Biography

"She sings with immense hillbilly heart and writes like a champion." ~ Robert K. Oermann, Music Historian; Music Row Magazine

"A delicate, sweetly tempered voice and a subdued acoustic style...with the gentle nuance of an ALISON KRAUSS and the observant eye of a KATHY MATTEA." ~ Country Music Magazine

HILLBILLY HISTORY:

Irene Kelley's signature mix of Bluegrass, Country and Americana appeals to music lovers across all genres. A native of Latrobe, PA, Irene Kelley discovered her flair for songwriting as a teenager and soon found her way to Nashville, TN where her songs were quickly noticed and recorded by Carl Jackson, Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White. While recording an album for MCA and independently releasing two more records and touring worldwide, Irene raised two daughters and scored cuts with Alan Jackson, Trisha Yearwood, Loretta Lynn, Pat Green, Brother Phelps, Rhonda Vincent, Claire Lynch, Darrell Scott, The Whites, the Osborne Brothers and others.

A new full-length Bluegrass album – “Pennsylvania Coal” – produced by Grammy Award-winner Mark Fain is due out February 11, 2014. The new collection features Carl Jackson, Rhonda Vincent, Claire Lynch, Trisha Yearwood, Jerry Salley, Dale Ann Bradley, Darren Vincent, Bryan Sutton, Stuart Duncan, Adam Steffey, Steve Gulley and other friends.

As seen and heard at the Grand Ole Opry, the CMA Music Festival, IBMA, Folk Alliance International, the Americana Music Festival, the Equi Blues Music Fest (France), Avila Beach Music Fest (CA), BayFest (AL) and many other venues.

Syndicated on-air appearances include Acoustic Café, NPR’s Live at Mountain Stage, CMT, and GAC as well as airplay on Country, Bluegrass, Folk and Americana radio stations worldwide.