Australia’s ‘Queen of Bluegrass’ Kristy Cox signs with Billy Blue Records

Country artist Kristy Cox has joined the roster of Nashville-based label Billy Blue Records.

A distinguished talent on the global country music scene and a local star in her own right, Adelaide-born Cox has topped Billboard’s Bluegrass charts and won several CMAA Golden Guitar Awards for her previous works.

She was also named Australian Country Music Independent Artist of the Year off the back of her fourth full-length LP Living for The Moment. 

Cox, who made the move over to Nashville with her young family eight years ago, is expected to become a full US citizen in October 2021.

The new signing was lauded by Jerry Salley, creative and A&R director of Billy Blue Records, who has previously worked alongside Cox as a songwriter and instrumentalist and is assuming the role of producer ahead of the recording of her seventh full-length album.

“I have known Kristy since she was a very young lady, and she is truly one of the hardest working women I have ever been associated within the music business,” Salley said. 

“We will start recording her 7th bluegrass album together, and her incredible vocal talent is only matched by her ambition and drive to get things done… She is exactly the kind of artist and person that we want to become a member of this label.”

Cox noted how important Salley has been throughout her career.

“When I first visited Nashville I met Jerry Salley, and since then, he has become not only a huge part of my career through our six albums together, but a huge part of my family,” Cox said.

“Jerry is my son’s godfather, and he is my ‘go-to’ person for just about everything. He’s the closest thing we have to family on this side of the big pond.

“It felt completely natural to me that we start working together on a label front, having worked together for over 12 years and on six albums, I trust him completely, and seeing the amazing work that Ed [Leonard], Jerry and the whole team are doing is inspiring.

“I am looking forward to this next chapter and joining this amazing label family.”

Founded in 2018 by Salley, Ed Leonard and Dottie Leonard Miller, Billy Blue Records is a boutique bluegrass label with a roster of award-winning artists such as Alan Bibey and Grasstowne, Carolina Blue, Joe Mullins & the Rodeo Ramblers and Donna Ulisse.

The label’s releases are distributed to retail via The Orchard (Sony) and New Day Distribution.