Kayla Faulhaber is a Traditional Country and Bluegrass vocalist/musician from Georgetown, Kentucky. She has been a member of the Kentucky Country Music Association and North American Country Music Association International for 18 years, making her the longest active member of the KCMA.
From a young age, Kayla had the love of music in her soul, and was destined to spread the love of music to those around her, leaving a little bit of sparkle wherever she goes.
As a child growing up in the 1990’s, her first inspirations were listening to her dad Mitch Floyd play guitar, Tricia Yearwood, and the Spice Girls. At the age of 4, she began performing for whoever would listen, but you better not laugh at her efforts, or she would start all over!
When she turned 13 years old, her dad bought her first guitar, and began teaching her to play. She had her very first singing competition at Renfro Valley Entertainment Center in 2006, where her first competition into the Kentucky Country Music Association followed.
Kayla has performed at many venues, jamborees and festivals over the years. Each of which she plays alongside her dad, the house band, or carries a show all on her own impersonating the famous “Dolly Parton”.
She has met many inspiring musicians and artists who she now calls friends and has had the honor of touching the lives of so many with her love of music.
In her 18 years as a member of the North American Country Music Association International, she has grown immensely as an artist, musician and person.
Being a part of an association with such high honors to uphold, support, and love, musical education, and lifelong friendships, it helped shape her into who she is today.
She has held multiple titles that include “Female Traditional Country Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year”, “Female Bluegrass Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year”, the “Jimmy Dempsey” award, and the “Young Ambassador” award.
Kayla is a loving wife of her high school sweet-heart, Jordan, whom she wrote her first song about titled “Country Boy”, when she was 18. She is a full-time mom of their 3 beautiful children, Harrison, Isabella and Hailee. Kayla always has her hands full, but her heart is even fuller and she thanks God every day for her blessings.
Kayla says if she can put a smile on one person’s face in her audience, or put a song in their heart, that’s what it’s all about. As her late musical friend Ray Prince once said while handing her a guitar pick back-stage, “Always keep a pick in your pocket, and a song in your heart”.
Ali Boice is 16 years old and a junior in high school. She has been in over 13 theater productions and sings on countless stages, including the national anthem at various sporting, community and fundraising events.
Ali has been honored with numerous awards over the years. She was awarded the 2019 Kentucky Country Music Association New Country Entertainer of the Year and Horizon Award Vocalist of the Year (13-16 years old) and earned 2018 NACAMI New Country Most Promising Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year (7-12 years old).
When she isn’t on stage, you will find her reading, biking or scuba diving. Ali also enjoys playing with her three dogs, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Cheyenne Graff is a highly awarded singer/songwriter from the small town of Crossville, Tennessee. She was born a musical prodigy and started singing at the age of two, to “Billy” the bass fish that sang “Don’t worry, be happy” and “Take me to the River”. She would get up on her family coffee table, and start singing those tunes for as long as her grandmother would allow.
As she got older, her love for music flourished. At 8, she started learning how to play the guitar and at 13, she got her first piano. Cheyenne continued to grow in her passion, and had her first gig at the Palace Theatre in Crossville singing with “D Squared Productions” at the age of 12.
She has since performed at many venues and has had the honor and privilege of opening for Country Music Hall of Fame legend, “whispering” Bill Anderson, as well as John Conlee. She has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City all the way to the bars on Broadway in Nashville, Tennessee.
Cheyenne has been a member of the North American Country Music Associations, International for over 7 years. In that association, she has won numerous awards including Entertainer of the Year, Vocalist of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year for her original “Big Girl.” Her first EP “The Start of Forever” was released in August of 2017 and has been featured with WDEB Radio in Jamestown, Tennessee.
Cheyenne’s favorite part about songwriting is that when she performs, she gets to see the impact that the words have on the audience. When she wrote “The Start of Forever”, about a relationship starting and the things you can go through, she was asked to start performing it at weddings and anniversary dinners to help showcase what love can conquer. She has written several songs throughout the years and loves to perform them when she gets the opportunity.
When Cheyenne isn’t performing you’ll find her with her beautiful little girl, Dixie, and her loving and supportive husband, Kyle. She says she is blessed beyond measure to have such an amazing little family and she thanks God every day that he continues to bless her.
Cheyenne is also an aspiring book editor and works part time as a 911 dispatcher for a neighboring county in Florida, where she currently resides. Cheyenne has been influenced by artists like Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves, Martina McBride, and Shania Twain.
Her powerhouse vocals, passion, and stage presence are sure to entertain and leave you wanting more, while invoking many emotions throughout the night.
Kyle Brigham is a traditional country music artist from Live Oak, Florida. He started performing at the age of twenty- four based on a dare at a karaoke night in Georgia. After singing the famous “Paint me a Birmingham” by Tracy Lawrence, he was approached by multiple crowd members in awe of his strong take on traditional country.
