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 released her debut single in bluegrass titled, "You'll Always Be My Blue Eyed Darling" in September 2022, taking her career back to her bluegrass roots. She immediately gained popularity with bluegrass radio DJs and fans alike. She released another more driving, up-beat single soon after in late February 2023 called, "Mighty Mississippi," originally made popular in bluegrass by the original Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Her single, “Nothing to Lose” released that same Summer featured former member of the original Doyle Lawson & 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 expressed 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 was signed to ATS Records in late 2023 and came out with her first single on 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. Olivia described it as "a dream come true" to have Rhonda singing harmony alongside her on the single. 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."

Olivia Jo came back strong in 2025 with the release of a new original single, “Down Life’s Road,” co-written with acclaimed songwriter Jon Weisberger. With "Down Life's Road," Olivia leads listeners through a powerful story of perseverance and purpose as she claims her place among today’s contemporary bluegrass voices. Showcasing her commanding and soulful vocals, backed by heartfelt lyrics, dynamic instrumentation, and an all-star cast of musicians, the track blends the drive of contemporary bluegrass with a message about strength and finding your own way on life's journey. The song made its debut at #14 on the Bluegrass Today Weekly and Monthly Airplay Chart and was the artist's first charting single on Bluegrass Today.

She released another deeply moving original in February 2026 titled “Little Old House,” that gained more radio airplay and chart success for the rising Virginia songbird, landing atop the Bluegrass Today chart at #4. The song was co-written with acclaimed songwriter Barry Hutchens who is well known to bluegrass audiences as the writer of the #1 hit “Heyday” recorded by the Lonesome River Band, along with numerous other chart-topping songs. “Little Old House” uses vivid symbolism to explore a universal human experience: feeling abandoned, worn down, or left to weather life’s storms alone. In the song, a neglected, aging house stands as a personification of emotional isolation—left exposed to the elements, slowly collapsing from the inside out. Yet beneath the cracks and faded boards lies hope. With just a little TLC—tender love and care—the house can be restored, renewed, and perhaps made even stronger than before. The message is clear and resonant: the same is true for people. Olivia Jo explains the deeply personal roots of the song: “I remembered making those notes as I was thinking about my own house. The house is 115 years old and has been in my family for five generations now. My family and I worked hard to restore it and now it’s the place I call home. I shared what I had with Barry and we both tossed ideas back and forth for a few minutes, then I asked, ‘What do you think about the idea of comparing an old house to a person?’ We both agreed that it could be a really cool storyline, so we started there and it all came together pretty easily after that. I think this song is very relatable to what we experience as people. We all go through things in life that leave us scarred and wounded, but with a little TLC, we can overcome and build back stronger than before.”  With its relatable message, rich imagery, and heartfelt performance, “Little Old House” is a powerful addition to Olivia Jo’s growing catalog and a song that speaks directly to the human spirit—reminding listeners that healing, restoration, and hope are always possible with a little love and encouragement.
 

The singer-songwriter recently released a new single in May 2026, an original tune penned by award-winning songwriters Mark "Brink" Brinkman and David Stewart called, "Oh Virginia." 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 Virginia artist. The meeting planted a seed that would eventually grow into, "Oh Virginia." Olivia 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 find out 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 felt like they wrote the song with me in mind," she adds. 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.

Since her debut single was released in 2022, each of the artist's singles have landed on national charts (Bluegrass Today, 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.