Nashville, TN (November 8, 2024) – Oh Boy Records is pleased to announce that Rhiannon Giddens’ stirring rendition of “The Ballad of Sally Anne” has been nominated for a GRAMMY in the Best American Roots Performance category. The second track from My Black Country: The Songs of Alice Randall, the track delves into the harrowing reality of lynching in the American South, presenting a poignant narrative that challenges listeners to confront the historical atrocities often overlooked in the country music genre. My Black Country is Randall’s reclamation of the history of Black contributions to the genre, specifically hers. The LP is a collection of Randall’s most beloved songs as interpreted by some of the strongest Black female voices in modern country, roots and folk music including Giddens, Saaneah, Valerie June, Miko Marks, Leyla McCalla, Rissi Palmer, Allison Russell, Sistastrings, Adia Victoria, Sunny War, and Alice’s daughter Caroline Randall Williams.
Randall’s powerful lyrics in “The Ballad of Sally Anne” illuminate the brutality of this dark chapter in American history, employing the conventions of the country music genre to confront anti-Black terror head-on. The track masterfully intertwines themes of love, loss, and resistance, offering a haunting portrayal of the aftermath of lynching and the enduring pain it inflicts on communities. In this reimagined version, Giddens embodies the spirit of Sally Anne with haunting authenticity, elevating the song to new heights of emotional resonance.
“The Ballad of Sally Anne is a song about a Black woman making the urgent case for empathy and reckoning in a dangerous world that sees her husband lynched between his wedding and his reception. Sally Ann insists on being seen even in the face of injustice, even in the face of unspeakable hurt,” says Randall.
She continues, “This nomination means the Academy, at least, is a witness. The Academy can acknowledge her truth. And that is no small thing. I thank everyone who voted for this song co-written by a Black woman, sung by another Black woman, produced by a third Black woman who put the horns on the fiddle tune to remind us that lynching happened in America into the middle of the 20th century. Emmit Till was lynched after he was dragged.”
The album release coincided with Alice’s book, also titled My Black Country, in April 2024. In 2020, Alice decided to start writing the book to honor the pioneering figures of Black Country and to chronicle her four-decade journey on Music Row with the intention to pay homage to the genre’s overlooked history. After discussions with Rhiannon Giddens and Allison Russell, the project evolved into a collaborative effort with a group of Black female artists re-recording Randall’s impactful songs, and releasing an LP to accompany the book. Led by producer Ebonie Smith whose credits include Hamilton, Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy, Janelle Monae’s Dirty Computer, Sturgill Simpson’s A Sailor’s Guide to Earth and more, the album boasts a stellar lineup of featured artists: Rhiannon Giddens, Adia Victoria, Allison Russel, Valerie June, Leyla McCalla, Caroline Randall Williams (Alice’s daughter), SistaStrings, Miko Marks, Sunny War, Saaneah, and Rissi Palmer. My Black Country is more than an album; it’s a celebration of overlooked history and a tribute to the essence of Country—a unique blend of Celtic, African influences, and evangelical Christianity.
Alice was adamant about partnering with a label that aligned with their vision—enter Oh Boy Records. Founded by John Prine, whose music sustained Alice in her darkest hours, Oh Boy represented more than recognition. Fiona Prine, a powerful ally, understood the importance of reclaiming Alice’s envisioned Black narratives.