After that he frequented karaoke joints more and was subsequently asked to join the state chapter to go to the North American Country Music Associations, International competition. Kyle was fortunate to be able to advance to the finals in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee that year and every year since.
Kyle has gone on to win Male Entertainer of the Year in adult traditional country, and has been a part of multiple events including the Suwannee River Jam 2022 in Live Oak, FL. Kyle enjoys entertaining an audience.
“I want to be the reason that people have a good time and get up to dance when they don’t normally. I love making them feel good and take a trip down memory lane. It’s an honor to make them smile because they love what they hear and remember because of my songs.”
It was actually at NACMAI that Kyle met his beautiful and talented wife, Cheyenne Graff, with whom he now has a gorgeous baby girl, Dixie Lee. He has co-written a few songs with Cheyenne, including “Sometimes”, which you can hear him perform at his events. He states his influences are artists like Tracy Byrd, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Tracy Lawrence, and George Strait.
Rachelle NiCole is a singer, songwriter, and musician from Mayfield, KY. In July 2018, she started entertaining at several local venues while launching her debut album in December 2018.
Her partnership with Bristol Broadcasting has given her the opportunity to perform her music live on the radio; with songs from her new CD being played on Willie 102.1.
She has won many music awards over her career time. Album of the Year, Female Vocalist and Female Entertainer of the Year and many more.
While also keeping her career alive she is a wife and mother to two little boys. They are what motivates are to keep believing in her dreams.
While music may make the world go around, for Rachelle NiCole it makes her world complete. Stay in touch for all of Rachelle NiCole’s upcoming events.
Facebook: @rachellenicolemusic
Instagram: @rachellenicolesmusic
Music currently available at: Amazon Music, iTunes, Google Play, Deezer, and Apple Music
Kenneth (Kenny) R. Reynolds, Sr. is the President/Founder of the KCMA. He formed the KCMA in 2002 after talking with Ms. Peggy Franke (CEO/President North America Country Music Association, Int’l NACMAI). Ms. Peggy asked him to consider forming an association in Kentucky that could be a part of NACMAI.
After several talks as well as attending a board meeting and the Awards Week in Pigeon Forge, TN he decided to form what is now the Kentucky Country Music Association, Inc. A Kentucky nonprofit.
“I love Kentucky and I wanted to give back, to be able to be a small part of someone’s dream come true” he says.
He has progressed with the North America Country Music Association, Int’l as well. He was elected Vice President by the Board of Directors and served in that position for several years.
He was recently appointed as the Executive Director and he says, “it is such an honor and humbling to be appointed to this position”.
His roots go deep within country music from playing professionally to owning and operating a music management and booking agency in Kentucky, Nashville and West Virginia. He is a cousin to Eddy Arnold and has worked with and friends with countless country music artist.
After playing in bands, he decided to end the “music playing” and for several years did not do anything with music. He became a firefighter/EMT and worked at the Murray Fire Dept. and Murray/Calloway Co. Hospital Ambulance Service.
For 10 years of his firefighting career, he also taught hazardous material and construction safety at Murray State University. He retired from the fire department in 2016 with 27 years of service at the rank of Assistant Chief.
In the late 90’s while still at the fire dept. he decided that he wanted back into music but not playing. That is when he decided to get into music management and later branched out into booking as well.
He has always been a traditional country kind of guy so mostly he managed and booked the older Opry stars that still hold a special place in his heart.
He has said on numerous occasions that what he loves the most about the KCMA as well as NACMAI is how it is a family, a family that truly and deeply cares for each other.
“I want to see KCMA going way past my years and get better each and every year, and to help our amazing talent in Kentucky, but most of all I want it to forever and always be a family” Kenny said.
He loves to keep busy and help others as much as possible. After retiring from the fire service, he took a job as Deputy Coroner in Murray, Kentucky. A job he still holds and is now Chief Deputy.
Avery Watkins is a gospel music soloist who resides in Lexington, KY. Avery grew up in Lancaster, KY on a 200-acre family farm raising burley tobacco and registered Angus beef cattle. Having grown up in a Southern Baptist Church, he grew to enjoy the classic hymns and Southern Gospel music.
After years of operating the sound system at his home church, Avery began to practice singing at his church when none was around. After becoming aware of his secret practice sessions, his pastor encouraged him to sing solo in public for the first time.
Since that first public appearance at his home church with his family and friends in attendance, Avery has answered God’s calling on his life to go and share the Word through his gospel music ministry at many churches and events around the state of Kentucky.
Avery is a multiple winner of the “Entertainer of the Year” and “Male Vocalist of the Year” awards for Traditional Gospel from both the Kentucky Country Music Association (KCMA) and the North American Country Music Association, International (NACMAI).
Avery’s gospel music influences include Ray Boltz, the Crabb Family, Mike Bowling, the Gaither Vocal Band, Gordon Mote, and many others.
Avery is a licensed Professional Engineer with a BS and MS degree in Engineering from the University of Kentucky. He has worked as an engineer at the University of Kentucky since 1994.