MT. AIRY, Ga. — Habersham Central High School will honor one of its most recognizable alumni this spring, as country music artist Kimberly Schlapman is set to receive the school’s 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Schlapman, a member of the Grammy Award-winning group Little Big Town, graduated from HCHS in 1987. She will return home to accept the honor during this year’s graduation ceremony at John Larry Black Football Stadium.
Known for her high-soprano voice and Southern charm, Schlapman has built a successful career in country music as part of Little Big Town, alongside bandmates Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, and Phillip Sweet. The group rose to national prominence with their hit “Boondocks,” inspired in part by Schlapman’s Habersham County roots, and has since earned multiple No. 1 albums and chart-topping singles, including “Pontoon” and “Better Man.”
Little Big Town has received numerous accolades over the years, including multiple Academy of Country Music Awards, an American Music Award, a Daytime Emmy, and four Grammy Awards. The group has also won the CMA Award for Vocal Group of the Year six times and was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2014.
During her time at Habersham Central, Schlapman was deeply involved in school activities. She served as senior class vice president and participated in several organizations, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Beta Club, and the school chorus and concert choir. She was selected to the Georgia All-State Chorus for five consecutive years and attended the Governor’s Honors Program for vocal music.
After high school, Schlapman earned a vocal music scholarship to Samford University, where she was a member of Phi Mu’s Alpha Gamma Chapter. She later moved to Knoxville and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in child and family studies before relocating to Nashville in 1995 to pursue her music career.
Beyond music, Schlapman is also known for her work as a cookbook author and television host. She has appeared on national programs including The Voice, The Tonight Show, and Today, and has launched lifestyle brands and kitchenware lines. She is also the author of a children’s book inspired by her family’s adoption journey titled “A Dolly for Christmas.”
Schlapman has recently partnered with a national advocacy campaign aimed at raising awareness about Parkinson’s disease.
She is the daughter of Tolbert and Barbara Bramlett of Demorest. Last year, her brother-in-law, Level Grove Baptist Senior Pastor Brian James, was honored with the HCHS Lifetime Achievement Award. They are the seventh and eighth recipients, respectively. The award, launched in 2020 has also been presented to Dr. Stacy Nicholson, Class of ’77, honored in 2020; Dr. Emily Foster Howell, Class of ’96 (2021); Marlan Wilbanks, Class of ’79 (2022); Air Force Lt. Col. Preston McConnell, Class of ’91, (2023); and Dr. Aaron Scott, Class of ’91 (2024).
School officials say they are excited to welcome Schlapman back home and celebrate her achievements with the Class of 2026.
