Where Music Meets Hospitality: Robin Barnes to speak at Pearls & Purpose

Robin Barnes, the Songbird of New Orleans, will be a featured speaker at Pearls & Purpose, a fundraiser for Les Dames NOLA’s Leading from the Heart Award grants and other philanthropic programs.

WHAT WE INHERIT, WHAT WE GIVE BACK

Robin Barnes has built a career around music, but her work has never been confined to the stage.

Known as the Songbird of New Orleans, Robin is a vocalist, songwriter, entrepreneur, wellness advocate, Louisiana State Music Ambassador and mother. She is also a ninth-generation Louisianan whose work reflects a deep understanding that music, food, beverage, hospitality and tourism are not separate parts of New Orleans culture. Together, they create the experiences, livelihoods and sense of belonging that make the city extraordinary.

Robin grew up in the Lower Ninth Ward, surrounded by music and Sundays spent cooking with her grandmother. After Hurricane Katrina, much of her family history was lost. That experience deepened her commitment to preserving Louisiana’s stories, traditions and cultural contributions.

Her debut album, Louisiana Love (May 2026), became one expression of that mission. Through music, Robin celebrates the sounds, food, people and traditions that shaped her, while creating something her daughters and future generations can carry forward.

“I feel responsible not only for preserving our culture, but for helping it progress. Louisiana’s music, food and hospitality are living traditions, carried forward every day by people — especially women — whose creativity, labor and leadership are essential to this industry,” said Barnes.

“I want my daughters to see themselves in those women and to see their own mother building, leading and creating. I want them to understand that they belong in every room, that their ideas matter and that they can help shape what Louisiana culture becomes next. Preservation is not about keeping our culture frozen in time. It is about honoring where we came from while giving the next generation the confidence and opportunity to carry it forward in their own way.”

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Robin earned her MBA with studies in Marketing and Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism. Although her career expanded beyond a traditional hospitality path, that education continues to shape how she approaches her work.

She understands that a performance, a meal and a visit to New Orleans are all creative experiences. Each requires preparation, storytelling, service and the ability to make someone feel genuinely welcome. Her deep love of food, close relationships with chefs and appreciation for the people working in the industry have shown her how powerfully music and hospitality support one another.

“Music, food, beverage and tourism are all part of the same cultural ecosystem. Together, they tell the story of our city, employ our people and create the warmth that makes others want to experience New Orleans and return,” said Barnes. “That is also why women in this industry are so important. Women are leading kitchens, businesses, organizations, creative projects and communities. They are preserving traditions while introducing new ideas and helping this industry evolve. Championing them means recognizing their work, supporting their leadership and making sure the next generation of women can see a future for themselves here.”

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Robin’s commitment to hospitality also includes caring for the people who make the industry possible.

After experiencing a serious kidney infection in her twenties, she began rebuilding her health through movement. With encouragement from her mother to get up and “move ya brass,” she invited others to join her. What began as a small group became Move Ya Brass, a fitness experience rooted in New Orleans music and culture.

Through the nonprofit Make Your Move Foundation, Robin expanded that work into free community and youth wellness programming throughout Greater New Orleans. Her understanding of the demanding schedules associated with entertainment and hospitality—including late nights, long hours and constant service to others—helped her recognize how easily personal health can be placed last.

Wellness is not separate from Robin’s commitment to the industry. It is one way she supports the people who sustain it.

“Earlier in my life, purpose meant discovering what I could accomplish. Now it means using everything I have learned to create possibilities for others,” said Barnes. “My education helped me understand the business and importance of hospitality and tourism. My health journey showed me the personal demands placed on people who spend their lives serving and entertaining others. Music gave me a way to preserve and advance our culture, and motherhood gave that work even greater urgency.”

“My purpose is to champion the people who make this industry extraordinary — especially women — and help build a future in which the next generation can see themselves, succeed and lead. I want my daughters to see that purpose is not only about what you achieve for yourself. It is also about how you use your gifts, experiences and opportunities to open doors for someone else.”

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On September 25, Robin will bring that perspective to Pearls & Purpose, Les Dames d’Escoffier New Orleans’ luncheon at Antoine’s Restaurant, where she will be featured alongside Deputy Mayor Renee Lapeyrolerie. She’ll mingle with Cause-a-Stir VIP after-party guests after the luncheon at a private home in the French Quarter. The day also coincides with New Orleans’ Dolly Day celebration in the French Quarter, giving guests an opportunity to continue the celebration following the luncheon and VIP experience.

Money raised through ticket sales and sponsorships for Pearls & Purpose will help fund the chapter’s Leading from the Heart Awards and other philanthropic efforts. For information about sponsorships, contact Courtney Dodson at programs@lesdamesnola.org.