“Rissi Palmer broke into the country-pop scene in 2007 with the hit single "Country Girl." Much of her adolescence was spent in St. Louis, Missouri, where her standout performances at local talent competitions led her to a publishing deal with Song Planet when she was 20. In 2003, Palmer went on to compete on Star Search, and after coming in third place, she was taken under the wing of judge Naomi Judd, who helped her get featured on Waiting in the Wings, a CMT series about African-Americans in the country music business. She then landed a record deal with 1720 Entertainment. Earlier this year, she released her critically acclaimed EP, The Back Porch Sessions.”

“Rissi Palmer's new mini-album, The Back Porch Sessions, is an easy-on-the-ears set that is both beautifully sung and hard to categorize”

“She's a little bit country and a little bit soulful pop and a lot of our sweet spot!”

“Palmer is living in Raleigh, North Carolina, with her husband and their daughter and making trips back to Nashville to develop her new music — with its neo-soul-to-throwback-southern-R&B sound and down-home, confessional point-of-view — when and how she wants to. "It's a different vibe," she explains, sitting at a picnic table on the porch behind the 5 Spot. "The country's still there, because that's still a part of me. But this project is definitely more intentionally soul." Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/rissi-palmer-on-soulful-comeback-its-scary-and-empowering-20150625#ixzz3eNFacfep Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook”

“Pittsburgh-area native Rissi Palmer, one of the few African-American singers in the traditionally white genre of country music, is coming back to the music scene this week with a new EP after a sabbatical to focus on her new family.”

“She worked with Grammy award winning songwriter/producers Drew Ramsey and Shannon Sanders on her newest release which dropped yesterday called The Back Porch Sessions - a compilation of five songs that beautifully and artistically showcase Rissi’s music she calls Southern Soul.”

"In an age of over-produced vocal-fry, this working mom writes from the heart and leaves it all out there when she sings."

“In September of 2008, we ran across some exciting new music from a country artist that was generating lots of buzz. The artist was Rissi Palmer and we instantly fell in love with her voice and her music. It’s safe to say that Rissi was the only country artist to ever be featured on BMWK and it was well deserved. More important than that esteemed accomplishment, was the fact that Rissi was the first African American woman to reach the Billboard Country charts since Dona Mason in 1987. Fast-forward four plus years and Rissi has evolved. Besides singer, she’s taken on additional titles like wife and mother that not only shape her life but her new music as well. I had the opportunity to talk with Rissi about music, motherhood and marriage as we discussed her exciting new release titled, Best Day Ever...”

“What’s your secret to happiness? My secret to happiness is pretty simple: I choose to be happy. There are so many things that can get you down on a daily basis and it’s so easy to get caught up. I feel whatever I need to feel at the moment, whether that is sadness, disappointment, anger, etc., and then I let it go. - See more at: http://rissipalmermusic.com/page/16/#sthash.as7cwbRi.dpuf”

“Rissi Palmer made a splash as the first African-American in 20 years to crack the country charts with her self-titled debut and lead single, "Country Girl." If Toby Keith had spit it, the tune couldn't have hit the target audience more squarely...”

“The Carolina Philharmonic, a North Carolina Symphony Orchestra led by David Michael Wolff of Pinehurst, partnered with Moore County Public Schools recently to bring an educational outreach program facilitated by Carnegie Hall to all fourth grade students in the county. Master of ceremonies Rissi Palmer introduced the chorus. A noted singer in her own right, Palmer is the first African-American to chart a country song since 1987 with her 2007 single "Country Girl."”

“This is one children’s album I will listen to with or without my munchkins…and I won’t get looked at with the side-eye for singing the songs outloud when I’m by myself (Dora anyone?). From songs like “Be Me”, to “You Could Be Dancing”, to “Not Afraid of the Dark”, these messages are for the adults as much as they are for the kids.”

“‘Best Day Ever’ is a must for morning commutes to school and perfect for any road trip! In a time where listening to the radio with your children is almost impossible (unless you tune in to your local NPR or gospel stations), this CD is a win-win. You won’t dread hearing songs multiple times because you’ll be singing right along taking a stroll down memory lane while hoping your child can relate to the songs on the album. This CD has been one of the most used and best gifts ever!”

“From opening for Taylor Swift to motherhood and mommy and me classes, Rissi Palmer's has seen some big changes in the last five years. But now she's coming out with something big of her own - a new children's album.”