Country’s Brightest Rising Star Carter Faith to Headline Howdy at the Hurd

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Celebrated country music newcomer Carter Faith, who became the first performer since superstar Chris Stapleton a decade ago to have a debut album (Cherry Valley) earn an Academy of Country Music (ACM) Album of the Year nomination, will headline Howdy at the Hurd, hosted by Pi Beta Phi and Baylor University, on Friday, Sept. 25, outside the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center. In addition to students, football fans in Waco for Baylor’s Big 12 opener vs. Colorado on Saturday are invited to attend the free Howdy concert featuring one of Nashville’s brightest rising stars.

A tradition at Baylor since 1962, Pi Phi’s All University Howdy serves as the “first official Texas welcome to campus,” which includes all the elements of Howdy from local food trucks and vendors to line dancing and even a Ferris wheel, all beginning at 7 p.m. Coming off a summer supporting George Strait and Post Malone and soon to be opening for Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves and Shaboozey, Carter Faith’s star is rocketing as she takes the Howdy at the Hurd stage on Dutton Avenue adjacent to the Hurd Welcome Center at 8:30 p.m.

“Partnering with Baylor to bring Howdy to life is truly one of the most energizing and meaningful experiences we get to be part of,” said Nashville junior and Pi Phi Howdy chair Ruthie Clements. “This year’s Howdy at the Hurd also falls on the eve of Baylor Football’s Big 12 opener, adding even more energy to the weekend, and we absolutely cannot wait for students and fans alike to enjoy Howdy and see Carter Faith perform.”

Faith’s concert will top off a cherished tradition and a staple of the Baylor fall experience that welcomes new and returning students to Texas, Clements said. The event also benefits Read>Lead>Achieve, Pi Phi’s philanthropy.

“From the food and music to the camaraderie among friends, fans and peers, the atmosphere is incredibly special,” she said. “Also, as we advocate for children's literacy through Read> Lead>Achieve, the funds raised and books collected during Howdy directly support children in Waco and across the nation, making the event both fun and deeply impactful. We are grateful for the chance to serve Baylor and champion such an important cause, and we cannot wait to see everyone at Howdy on Sept. 25.”

ABOUT CARTER FAITH

After she began writing songs at 16, Carter Faith followed the path of many aspiring young country musicians before her and left North Carolina behind for Nashville. In just a few years, Faith had caught the attention of seasoned professionals and industry tastemakers alike, soon accumulating hundreds of millions of global streams with just a pair of EPs and a series of singles. 

Her early career was a whirlwind of high-profile collaborations and tours with the likes of Little Big Town, Shaboozey, Ella Langley, Keith Urban, Willie Nelson and many more, plus accolades like features on All Country News’ Artists to Watch list for 2025 and CMT’s Next Women of Country campaign. Billboard has lauded Faith’s vocals for “exuding fragility with a smoky resonance,” while The Tennessean has praised Faith’s embodiment of “the center square of the puzzle that country, folk and rock synergy has timelessly inspired.” 



After signing with MCA and Universal Music Publishing Group, Faith began recording her long-awaited debut album. The result of years writing with mentor and producer Tofer Brown, Cherry Valley looks back to some of Faith’s formative influences – Tammy Wynette, Nancy Sinatra, iconic ‘60s classic rock albums like Pet Sounds and Revolver – to realize the “cowgirl hippie and sometimes a bit trippy” aesthetic Faith’s been chasing all along. Across 15 tracks, Cherry Valley is both cinematic and deeply personal, featuring a narrative rich with details as Faith documents the travails of loss and heartbreak as youth tumbles into adulthood. With singles as varied as the sly “Grudge” or the gut-wrenching “If I Had Never Lost My Mind…,” Cherry Valley proves Faith is already a young master of the form, putting her own twist on classic country narratives with a sound that is both modern and timeless. 

In May, Faith earned a historic ACM Album of the Year nomination for Cherry Valley, the first debut album to earn a nod in the category in a decade, following Chris Stapleton's Traveller in 2016. On July 24, she released the deluxe version, Cherry Valley Forever, which includes Faith’s hit duet “Nothing Better to Do” with Wyatt Flores.

Faith also set to make her acting debut later this year in the Netflix film Heartland, starring alongside Academy Award-winner Jessica Chastain.

Don’t miss more Baylor Concerts this fall!

• 8-time ACM and 7-time CMA Group of the Year Old Dominion, one of mainstream country music’s most popular live groups, Friday, Sept. 18, at Foster Pavilion, kicking off Family Weekend ahead of Saturday’s Baylor vs. Louisiana Tech football game at McLane Stadium;
• Free Baylor Backyard Live concerts at all six Baylor home football games this season, including Texas music icon Pat Green kicking off Baylor’s Big 12 opener vs. Colorado Saturday, Sept. 26, on Touchdown Alley outside McLane Stadium;
• Country music’s next big star Braxton Keith, Friday, Oct. 2, at Foster Pavilion; and
• Silobration’s kickoff concert featuring critically acclaimed indie rock/folk band Mt. Joy, Thursday, Oct. 22, at Foster Pavilion, presented by Magnolia with Baylor University.