her mother is an immigrant from Japan and her father is of Mexican and Oʼodham heritage.”
- Expand and update
- Roy Roberts – Blues & country artist from Tennessee.
- Add citations
- Sebastian Kole (aka Pynk Beard) – featured on the playlist
- Expand, update, add citations. Flagged for neutral point of view
- Star De Azlan – “Texas Born Singer-Songwriter who leans heavily on traditional country sounds, deep lyrics, and emotional storytelling”
- Flagged for neutral point of view. Update, expand, add citations.
- Sunny Sauceda – Tejano music and Texas country artist from San Antonio. Accordion player and singer.Nominated for three Grammy Awards.”
- Very short article with no citations. Proofread, update, expand, add citations
- Tami Neilson – “Canadian-born New Zealand country & soul singer/songwriter.”
- Whitney Mongé – Singer, songwriter, and guitarist based in Seattle.
- XXX’s & OOO’s (An American Girl) – Song written by Matraca Berg and Alice Randall, and recorded by Trisha Yearwood
- Fix error – the article says the songwriter Alice Randall became the second African American woman to write a #1 country hit, but she was the first. (Tracy Chapman won one after her, for a song that she wrote before XXX’s & OOO’s)
About Wikicurious
Wikicurious is a beginner-level series that trains participants on how to edit Wikipedia, in order to promote free access to the world’s knowledge. Wikimedia NYC started the pilot in New York and is expanding this program across the country. The Wikicurious series is supported by Craig Newmark Philanthropies. Both Wikimedia NYC and the North Carolina Wikipedians User Group are official affiliates of the Wikimedia Foundation.