2018 Alumni Professional Achievement Award Winner
Growing up in the foothills of North Georgia, Kimberly Schlapman was immersed in a culture of serving and simple pleasures. She developed a passion for taking care of others and made it her mission to spread smiles. Following her focus on community, Schlapman attended UT, graduating in 1992 with a BS in child and family studies from the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.
In 1998, Schlapman reunited with old friend Karen Fairchild in Nashville. Together, Schlapman, Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, and Phillip Sweet founded the award-winning country band Little Big Town. As part of the four-person group, Schlapman has won four Grammy Awards and received 13 nominations, CMA Vocal Group of the Year 2012–17, numerous Academy of Country Music Awards, and the 2017 People’s Choice Award for Favorite Country Group. The band has also received numerous nominations and awards from the CMT Music Awards, CMA Awards, ACM Awards, British Country Music Association Awards, and the Billboard Music Awards.
Along with her successful career as a musician, Schlapman is a chef and entrepreneur. She starred in the Great American Country network cooking show Kimberly’s Simply Southern and served as a judge on Food Network’s CHOPPED Junior. In 2015, she wrote the cookbook Oh, Gussie! and soon after established a line of kitchen accessories and cookware for HSN as well as the Oh Gussie! Collection that is sold at Cracker Barrel stores.
Schlapman and her husband Stephen live in Nashville with their two daughters, Daisy Pearl and Dolly Grace.
Growing up in the foothills of North Georgia, Kimberly Schlapman was immersed in a culture of serving and simple pleasures. She developed a passion for taking care of others and made it her mission to spread smiles. Following her focus on community, Schlapman attended UT, graduating in 1992 with a BS in child and family studies from the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.
In 1998, Schlapman reunited with old friend Karen Fairchild in Nashville. Together, Schlapman, Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, and Phillip Sweet founded the award-winning country band Little Big Town. As part of the four-person group, Schlapman has won four Grammy Awards and received 13 nominations, CMA Vocal Group of the Year 2012–17, numerous Academy of Country Music Awards, and the 2017 People’s Choice Award for Favorite Country Group. The band has also received numerous nominations and awards from the CMT Music Awards, CMA Awards, ACM Awards, British Country Music Association Awards, and the Billboard Music Awards.
Along with her successful career as a musician, Schlapman is a chef and entrepreneur. She starred in the Great American Country network cooking show Kimberly’s Simply Southern and served as a judge on Food Network’s CHOPPED Junior. In 2015, she wrote the cookbook Oh, Gussie! and soon after established a line of kitchen accessories and cookware for HSN as well as the Oh Gussie! Collection that is sold at Cracker Barrel stores.
Schlapman and her husband Stephen live in Nashville with their two daughters, Daisy Pearl and Dolly Grace.
