East Brunswick’s Kathleen Elle Wins International ‘Hard Rock Rising’ Award

The Hard Rock Café in Atlantic City has named the “Global Champion” of its “Hard Rock Rising 2026” competition. It is East Brunswick resident Kathleen Elle who beat out entrants from 64 Hard Rock locations in 34 countries. She took home ten grand, a recording opportunity at Coke Studio in Los Angeles and a gig performing at Hard Rock Orlando. She performed songs off her all-original 2025 Memory Lane album. 

“I went into this competition wanting to show people what my original music is all
about,” she said. “Every round was an opportunity to share another piece of Memory Lane and connect with people through songs that I wrote from my own experiences. To have that music recognized on a global level is incredible. I’m so grateful to everyone who supported me, voted for me, and believed in what I’m doing. This is the kind of opportunity you dream about, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

“I’m an independent artist,” she continues, “so opportunities like this mean so much more than
just winning a competition. I’ve spent years writing songs, performing, and finding ways to connect with people through music. I want to keep making music that people can see themselves in, and hopefully this is just the beginning of a much bigger chapter.”