EmiSunshine, Grant Maloy Smith To Bring 'Fly Possum Fly' To Southern Festival Of Books

Teen country music prodigy EmiSunshine will join country-roots singer/songwriter Grant Maloy Smith on stage for the first time at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville at 2:00 on Sunday, October 14. Admission is free.

The pair recently teamed up to record "Fly Possum Fly," a new Christmas novelty song about magical possums that save Christmas by flying Santa's sleigh, after Rudolph comes down with the flu. The single is being released to radio stations for the holidays, and is now available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Google Play and elsewhere.

"It was so much fun working with Emi in the studio," Smith said. "She reminds me of a 14-year-old Dolly Parton. I can't wait to perform with her at the Southern Festival of Books."

"The concept may seem silly, but it's so clever," EmiSunshine said. "I sure would like to see Santa and those possums on Christmas morning delivering my presents!

Smith is known for his Billboard-charting 2017 album "Dust Bowl - American Stories." His recent credits include appearances on the nationally syndicated television concert series "WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour" and "Song of the Mountains." EmiSunshine has been attracting national attention since she was nine years old, having appeared on "The Today Show," NBC's "Little Big Shots," the Grand Ole Opry, and in the recent Elvis Presley documentary "The King."

In addition to performing at the Southern Festival of Books, Smith will discuss and sign copies of his children's book version of "Fly Possum Fly." On Saturday, October 13, he will participate in a panel discussion in the Teen Center at the Nashville Public Library, titled "The Animals Speak: Picture Books with Favorite Creatures," with authors and illustrators Alex Beard ("The Lying King") and Laura Joy Pewitt ("Wally the Wayward Sea Turtle"). He will then sign books in the authors' tent at the War Memorial Plaza. His performance with EmiSunshine will take place on the Music Stage on the Plaza on Sunday the 14th.

Now in its 30th year, the Southern Festival of Books features more than 200 authors representing every literary genre. Authors at this year's even will include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor ("Turning Pages: My Life Story"), Grammy Award-winning musician Ketch Secor ("Lorraine: The Girl Who Sang the Storm Away"), renowned music critic Dave Marsh, Bobbie Ann Mason ("Patchwork: A Bobbie Ann Mason Reader") and many more.

The Southern Festival of Books will take place at the War Memorial Plaza (a.k.a. the Legislative Plaza), 301 6th Ave. N, October 11-14. Some events will occur at the Nashville Public Library, 615 Church Street. For information about the festival, including a schedule of events, see www.HumanitiesTennessee.org.

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