Oh Virginia

“OH VIRGINIA” OLIVIA JO RETURNS HOME WITH THE ANTHEMIC TRIBUTE TO HER STATE

A Gravel Road Always Leads Home: The Anthem of Virginia’s Prodigal Daughter

Stuart, VA — Bluegrass singer-songwriter Olivia Jo is set to capture the hearts of fans across the Commonwealth and beyond with the release of her new single, “Oh Virginia,” a deeply personal love letter to her home state. Written by acclaimed songwriters Mark “Brink” Brinkman and David Stewart, the song is a natural match for an artist who was born and raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains and has carried Virginia with her every step of her journey.
Born in Stuart, Virginia, Olivia Jo began learning guitar from her father at age six and was performing locally by nine. A child prodigy in every sense, she had recorded two bluegrass albums and appeared on radio and television by the age of twelve — and was soon featured in a PBS documentary, Women in the Arts.
Now, with “Oh Virginia,” she delivers what may be her most personal recording yet — a song that mirrors her own story of leaving home to chase a dream, and the deep, enduring pull of the place that made her.
Backed by some of the finest players in bluegrass today, “Oh Virginia” paints a vivid picture of the state’s rural landscapes and simple joys — a track that could easily serve as an adopted anthem for Virginians everywhere. It is at once a story of the prodigal daughter and a tribute to the beauty, purity, and enduring spirit of the Commonwealth.

The song itself came about through a chance encounter at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s annual gathering with Olivia Jo and David Stewart, a veteran songwriter whose catalog spans decades of celebrated recordings. Brink Brinkman, who has long been regarded as one of the genre’s most thoughtful craftsmen, was there as well — and the two writers immediately recognized something special in the young Virginia artist. That meeting planted a seed that would eventually grow into “Oh Virginia.”

Then the quotes follow naturally beneath it:
“At IBMA a couple years ago a friend of mine took me by the arm and said, ‘You have to meet and hear this young lady from Virginia.’ I became an instant fan. When Brink and I wrote ‘Oh Virginia,’ I knew she could do a fine rendition of the song. Olivia Jo put together some of the finest pickers in bluegrass and her vocals tell a wonderful story with this great recording of our song. We’re excited for the fans to hear this record.”
— David Stewart

“David and I met Olivia Jo and we both loved her voice and said that we needed to write a great song for her to sing. That came to fruition when we wrote ‘Oh Virginia.’ We thought it would be a wonderful song for Olivia Jo.— Brink Brinkman

Olivia Jo says about the song “I’m a Virginia girl born and raised, so naturally that attracted me to the song right off the bat. I knew after listening to it one time that it was a perfect fit. The song tells the story of missing home after leaving everything you knew behind to see what the rest of the world has to offer. As I listened to the lyrics, I could visualize every detail they were describing in my head and relate to them on a personal level. It almost felt like they wrote the song with me in mind. Regardless of where my travels take me as I pursue my music career, I’m always happy and thankful that I have a slice of heaven on a gravel road to come home to. Brink and David are incredibly talented songwriters and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to record one of their songs to share with bluegrass fans everywhere.”

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ABOUT OLIVIA JO
Born and raised in Stuart, Virginia, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Olivia Jo is an up-and-coming bluegrass artist and versatile singer-songwriter. She grew up immersed in traditional bluegrass and country music, learning guitar from her father at age six and performing locally by nine. By twelve, she had recorded two bluegrass albums, appeared on radio and television, and was featured in the PBS documentary Women in the Arts. At sixteen, Olivia moved to Nashville, where she released her country album Something Real Good, featuring her own songs and co-writes with established writers. In 2022, she returned to her bluegrass roots and has since released a string of charting singles. In 2024, she signed with ATS Records. Her music has appeared on national charts including The Roots Music Report, Cashbox, and The Bluegrass Jamboree. With her soulful voice, heartfelt delivery, and deep love for the music she grew up on, Olivia Jo is carving out her own space in bluegrass — bringing authenticity and fresh energy to every song she sings.

SONG INFORMATION
Title: “Oh Virginia”
Artist: Olivia Jo
Written by: Mark Brinkman / David Stewart
Publishing: Mark Brinkman Songs (BMI) / Sony/ATV Music Publishing (BMI)
Label: ATS Records