A Texas songwriter whose songs have been recorded by some of country music’s biggest names will help set the stage for James McMurtry when Collinsville’s Pioneer Day returns Sept. 19.
Singer-songwriter Austin Cunningham has been added to the entertainment lineup for the 52nd annual Pioneer Day celebration in downtown Collinsville.
Cunningham will perform ahead of McMurtry, who will headline the Holiday Chevrolet Main Stage at 9:30 p.m.
The pairing will bring two veteran Texas songwriters to the Pioneer Day stage for an evening built around the kind of storytelling for which both have become known.
A Garland native, Cunningham established himself as a songwriter early in his career and has spent decades writing on Nashville’s Music Row.
His songs have been recorded by an impressive list of artists including Hank Williams Jr., Martina McBride, Dolly Parton,
Wynonna Judd, Chris Knight and bluegrass legend Del McCoury.
Cunningham’s work has also reached the big screen, with songs appearing on the soundtracks of the Ashley Judd film “Where the Heart Is” and “Autumn in New York,” starring Richard Gere and Winona Ryder.
While Cunningham has built an extensive résumé writing for other artists, he has also developed a following as a performer in his own right.
His music blends traditional country, Americana and roots music with the storytelling that has defined his songwriting career.
Cunningham is also an accomplished guitarist and has performed across the country, including an appearance at the Sundance Film Festival as part of the famed Bluebird Cafe’s “On the Road” series.
He was also previously honored with the Johnny Mercer Award for Emerging American Songwriters.
Cunningham has continued recording his own material throughout his career.
His 2019 album, “Country and Western Music,” showcased a range that moves between classic country and Americana to more driving Texas roots music.
That songwriting background makes Cunningham a fitting lead-in for McMurtry, whose own reputation has been built largely on detailed, character-driven songs about ordinary people, small towns and American life.
McMurtry, the son of Pulitzer Prize-winning Texas novelist Larry McMurtry, has spent more than three decades building a national following as a singer-songwriter.
His latest album, “The Black Dog & the Wandering Boy,” continues that tradition of narrative songwriting.
This year’s Pioneer Day theme is “Celebrating 250 Years of Heroes and Legends,” recognizing this year’s 250th anniversary of the United States.
Two-time Winter Olympian and Collinsville native Kellie Delka will serve as grand marshal of the Pioneer Day parade. Delka represented Puerto Rico in skeleton at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics earlier this year.
Pioneer Day will also include food, vendor booths, a kid zone, bingo and other activities throughout downtown.
The Band of Faith and Backroad Anthem are also scheduled to perform.
The 52nd annual Collinsville Pioneer Day will be held Saturday, Sept. 19, in downtown Collinsville from 4-11 p.m. Admission is free.
