Article Contributed by The Caverns
Published on 2026-05-13
L-R: Speech Thomas of Arrested Development, Béla Fleck, T Bone Burnett, Abigail Washburn, Martha Redbone, and Yo-Yo Ma.- Photo: Matt Morrison
Inside one of the world’s most sacred natural performance spaces, American Revival brought music, hope, and storytelling underground for a powerful night of community connection in Grundy County, Tennessee.
Presented by American Revival in partnership with The Caverns, American Revival: Underground in Grundy County took place May 12 at The Caverns and raised $30,000 for the Littell-Partin Community Center, supporting ongoing local programs tied to the Millions of Conversations We See Hope initiative in Grundy County.
The program opened with a performance by the Grundy JAMkids program and the Plateau Community Choir, setting the tone for the night. Appearances throughout the evening included special collaborations featuring world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma; Grammy-winning hip-hop group Arrested Development; acclaimed banjoist and singer-songwriter Abigail Washburn; blues and soul singer Martha Redbone; virtuoso Grammy-winning banjoist Béla Fleck; and Grammy-winning producer and musician T Bone Burnett.
During the evening, filmmaker and American Revival creator Nicholas Ma delivered a keynote that framed the night around cultural connection and community investment.
“Tonight, this cave is a place of celebration and commitment. Celebration because there’s something happening in Grundy County,” said Nicholas Ma in his keynote at The Caverns. “You’ve resurrected the old high school and created the Littell-Partin Center. You’ve already hosted dances there and support organizations have already started moving in. You’ve brought music back to schools across the county.”
“When Samar Ali first called about bringing the American Revival to Grundy County, I was intrigued — and after learning more, I was all in,” said Emily Partin, the Director of the Littell-Partin Center. “The idea of turning curiosity into commitment and strengthening communities aligns perfectly with the mission of the Littell-Partin Center. We’re especially grateful to The Caverns and to Joe Lurgio and Todd Mayo for their generosity and support of our future Performing Arts Center.”
The Revival’s finale featured five students from the Valiant Cross Academy in Montgomery, Alabama, who were a part of the American Revival: Montgomery show in October 2025.
Earlier in the week, the American Revival put on a Helpers Festival at the Littell-Partin Center, which connected Grundy residents to their local helpers and invited them to volunteer their time with a local organization.
The Grundy County Helpers Festival featured American Job Center, BetterFi, Cumberland Forest School, Discover Together Grundy, Friends of South Cumberland State Parks, Growing Roots, Grundy Area Arts Council, Grundy Safe Communities Coalition, Highlander Research and Education Center, Isaiah 117 House, JAMkids Grundy Area, Morton Memorial Food Mission, Mountain Goat Trail Alliance, Mountain T.O.P., Office of Civic Engagement - University of the South, South Cumberland Community Clinic, South Cumberland Community Fund/LIFT Grundy, Southeast TN Young Farmers Coalition, SPARK, Tennessee Justice Center, The Housing Hub, TN Department of Health/ORCO, United Way of Greater Chattanooga, Volunteer Behavioral Health, and Rē: The Regenerative School.
American Revival, described as “a traveling festival of hope,” is a nationwide effort that brings together artists, thinkers, and leaders to strengthen communities through music, storytelling, and dialogue, building bridges across difference and celebrating shared humanity. Each stop on the tour is uniquely tailored to its host city, but every Revival shares one purpose: to move people from curiosity to commitment through purpose, relationships, and service.
The Caverns, nestled in Grundy County, Tennessee, is a world-renowned music destination with a stunning subterranean venue and natural acoustics that make every performance immersive and unforgettable. Above ground, an outdoor amphitheater offers sweeping views of the Cumberland Plateau. Visitors can enjoy guided cave tours, on-site camping, yurt accommodations, and an on-site tavern, making The Caverns a unique destination for music, adventure, and connection.
Millions of Conversations’ 3142 Program was created to foster belonging through a solutions-focused approach that restores agency at the communal level. Millions of Conversations piloted the program in Grundy County, Tennessee, bringing together residents to learn, collaborate, and repair the erosion of trust that is consistently happening in America today. Named for the 3,142 counties in the United States, the program offers a scalable model that equips local leaders to rebuild trust, foster cooperation, nurture a pluralistic society, and strengthen democracy at the county level.
