Kellie Pickler Signs With Black River Entertainment (VIDEO)

By On 10/08/2012 · 21 Comments · In American Idol, Kellie Pickler

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Kellie Pickler has signed a new record deal with Black River Entertainment. Kellie revealed the news during a guest-hosting stint on Anderson Live today. Read the press release from Black River below. Sarah Darling, Craig Morgan and Glen Templeton are also on the label’s roster.

Black River Entertainment continues to expand its artist roster by signing fan favorite, Kellie Pickler. “What’s not to love about Kellie?” asks Gordon Kerr, CEO of Black River Entertainment. “She’s real, she adores her fans, she’s rooted in and committed to country music and she’s genuine. How can you ask for more than that?”

“In looking for a label partner, I was really drawn to the Black River family because they hold similar values that I do,” shares Pickler. “From our initial meeting, it was clear to me how much the entire team respects the artists’ musical vision, and I’m really looking forward to getting back into the studio to record and release new music to country radio.”

Doug Johnson, VP of A&R at Black River, sees Kellie as the total package. “Kellie Pickler –great singer, captivating performer, the heart and soul of what makes our format incredible and authentic. Deep roots plus relevance equals a true artist. Anyone who loves country music deserves to turn on their radio and hear Kellie Pickler. I am honored to have the opportunity to help share her music with the world.”

Hailing from Albemarle, North Carolina, Pickler signed with 19/BNA Records in 2006 and released her debut album, Small Town Girl. The album sold over 800,000 copies worldwide and produced three singles, “Red High Heels,” “I Wonder,” and “Things That Never Cross a Man’s Mind.”

In 2008, Pickler released her self-titled sophomore record featuring country radio hits “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful,” “Best Days of Your Life” (Pickler’s first Top 10 and Taylor Swift co-write) and “Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You.”

After establishing herself as a powerful vocalist and also a songwriter, Pickler co-wrote six of the 11 tracks on the 2012 critically acclaimed release, 100 Proof, produced by Frank Liddell (known for his work with Miranda Lambert) and Luke Wooten.

Pickler joins Black River alongside four labelmates including country superstar Craig Morgan, rising star Sarah Darling, vocal trio Due West and country newcomer Glen Templeton. Please visit www.kelliepickler.com for more information and follow Pickler on Twitter (@kelliepickler) and Facebook (fb.com/KelliePickler).

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  • http://twitter.com/Wonderstruck01 Wonderstruck

    GREAT NEWS!!  I was disappointed when Kellie’s former label decided to drop her and am thrilled that she’s found a new home. 

    Judging from that press release they seem super excited to have her and I’m hopeful for great things to come in the near future from Kellie. 

  • http://twitter.com/BamadansPad Danny Latham

    I knew it wouldn’t be long until Pickler found a new label home. She’s too great a talent to be left unsigned. So happy for her!! 

  • http://twitter.com/LexieONeill Lexie O’Neill

    Yay for Kellie!!  Happy news….

  • http://twitter.com/Miztig Miz

    Congrats to Kellie and best wishes with the new label.

  • DB987

    It seems like a great match for her congrats Kellie!

  • fantoo1

    Yay! Looking forward to new music from her. I’m glad it didn’t take very long to find a new label. Hopefully they can help her become even bigger in country.

    With her and Crystal getting new labels this week it shows that if one door closes, another opens.

  • BonnieDee

    Great news!  How does this work with her album 100 Proof?  It’s not that old and has a lot of good songs on it.  Do they just abandon it and start a new album?

  • Eileen99

    Really good news for Kellie & her fans, I’m really happy to hear this.

  • kmd23

    Good for Kellie. Glad to see she got signed to an independent label that seems like a good fit for her. 

  • windmills

    BonnieDee: Great news!  How does this work with her album 100 Proof?  It’s not that
    old and has a lot of good songs on it.  Do they just abandon it and
    start a new album?

    With Kellie’s comments about being excited to get back into the studio to record and release new music, it’s looking like they’re going to move on. It would’ve taken a lot more complicated legal wrangling to work out a deal where BRE could promote a 100 Proof single. I don’t know if you read about Bucky’s situation but his original label Lyric Street dissolved and it took him years to work out the legal stuff to sign with a new label that would allow him to include some of the songs he’d recorded for his sophomore album with Lyric Street on the album he released through eOne Nashville (Good Guys). In Kellie’s case I think it was a good idea not to wait that long. Besides, after 100 Proof the song didn’t go anywhere I don’t think any other single would’ve done any better.

