In her heart-piercing and powerful TEDx talk, Your Voice Is Your instrYOUment™, Nashville songwriter turned hit-message business strategist, Tonya Stout, takes the audience on a journey through the universal language of music to reveal a deeper truth about purpose, identity, and expression. Drawing from over two decades in “Music City,” from writing songs with Grammy winners to performing at the legendary Bluebird Café and Ryman Auditorium, Tonya shares how music connects us all through memory, emotion, and rhythm. But her message rises beyond melody: the most powerful instrument isn’t a guitar or piano, it’s your voice. Through a moving personal story of resilience after a cancer diagnosis, Tonya shows how the human voice carries power, healing, and transformation even in life’s hardest moments. Blending humor, heart, and hope, she reminds us that our voices were never meant to stay silent and that our voices wrapped around our words were designed to release joy, truth, and purpose into the world. With warmth and conviction, Tonya invites everyone to stop searching for their voice and start releasing it.Tonya Stout is a powerhouse speaker, has written songs for Grammy winning artists, and is an expert in brand messaging known as the “Soundbite Queen.” As co-founder of Conquerpreneur™ and The Conquer Club Podcast, she helps high-impact entrepreneurs clarify and communicate their message with confidence and conversion. Her proprietary “Hit Message” Framework turns ideas into income by blending storytelling, strategy, and soul. Tonya has been married to her husband Kevin for 31 years, and together they’re proud parents to three beautiful daughters and one amazing son-in-love. From Nashville stages to global platforms, she empowers leaders to shift culture, build legacy, and scale purpose-driven brands that change lives. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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