Five Nashville Figures Profiled as Rising Stars

Profiles of Nashville-area creatives and community members highlight careers shaped by personal experience, perseverance and service. Gaea S. Thompson turned her healing after the death of her daughter into creative work and published a children’s book about grief and feelings. Actor Keshawn Lee Kinslow describes navigating career setbacks and limited opportunities for Black actors while continuing to pursue roles that reflect his experiences. Painter and educator Melissa Newman balances teaching at Middle Tennessee State University and family life with a revived collage practice, while Gail Wall pairs work supporting adults with disabilities and older people with a flower-arranging business. Conductor Daniel Krenz, trained in musicology and orchestral conducting, returned to Nashville during the pandemic and has worked with opera programs and companies in the region.