Sarah Bretz, ContributorPrincess Cruises, in partnership with the Academy of Country Music, is bringing country music to the high seas with the ACM Live from the Red Barrel Lounge concert series.
On Caribbean voyages departing Galveston between February 9th and March 17th, guests aboard Regal Princess will enjoy intimate live performances from some of country music’s most exciting emerging artists. They include chart-topping singer and ACM Award nominee Kameron Marlowe, reigning ACM New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year Tigirlily Gold, and America’s Got Talent breakout stars Chapel Hart, along with other rising acts across several cruises sailing out of Galveston in early 2025.
As part of the series, six country music acts will perform two 45-minute concerts in the Princess Theater and interact with guests during meet and greet sessions.
Country Music Cruises
8-Day Sailing: February 9-17, 2025
Drew Baldridge — Raised in Patoka, Illinois, he began performing in local talent contests as a teenager before moving to Nashville at 18 to pursue country music. After releasing a pair of EPs in 2014-2015, his single “Dance with Ya” became his first chart hit, and his debut album Dirt on Us followed in 2016. His single “She’s Somebody’s Daughter” became a viral hit in 2023-2024, marking his first top-40 hit. In 2024, he signed with BBR Music Group’s Stoney Creek label and released “Tough People” as his debut single under the new deal.
6-Day Sailing: February 17-23, 2025
Chapel Hart — Danica and Devynn Hart, along with their cousin Trea Swindle, make up Chapel Hart and have proven they are truly a force to be reckoned with. These ladies have found a way to gift wrap their Mississippi roots & Louisiana spunk and share it with listeners around the world. They’ve independently released four studio albums and eleven singles. In July 2022, they competed in the 17th season of America’s Got Talent, where they finished fifth. The group’s most popular song is “You Can Have Him Jolene,” an answer song to Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.”
8-Day Sailing: February 23 to March 3, 2025
Hannah Ellis — The Campbellsville, Kentucky-native’s voice – a mix of favorite flannel, sparkling pink wine and welcome – is the friend we always wanted. Whether pouring from a car radio or the phone, the act named to Rolling Stone Country’s “Artist To Watch” list and ACM Award nominee, reminds listeners big leaps often come as a series of small steps when no one is looking. Her debut album, That Girl, features notable singles such as “Wine Country,” “Too Much and Not Enough,” “Country Can,” and “Home and a Hometown.”
6-Day Sailing: March 3-9, 2025
Tigirlily Gold — This sister duo, originally from North Dakota, signed to Monument Records and to SMACK Songs Publishing. They toured throughout the mid-west while still in high school, selling out amphitheaters in their home state. In 2024, their current single “I Tried A Ring On,” climbed the Country Radio Charts and became their second top-40 radio single before releasing their debut studio album, Blonde. They won “New Duo or Group of the Year” at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards in 2024, only the second female duo to ever win the award.
8-Day Sailing: March 9-17, 2025
Kelsey Hart — Curb Records recording artist, songwriter and Kentucky native Kelsey Hart has found his way into the spotlight, a place he’s dreamed of being since his childhood days of belting gospel music from the passenger seat of his dad’s truck. His radio single “Life with You” has garnered over 100 million global streams, 429,800 TikTok views and debuted in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Country Digital Songs Chart.
6-Day Sailing: March 17-23, 2025
Kameron Marlowe — Raised in North Carolina, he developed a passion for music through his grandfather and began singing in church at age 10. In 2018, he gained national attention on The Voice, where he joined Blake Shelton’s team before being stolen by Adam Levine, though he was eliminated in the live playoffs. Marlowe then moved to Nashville to pursue songwriting, releasing his debut single “Giving You Up” in 2019. In 2020, he signed with Columbia Nashville and released “Burn ‘Em All.” His hit “Giving You Up” was certified Gold by the RIAA in 2021, marking a major milestone in his career.
The ACM Live from the Red Barrel Lounge series, presented by Princess Cruises, pays homage to the Academy’s western roots and the beginnings of the Academy of Country Music. The Red Barrel Niteclub, and owners Mickey and Chris Christensen, hosted the first So-Cal Country Music Awards Banquet circa 1963. It was officially known as first the Academy of Country and Western Music Awards Banquet and would later become the ACM Awards. The Red Barrel Lounge, located at the Academy’s headquarters in Nashville, provides established and rising artists with a unique platform to showcase their talents, connect with new fans, and expand their reach.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the Academy of Country Music to showcase the incredible talent of these rising stars,” said Becky Thomson Foley, Head of Global Entertainment for Princess Cruises. “Many of our guests are passionate about country music, and this unique experience featuring intimate performances and meet and greet opportunities, promises to make their cruise vacation unforgettable.”
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