Nashville Songwriters Rebecca Lynn Howard and Rachel Thibodeau to Perform in Fayetteville

Nashville Songwriters Bring the Stories Behind Country Hits to Fayetteville

Fayetteville is getting a taste of Music Row this fall. Hit songwriters Rebecca Lynn Howard and Rachel Thibodeau are set to perform together at the barn at The Stonebreaker Hotel on Saturday, Nov. 21. The evening marks the debut performance of the newly announced 180 Music Series.

Local organizers Tyler Bell and Neal Pendergraft designed the series to replicate an intimate listening room atmosphere in Northwest Arkansas. The event aims to place the focus squarely on the craft of songwriting.

Inside the 180 Music Series Experience

The concept relies on an unvarnished format where the creators of radio staples share the unfiltered origins of their work. For audiences accustomed to hearing polished tracks on commercial radio, the setting offers a look at the raw material behind major country records.

Las vegas country and western singer rebecca lynn howard at the academy of country music awards

“There’s a tradition in Nashville of putting the songwriter, the song and the story at the center of the room,” Tyler Bell, CEO of OneEighty Music Group, said in a press release announcing the show. “You’re close enough to hear how a song came together, what inspired it and what it sounded like before the rest of the world knew it.”

Both performers bring extensive catalogs to the Fayetteville stage. Howard’s songwriting credits feature cuts recorded by Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson, and Trisha Yearwood. Alongside her writing work, she has appeared on major television platforms including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and TODAY, in addition to touring alongside artists such as Steven Tyler.

Thibodeau co-wrote the four-times-platinum No. 1 hit “Good Directions” with Luke Bryan, which was recorded by Billy Currington. That track held the top spot on the Billboard country chart for three weeks, securing an ASCAP Song of the Year honor and a spot on Nashville Songwriters Association International’s “Ten Songs I Wish I’d Written” list. Her catalog also includes recordings by Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, and Parmalee.

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The Stonebreaker Hosts Open-Flame Dining Before Performance

The evening begins ahead of the main performance with a live-fire culinary offering. Starting at 6 p.m., The Stonebreaker will host a food and cocktail experience centered on an open-flame menu, featuring items such as pork belly and vegetable skewers with Thai basil chimichurri, short rib loaded chips with charred onion aioli and grilled poblano pico, and s’more ice cream with marshmallow whip and candied pie crust.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase a la carte. The performance follows at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $55.20, which includes applicable fees, and are currently available for purchase through Eventbrite.