By Mikkel Hyldebrandt
Photos courtesy of Ry Rivers
Each year, For The Kid In All Of Us transforms the holiday season into something truly magical with its annual Toy Party, bringing together Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ community and beyond to celebrate, connect, and give back. This year’s entertainment lineup features the dynamic performer Ry Rivers, whose soulful sound and heartfelt presence perfectly pairs with the spirit of generosity and joy that defines the event. We caught up with Ry to talk about what inspired him to join the Toy Party family, the importance of giving back, and how music helps keep the true meaning of the holidays alive.
Ry Rivers, tell us a little bit about your background and your journey towards a musical career.
I’m a Florida boy through and through. I grew up splitting my time between my mom’s home near the beaches of Pompano Beach and my dad’s farm in Okeechobee. My parents are my two biggest musical influences – my dad raised me on country, classic rock, and blues, while my mom played a lot of soul, R&B, and jazz. Those worlds shaped me, and now I bring them together in my own lane of country music. I blend classic country storytelling with soulful elements and modern country-pop production. I call it blue-eyed country soul.
2025 was my debut year as a country artist, and it’s been a whirlwind. My first single, “Kiss a Cowboy,” led to my CMA Fest Spotlight Stage debut in Nashville, a slot in the Key West Songwriters Festival, and multiple headlining shows and TV appearances across the country.
What drew you to perform at this year’s Toy Party with For The Kid In All Of Us?
What drew me to perform at this year’s Toy Party is the heart behind it. What keeps me grounded throughout all the chaos of this career is my family, my friends, and my community – and Toy Party is built on those same values. It’s about supporting the people around us who could use a helping hand, and that’s something I truly believe in.
When I first started out in music, my friends used to call me the “SWOLE singer,” and my manager and I turned that into an acronym: Singing with Optimism, Love, and Empowerment. It’s even engraved on the necklace I wear every day. That’s the energy I try to bring into every room, I step into. Music gave me a place to belong, and I feel a responsibility to give that back whenever I can, especially around the holidays. This season can be incredibly tough for families and kids, and For The Kid In All Of Us turns a celebration into something meaningful. The songs matter most when they lift somebody else up. If my voice can make someone feel seen, supported, or a little less alone during the holidays, then that’s the real gift.
For The Kid In All Of Us has a decade-long tradition of giving back to children and families in need. What about their mission resonates most with you personally?
What resonates most with me is that For The Kid In All Of Us focuses on giving kids a sense of belonging. Growing up, although we didn’t have much financially, I was lucky to have two households rich in love, support for my brother and me. Not every child gets that. The holidays can bring out the best memories for some people, but for others it highlights what’s missing.
Their mission takes something as simple as a toy, a backpack, or a warm moment of kindness and turns it into hope. And hope matters. It can shape a child’s confidence, their joy, even their future. That’s what connects with me, I want kids to feel seen, valued, and lifted up the way music lifted me.
I bet the holidays are a very busy time for you. Why is it important for you to make space to support a cause like this during the season?
The holidays definitely get busy for me, but that’s exactly why I make space for moments like this. I love every second I get to perform, but being able to pair that with giving back makes it even more special. There’s so much noise during the season: shopping, travel, schedules, that it’s easy to lose sight of what actually matters. Supporting a cause like this recenters me. It reminds me that music is more than a show; it’s a way to bring people together and spark joy when folks need it the most. If I can use what I do to make someone’s holiday a little brighter, that’s a win all around!
How do you think music — and performing — plays a role in spreading joy and community spirit during the holidays?
Music has this way of cutting through everything, stress, noise, worry – and reminding people they’re not alone. During the holidays, that matters even more. Performing gives people a moment to breathe, smile, sing along, or just feel something real. And that’s going to become even more important in today’s day and age. And when you share that moment in a room full of strangers, it turns into community. It’s connection. That’s the spirit of the season for me, finding joy together. If my show can help someone forget their troubles for even a few minutes and feel wrapped up in something warm, that’s the magic of music and I love nothing more than brining a smile to people’s faces.
