LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes is an international multi-platinum selling acclaimed singer and ASCAP award-winning songwriter. She has sold more than 48 million units globally, won 2 Grammy® Awards; 12 Billboard Music Awards; 2 World Music Awards; 3 Academy of Country Music Awards; 2 Country Music Association Awards and one Dove Award. At 14, Rimes won “Best New Artist” making her the youngest solo artist to take home a Grammy® Award, and at 15, she became the first country artist to win “Artist of the Year” at the Billboard Music Awards.

Out of the 63 singles she has released throughout her expansive career, LeAnn’s ballad “How Do I Live” holds the record as Billboard’s Hot 100 all-time #1 hit by a female artist and currently ranks #6 on Billboard’s “Greatest of All Time: Hot 100 Songs” list. 15 of her multi-genre singles are top-10 hits, including “Can’t Fight the Moonlight,” which went #1 in 11 countries.

The last couple of years have been quite a resurgence for LeAnn. In 2022, the world-renowned singer had a big year including the release of her 19th album god’s work (EverLe Records via Thirty Tigers/ The Orchard). The album, which features a roster of accomplished artists including Ziggy Marley, Mickey Guyton, Aloe Blacc, Ben Harper, and more, was listed as #9 on Variety’s “The Best Albums of 2022.” They said: “You won’t find a richer collection of melodic writing on any album released this year, with the twists and turns that maybe only someone capable of all that virtuosic vocalizing could think to take a set of songs into.”

Passionate about using her voice to help heal the world, LeAnn was honored with the Ally of Equality Award by the Human Rights Campaign for her over 20 years of support of equal rights, the 2019 HOPE Award for Depression Advocacy, and 2009 ACM Humanitarian Award, among other recognitions. She continues to channel her voice in new ways, releasing CHANT: The Human & The Holy (EverLe Records / Thirty Tigers) in 2020, which spent 5 weeks at #1 on iTunes New Age Chart, as well as her iHeartRadio mental health and wholeness podcast, Wholly Human, that brings her lifestyle blog, Soul of EverLe, to life. Wholly Human, which currently has three seasons, previously reached #2 on iTunes Health & Fitness Chart, placed in the Top 35 overall for podcasts worldwide and was named as one of the 15 best mental health podcasts that educate and empower listeners by Good Housekeeping.

Braiden Sunshine

Braiden Sunshine is a 23-year-old singer/songwriter from Lyme Connecticut. Captivated by music early on in life, Braiden started performing professionally at 8 years old and by the age of 14 had already performed at over 350 shows with his bands.

At age 15, Braiden auditioned for and was a Semi-Finalist on NBC’s ‘The Voice’. This gave him a platform to not only disseminate his music but to help others. Since season 9 of  ‘The Voice’ in 2015, Braiden has been routinely speaking at Middle and High schools for assemblies and workshops. He finds that the most gratifying part of his entire career as a musician is giving back to the community, and helping other kids follow their dreams!

Braiden writes music directly from the heart and plays with the singular purpose to convey that. Whether he’s singing a powerful heartfelt ballad, a soothing and winding story, or a funky blues progression to get down to, you always feel the intention and emotion that Braiden brings to the table. His tonal quality and soul shine brightly on stage. Recently, Braiden has been in the studio, preparing to release a few new singles coming early this summer to all major streaming services. When he isn’t writing or recording his own music, he is doing the same with his new band ‘The Soul Factory’, a 9-piece soul and funk band, which in his opinion “absolutely cooks!” He is incredibly honored to have the opportunity to open for the fantastic LeAnn Rimes in his home music scene of New London at the Garde Arts Theater Center, and is excited for what’s next!