    I’m thrilled for Kellie that she’s landed somewhere new. Black River Entertainment did get Craig Morgan a t15 hit last year with This Ole Boy but, they are also the people who promoted a song called Corn Star as the follow up single (it peaked at #50). Now they’re promoting a song called More Trucks Than Cars, and it’s in that same #50 area. They haven’t had a lot of success with new acts but they’ve got some good ones on their roster. Kellie’ll definitely be the act with the highest profile and biggest sales on BRE. For Kellie I think it’s about having that basic infrastructure to record and promote music. BRE may not have a huge track record at country radio but, there’s proof that with the right song they can at least get an established act into the t20. It’s not like Kellie’s radio situation was good with Sony anyway. And, I have no worries about Kellie’s visibility when she’s promoting music. Look at her these past few months since parting ways with Sony.

    I’m excited for Kellie and glad she was able to pick her new home this time.

  • mchcat

    Congratulations Kellie – I have just come to know her through this blog and I love her last CD – her’s and Casey J’s are the only ones I bought after Scotty’s

  • rayni

    I’m so happy for Kellie!  I think she’s one of those performers that just will not stay down – even if she never becomes the million seller like Carrie, she has “it” and a huge likeability factor.  I believe we’ll being seeing Kellie in some shape, form or fashion for years to come.

  • luly

    Congrats to Kellie! I wish her a lot of success.

  • Lucie Laniel

    So glad Kellie can start over with somebody else. Hoping everything works out this time and that she will finally get that #1 song she has been looking for. Congrats Kellie.

  • tomr

    I know that I will follow her.  Great news for us fans and congratulations to her!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PSHFTD4YV3QOE3INABJUXZSWMU hillstreetblooz

    Props to Kelli and her team for securing another label. She and Crystal have fared much better than some higher profile alum lately in getting another label deal after being dropped. Hope does spring eternal after all, lol. Wishing her much success this go round – I’m more a fan of her personality than her music, but I still would like to see her do well. 

  • too-cool-for-school

    Go Kellie! Love her and it’s a shame 100 Proof never really caught fire. It is her best material to date.

    I’m glad someone else is giving her a chance.

  • fuzzywuzzy

    Thanks for that info on BRE, windmills. I’m hoping that this label will be a good match for Kellie. Kellie’s personality and sense of humor make her a very entertaining talk show guest/co-host. Good luck to her!

  • Happyhexer

    I am so thrilled that Kellie has re-signed with a new label!  Good news about Crystal, too.  Now I’d like to see the rest of the Idols re-signed as well.  Danny Gokey, David Cook, Kris Allen . . .  Who am I leaving out?  Are Archie and Lee DeWyze re-signed?  If not, add ‘em to the list.

    Seriously, as a group, I think the Idols are very talented.  The only music I buy anymore is either Idol-related, or country music, with a little smooth jazz thrown in for good measure.

  • Happyhexer

    I couldn’t agree more!  I actually didn’t like Kellie’s voice that much on her “successful” (contemporary country) songs.  Never bought her music until her two singles from “100 Proof” came out.  I keep playing them, and they wear well.  I don’t get sick of them.  So when Kellie went bald in solidarity with her friend, I bought the CD as well, as kind of a tribute to her support of her friend.  I don’t regret it at all.  The whole album is rock-solid (pardon the pun) country!

    And if anyone ever predicted that I’d buy a twangy (not sure that’s the correct term?) traditional country album, I would have thought they were nuts.  (How far I have traveled since Danny reluctantly brought me, kicking and screaming, into the country genre.)  But “100 Proof” sounds very authentic, and vocally, I think this is Kellie at her best.  But why didn’t country radio play her singles?  Personally, I like country radio best when they play a blend of traditional and modern country.

  • girlygirltoo

    I would expect the more “high profile” alums to end up getting new deals soon as well. It takes time to find the right fit and to sort out all the legal stuff.