Country Star Tiera Kennedy to Perform at ArtPrize Halftime Show

ArtPrize has always been more than just paintings on walls, giant statues, and all sorts of visitors to downtown.

It’s a full celebration of creativity, including visual art, dance, performance, and yes, even music. And this year, Grand Rapids’ biggest festival is bringing in a major music moment.

As part of the 2025 ArtPrize festivities, rising Country and R&B fusion artist Tiera Kennedy will headline a free outdoor concert at Sixth Street Park.

The event is called the ArtPrize Halftime Show and it’s scheduled for September 26th, right in the middle of the nearly three-week-long art competition.

It’s a celebration meant to bring the community together and highlight the role of music as a powerful form of artistic expression. And Kennedy, known for her genre-blending sound and emotional storytelling, is the perfect pick for the job.

The Country singer not only has caught audiences with her songs like “Jesus, My Mama, My Therapist” and “Shut it down”

She was also featured on Beyonce’s rendition of Blackbird, from her album Cowboy Carter

Michigan favorites Jake Kershaw and The Bootstrap Boys are also set to perform with her, so we’ll have some local flavor to add to this incredible performance in the middle of Grand Rapid’s favorite festival.

This concert is a real moment for ArtPrize visitors, artists, and locals to gather, take a break from voting and gallery-hopping, and enjoy a night of music under the stars.

ArtPrize 2025 officially runs from September 18 to October 4, and this show is one of several community-focused events that help make the festival feel like so much more than an art competition. You can see the rest of the planned events on their website.