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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nHannah Harper on ‘American Idol’ win and Carrie Underwood’s legacy<\/p>\n
Hannah Harper reflects on being the first female country artist to win “American Idol” since Carrie Underwood.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Looking for one more festival to add to your summer lineup?<\/p>\n Celebrating 25 years in June 2026, Rudy Fest is a six-day bluegrass music festival located in Eastern Kentucky. With a curated lineup and activities aimed towards both children and adults, all ages are invited to pull up a lawn chair and enjoy some tunes.<\/p>\n Whether you are a folk music fiend or simply looking for live music to hold you over under September, here is what to know:<\/p>\n Created by Kentucky native Rudy Burchett, Rudy Fest is a bluegrass music festival that is “more like a family gathering,” promoter Leroy Walker told The Courier Journal. Walker first attended the festival in 2003 before becoming a festival promoter, a role he has remained in for two decades.<\/p>\n The 2026 festival lineup includes Hannah Harper, winner of the most recent season<\/a> of “American Idol,” as well as Del McCoury Band \u2013 the most awarded artist in bluegrass history, according to the band’s website<\/a>. In addition to the bands listed, attendees will also have the chance to witness a “battle of the bands” June 24, sponsored by Mingua Beef Jerky. The winner will get a spot on the June 27 lineup, Walker said.<\/p>\n Camping is a large part of the festival experience, with around 500 campers expected in 2026. Walker said attendees come from “all over the world,” with some previous guests from Switzerland, Australia and Poland. He said a lot of outreach happens through word of mouth, though Rudy Fest also invests in advertising in bluegrass music communities.<\/p>\n “We have a good reputation for music in general, right now, with Stapleton and Tyler and all these guys that are just phenomenal,” Walker said. “Over the years, you know, Keith Whitley and Ricky Staggs … you’ve got Loretta Lynn, all these great artists came from Kentucky.”<\/p>\n Originally a two-day event, Rudy Fest has “drastically” expanded in its 25 years of existence, Walker said. While Rudy Fest was first created to raise money for area Little League Baseball teams, the festival is now able to sponsor number of youth sports teams in the area, sometimes paying for uniforms or renting transportation for away games.<\/p>\n “It gives us the ability to give back to the community all we can,” Walker said. “… It’s been a big part of it, to be able to help people and to get to know new people.”<\/p>\n In addition to celebrating 25 years, the 2026 festival will also honor Chris Bradford, a longtime member of the Rudy Fest team who died late 2025. Guests are welcome to a fish fry and special performance from two bands that Bradford would play with at past Rudy Fests.<\/p>\n