Courtney Cole

Rising CMT (Country Music Television) artist Courtney Cole will bring her unique musical style to the River Valley on Sept. 8. The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, in collaboration with Rich Mountain Community College, is hosting Cole for a free concert as part of CMT’s Empowering Education initiative.

 

The concert will take place in the Stubblefield Center on the UAFS campus, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and a tailgate taking place outside at 4:30 p.m. The concert is free, but tickets are required for admission.

 

The featured artist is one of the top up-and-coming country music artists in the nation. Cole’s recent single hit number one on Taste of Country's Top 10 Countdown, and she opened for Miranda Lambert on the 2015 “Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars Tour.”

 

A part of CMT’s Empowering Education Initiative, the concert aims to inspire viewers to further their education.

 

“I’m excited to partner with CMT on their Empowering Education initiative,” Cole said. “Music and education are a powerful combination. Having the opportunity to meet students and hear their stories is something I am looking forward to.”

 

Former UAFS student Jillia Jackson will serve as the opening act for the concert. Winner of Miss UAFS in 2004, Jackson spent several years in Nashville, Tenn., as a country musician, recording an album with a Grammy Award-winning producer. Her music has been featured on television shows such as “The Good Guys” and “Parenthood,” and her musical group recently performed at the 2016 Peacemaker Music and Arts Festival.

 

Additionally, the Be Pro Be Proud trailer will be set up outside of the Stubblefield Center for students to tour from 4-6 p.m. The trailer, which is sponsored by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, seeks to raise awareness of the importance and need for skilled technical professionals in Arkansas and the opportunities available for students.

 

Those interested in attending the concert can pick up tickets in-person or online. To print tickets online, visit http://uafs.universitytickets.com and click “Community Events.” To pick up tickets in person, visit the UAFS Box Office in the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center.

 

For more information about the concert, contact the Box Office at 479-788-7300. For more information on the CMT initiative, visit www.cmtempoweringeducation.com or follow along on social media using #CMTEmpoweringEducation.