John Prine Announces Kelsey Waldon Signing To Oh Boy Records

Pictured (L-R): Collin Fiddler, Jody Whelan, Kelsey Waldon, Eileen Tilson

Performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage is a bucket list experience for every country entertainer. Kelsey Waldon‘s recent appearance got an extra special surprise, thanks to John Prine. After she performed her own Opry set, Prine called Waldon back to the stage to duet on his songs “Unwed Fathers” and “Paradise.” He then announced Waldon as the newest artist on Prine’s Oh Boy Records label. The announcement was a rarity, marking the first signing for the label in 15 years.

Jody Whelan, Director of Operations at Oh Boy, says of the signing, “It’s an honor for us to work with Kelsey. There is an honesty and commitment in her music, both as a performer and songwriter, that we’ve long admired. Evident in all her work is a strong point of view, and a reverence for the culture and history of country music and songwriting, she is exactly the type of independent-minded artist that Oh Boy Records was founded to support.”

Last year, Waldon was opening shows for Prine, Tyler Childers and Jamey Johnson and working on her full-length album, due out this fall on Oh Boy.

“It’s hard for me to put into words what it truly means to me to be signed to Oh Boy Records,” says Waldon. “To have someone like John, who I have looked up to my whole life, who I have set my songwriting standards after and my general music making standards after, to have someone like him endorse my music and care enough about it to make sure it reaches a wider audience…that means everything.”

Prine adds, “I am bursting with pride to have Kelsey Waldon recording for Oh Boy Records. Her music continues an important arc of traditional folk and country music. I love Kelsey’s singing. Her voice is one of the more authentic country voices I’ve heard in a long time. I’m looking forward to all the shows we’ll be performing together this year.”

Waldon will join Prine for a handful of dates starting in July.

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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