The Carriage Crossing Cookout!

Winner of Memphis in May’s “Carriage Crossing Cookout” on
September 19 Earns Guaranteed Seat on Barbecue Country Season 2

Click HERE to View Sizzle Reel Featuring
Award-Winning Pitmaster & Host of Barbecue Country, Russ Lannom

Nashville, Tenn. (July 30, 2026) — The Heartland Network, home of the hit original series Barbecue Country hosted by award winning pitmaster Russ Lannom, today announced a new strategic partnership with Memphis in May, producers of the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. The partnership brings together two of the biggest names in competitive barbecue, pairing The Heartland Network’s television audience with the credibility of a contest USA Today has ranked the “Most Prestigious” BBQ competition in the country.

The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is a serious celebration of Memphis’ claim as the Barbecue Capital of the World. Each year, more than 200 teams from over 25 states and several countries compete for a share of a $200,000 prize purse and bragging rights as World Champion of BBQ.

As part of The Heartland Network partnership, Memphis in May will present the Carriage Crossing Cookout on Saturday, September 19, at Carriage Crossing in Collierville, Tennessee.

Competitors will vie for cash prizes of $500, $250 and $100, but the biggest prize is a guaranteed seat at the table as a contender and cast member for Barbecue Country Season 2, bypassing the show’s standard audition process entirely.

(The entry fee for the Carriage Crossing Cookout is $100. Full contest and registration details are available HERE.)

The partnership also brings The Heartland Network and its streaming platform Heartland+ to Memphis in May’s signature event, the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. The network and streamer will be featured with branded presence on the MIM main stage, placing Barbecue Country in front of the festival’s estimated audience of more than 60,000 daily visitors.

Joel Wertman, CEO & President, Get After It Media / The Heartland Network, says, “We built The Heartland Network to tell the stories of American food, craft, and community, and Memphis in May is an ideal partner for this. This co-bill lets us bring millions of viewers into the pits, the smoke, and the competition itself, giving this legendary event the national storytelling platform it deserves.”

“The partnership between Memphis in May and The Heartland Network represents an exciting opportunity to once again elevate the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest on a national and international stage,” says Mack Weaver, Memphis in May President & CEO. “By bringing together an iconic international event and a national media network, the collaboration will expand audience engagement, celebrate barbecue excellence, and further strengthen Memphis’ reputation as the barbecue capital of the world.”

Russ Lannom, Award-Winning Pitmaster and Host of Barbecue Country on The Heartland Network, adds, “Barbecue has always been about bringing people together. Getting to share the stories, the backyard cooks, the pitmasters, and the passion behind the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest with viewers across the country is exactly why I do what I do — there’s nothing like watching someone discover real barbecue culture for the first time.”

While the “Carriage Crossing Cookout” will fill one seat at the table, prospective cooks can apply to compete on Barbecue Country Season 2.

The Heartland Network is now accepting applications for the remaining spots on the show. Ten of the twelve Season 2 cooks will be selected through the network’s open application process which is open now through Midnight central time on September 7th. The link to the application page is HERE.
Production for Barbecue Country Season 2 is scheduled for November 2–12 in Lebanon, Tennessee.

About Memphis in May:
Memphis in May is a 501(c)3 nonprofit community-based organization whose mission is to promote and celebrate Memphis’ culture, foster economic growth, and enhance international awareness through education. Founded by racially diverse Memphians in 1977, racial equity and parity are embedded in the fiber and culture of Memphis in May, the official festival of the City of Memphis.

Recipient of 240 prestigious Pinnacle Awards from the International Festival and Events Association, Memphis in May International Festival has received several national and international accolades and awards.

About Carraige Crossing Cookout:
In its second year, the Carriage Crossing Cookout is produced by The Shops at Carriage Crossing. Originally opening in 2005, The Shops at Carriage Crossing is an open-air regional lifestyle shopping center in suburban Collierville, Tennessee, just outside of the city of Memphis. For more information on Carriage Crossing, visit Www.Shopcarriagecrossing.Com or @ShopCarriageCrossing on Facebook and Instagram.

About The Heartland Network:
The Heartland Network is a national digital broadcast television network celebrating community, tradition, and the country lifestyle through original programming, music, and entertainment. Owned and operated by Get After It Media, The Heartland Network reaches audiences alongside sister networks Retro TV, The Family Channel, and The Rev’n Action Channel, with Get After It Media’s networks collectively reaching more than 93 million households through 353 affiliates in over 100 U.S. markets. The network also streams via Heartland+, a free ad-supported streaming platform offering live television, on-demand content, and original programming, available on major streaming devices and platforms. For more information, visit Watchheartlandtv.Com.

About Get After It Media (GAIM):
Get After It Media is a multimedia broadcast company delivering high-quality entertainment across a diverse range of genres and formats. GAIM owns and operates four nationally distributed television networks: The Heartland Network, Retro TV, The Family Channel, The Rev’n Action Channel, with the addition of the new Hasbro Legends Channel, GAIM has expanded its reach to more than 93 million homes via 353 affiliates across more than 100 U.S. markets. This summer GAIM launched its Heartland+ digital platform, expanding its reach from the U.S. to a worldwide audience.

Heartland+ is the streaming destination from Get After It Media, bringing live television, on-demand movies and series, original programming, and curated music channels together in one easy-to-use platform. Built for viewers who love country, classic television, family entertainment, music, and Americana storytelling, Heartland+ delivers a diverse lineup of programming available anytime across connected devices, mobile apps, and web browsers. Learn more at Heartland+ and visit WatchHeartlandPlus.com to stream. Download Heartland+ on your Apple Device, HERE Download Heartland+ on Google Play, HERE TV App Links are Here: Android TV Apple TV Fire TV ROKU and coming soon to LG Samsung

Headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn., with studios in Nashville, GAIM is creating original programming, and delivering content that informs, entertains, and inspires. Learn more at: Https://Www.Getafteritmedia.Com or GetAfterItMedia on LinkedIn. Stream GAIM networks and original programming at: Https://Watch.Itsrealgoodtv.Com.