When you think about giving back, what does that mean to you on a personal level?
Giving back, to me, means remembering where I came from. I didn’t get here alone, I had family, friends, and mentors who believed in me long before anyone knew my name. So giving back is my way of paying that forward.
It means using whatever platform I’ve been given to lift someone else up, whether that’s through music, a moment of kindness, or showing up for a cause like this. It’s about reminding people they matter, that they’re seen, and that they deserve joy. That’s what giving back looks like in my heart.
The Toy Party is known for its energy, its heart, and its fabulous guests. What kind of vibe are you going to bring to the stage this year?
It’s going to be a party! I’m bringing nothing but good energy this year. Expect a little country, a little soul, and a whole lot of fun and jokes. The holidays are about joy and connection, so my job is to make everybody in that room feel it. We’re gonna dance, we’re gonna sing, and by the end of it, we’re all going to feel like one big family. If Toy Party is known for its magic, I’m showing up ready to match that and then some!
You’ll be performing for a crowd that’s there to celebrate and support others. How does that energy influence your performance?
That kind of energy honestly fuels everything I do on stage. My shows are always about making people feel loved and helping them forget the craziness of the world for a little while. I want folks to escape for a moment, be fully present, and feel surrounded by love, like we’re all hanging out in my living room. When the crowd is there not just to celebrate but to support others, that heart hits even deeper. It makes every note feel more meaningful. We’re not just sharing music, we’re sharing purpose, and that brings a whole different kind of magic to the performance.
Do you have any personal holiday traditions or memories that inspire you when you perform at events like this?
For me, the holidays are all about slowing down and spending time with family and friends, even if it only happens once a year. It’s a moment to appreciate the blessings in your life and to give back to people who could really use a little extra love. That mindset definitely inspires the way I show up at events like this.
I also have a new Christmas song coming out on December 5th, the Friday before Toy Party. It’s called “My Lil Country Christmas,” and it’s pretty much my perfect picture of what a country Christmas feels like. So if you listen to the lyrics, that’s exactly where my head and heart will be during the show!
The LGBTQ+ community has always found creative ways to give, support, and uplift. How do you see your art contributing to that spirit of generosity?
I think my art contributes to that spirit by creating a space where people feel safe, seen, and celebrated. The LGBTQ+ community knows how to lead with love, resilience, and generosity, and that inspires me every time I step on stage. If my music can offer comfort, joy, or a moment where someone feels like they truly belong, then I feel like I’m doing my part.
What else do you have planned for your holidays – and how will you celebrate?
This year, since I’m traveling so much for gigs, I’m keeping the holidays simple and close to home. After all the shows and airports, I’m really looking forward to spending quality time with my family and friends back in Florida. For us, that usually means my mama cooking something amazing, lots of laughter, and long hangs with the people I love.
I’ve also got my country Christmas single dropping on December 5th, so I’ll be promoting that and playing a few holiday shows throughout the month. And to top it off, I’ll be headlining the Key West Shoe Drop on New Year’s Eve, which I’m incredibly excited about. Key West is one of my favorite places on Earth, so getting to ring in 2026 there, playing music, feels like the perfect way to start the year.
Finally, what message do you hope guests take away from your performance — and from the Toy Party experience overall?
I hope people walk away feeling loved, lifted, and connected. Toy Party is so much more than a celebration, it’s a reminder of what we can do when we show up for each other. If my performance can give someone a moment of joy or comfort, or make them feel like they truly belong in that room, then that’s everything to me. At the end of the day, the spirit of Toy Party is generosity. I hope guests leave feeling inspired to carry that same heart into the world long after the music stops.
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Ry Rivers will be performing at this year’s Toy Party at the Souther Exchange Ballrooms.
Get your ticket to the Toy Party right here.