Grammy-nominated artist Janelle Monáe will headline the opening night of the inaugural America’s River Roots Festival, a five-day celebration spanning both sides of the Ohio River. Joining them on the headliner bill is Maren Morris, the country superstar who recently came out as bisexual — making two of the festival’s four headliners proudly queer.

Running Oct. 8–12, 2025, River Roots will feature more than one hundred performances and events across eight stages in Cincinnati, Covington, and Newport. Monáe will command the stage at Smale Riverfront Park on Oct. 9, launching the festival’s headliner series with their signature genre-blending sound, celebrating self-expression and queer joy. Morris closes out the festival on Oct. 12 with Walker Hayes, bringing her voice as one of country music’s loudest LGBTQ+ allies directly to the banks of the Ohio.

The festival also boasts a deep lineup beyond its headliners, with eight free stages presenting gospel, jazz, R&B, bluegrass, blues, zydeco, country, and indie rock. Nine historic riverboats will anchor the event, offering more than 175 cruise experiences from sightseeing and dining to full-on riverboat racing. Organizers expect as many as one million visitors throughout the week.

Other headliners include Mt. Joy on Oct. 10 and Weezer on Oct. 11. Beyond music, the festival will highlight food, arts programming, and riverfront culture.

Tickets for Monáe, Morris, and the full headliner lineup are available at americasriverroots.com.