Born and raised in the foothills of southwest Virginia, Olivia Jo is an up-and-coming bluegrass artist and versatile singer-songwriter that got her start in music as a child, cutting her teeth on traditional bluegrass, country and acoustic music. Her passionate, powerful vocals coincide with her honest, heartfelt delivery on stage, creating an enjoyable experience for both traditionalists and new listeners alike. With her soulful voice and a heart full of love for music, Olivia Jo is dedicated to carving out her own space in the bluegrass scene, drawing from a rich tapestry of musical influences and life experiences to authentically express herself as an artist and songwriter. 

Olivia grew up in the small town of Stuart, Virginia, an area nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains and rich in bluegrass tradition, where she got her start in bluegrass at a very young age.  She began singing basically when she could talk and learning guitar from her dad at age six. The first song he taught her to sing and play was Bill Monroe's "Blue Moon of Kentucky", which opened the door to the music that would shape her entire life. A few years later, she started playing local venues and festivals in her surrounding areas at the age of nine where she began to establish a name for herself. She recorded two bluegrass albums by the time she was 12 years old with which she enjoyed moderate success and gained exposure in radio and television. At 13, she was one of the featured female artists for a PBS television documentary called, “Women in the Arts." By 16, she had made her way to Nashville and transitioned into the country music scene. She recorded and released a country album titled, “Something Real Good,” featuring songs she wrote herself and a few co-writes with other songwriters. She later followed that album with a few of her original country singles. Since then, she has focused on honing her vocal ability and songwriting craft, recorded and shared the stage with numerous musicians, groups and artists in country music and other genres, as well as co-written with prominent songwriters such as Larry Cordle, John Pennell, and Tim Stafford to name a few.

When talking about what music means to her, Olivia Jo explains, “Music has been my friend when no one else was. It leaves you with a feeling of sublime peace when you hear the perfect song that just speaks to you… it truly heals the soul. That is part of what inspires me the most as a singer and songwriter: to create songs that help people to feel and heal, while also giving myself an avenue to truly and authentically express myself.” She is determined and dedicated to her music career. “Music is just as vital to me as the air I breathe. It’s who I am… it's what God created me for,” she emotes.

Olivia Jo is thrilled to take her career back to her bluegrass roots. She released her debut single in bluegrass titled, "You'll Always Be My Blue Eyed Darling", in September 2022, a classic that was first recorded in 1940 by Roy Acuff & His Smoky Mountain Boys and has been covered by a plethora of artists since then; but never by a female artist. “This song goes way back. I first heard it performed by Harley Allen with the Allen Brothers from one of their shows in the 1980s. I was instantly struck by Harley’s voice and the way he sang it. As an up-and-coming bluegrass artist, I wanted my debut single to be a song everyone would love and identify with, that would also showcase my vocal style and range. I think this song checks all of those boxes and I’m eager to share my version of this classic, timeless tune with everyone,”  Olivia shares. With Olivia Jo on lead vocals, the tune features an A-list lineup: Lou Reid, harmony vocals/rhythm guitar; Ron Stewart, banjo/fiddle; Shawn Lane, mandolin; and Barry Bales, bass. Lou Reid also produced the artist's debut single. 

The artist released a single in late February 2023 called, "Mighty Mississippi", which features the same all-star lineup. "I wanted to come back with something more upbeat and driving." the artist says. "We tried to create something new and fresh, and put my own spin on it, while still keeping the integrity of the original song alive. Truthfully, I think that's the beauty of doing a cover song and I strived to accomplish that with my version of Mighty Mississippi." she explains.

Her single, “Nothing to Lose” released in the Summer of 2023 features former member of Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver and member of the Seldom Scene, Lou Reid, and was the #1 song on The Bluegrass Jamboree for the month of June. Olivia Jo expresses her excitement saying, "Lou Reid brought the song to my attention and together we decided to make the song a duet. It has an upbeat melody and lyrics that will catch your ear right off the bat. With Lou’s prolific lead and harmony vocals, I was very happy to have his accompaniment on this song. I really enjoyed recording this song because it has a different style than my previously released singles, which allowed me to show a different side of my voice."

Olivia Jo is looking forward to greater opportunities and new experiences in the world of bluegrass music. She says, "I grew up on this music, so it's embedded in my heart. It's where I got my start; and even though I've ventured into other genres, nothing feels like 'home' quite like bluegrass does. That is why I'm so eager to continue my musical journey in bluegrass and see where the road takes me." She was recently signed to ATS Records. "I'm anticipating great things as this new chapter of my career begins, and I'm so grateful for this new opportunity. ATS is a record label that truly values the artist and strives to help them succeed by working closely with them to provide the support that they need." she says.

The young artist released her first single with ATS in February 2024 titled, "High Sierras", a ballad written by one of the artist’s favorite songwriters, Harley Allen. She is accompanied by a group of immensely talented musicians and vocalists, one of those being the “Queen of Bluegrass” herself, Rhonda Vincent. “I’m over the moon to have Rhonda singing harmony with me on this new single! It’s a dream come true for me! I have enjoyed her music since I was a little girl. Of course I greatly admire her talent, and as a young woman navigating the music business, she inspires me to go the extra mile to achieve my goals and dreams.” Olivia exclaims. She adds, “My producer and I took a few creative liberties to put a new spin on this already incredible song to make it my own and I think we achieved that goal. Everyone involved did a superb job and I’m very pleased with the way everything turned out in the end.”

Since her debut single was released in 2022, each of the artist's singles have landed on national charts (The Roots Music Report, Cashbox, The Bluegrass Jamboree, etc.) and have been well-received by radio listeners and live audiences everywhere. Olivia Jo has continued to write new music and is currently working to release more of her own original music, bringing authenticity and fresh energy in every song she sings.