It’s all happening for Kaitlin Butts, and it couldn’t be happening to a more deserving artist. After releasing her critically-acclaimed concept album Roadrunner! in 2024, launching a viral moment through her song “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me),” being part of the Opry NextStage program, the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibit, and opening shows for Lainey Wilson, that’s all led to Kaitlin signing with Republic Records, officially announced on Thursday (10-30).
“I’ve kept my head down and done the work for so long, I finally stopped to look around and see that the work that I’ve put in has brought me to where I’ve always wanted to be,” Kaitlin Butts said on social media. “From releasing my album over a year ago as an independent artist, to having a viral song, to now signing a record deal with such a prestigious label like Republic Records, the journey has felt nothing short of surreal. I’m so inspired by the team and how their vision for me aligns with the dreams that I’ve always had for myself.”
This puts Kaitlin Butts on the same label as Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift. Though Republic is not exclusively a country label, they have been expanding into the country market recently.
“Kaitlin is a generational talent, a remarkable artist and songwriter with a clear voice and powerful point of view,” says Mary Catherine Kinney of Republic Records. “She’s honest, magnetic and entirely her own. A force live, she’s built a phenomenal career through her unmatched drive and vision. I’ve had the privilege of watching her evolution as an artist and am thrilled to welcome her to the Republic family. We’re deeply honored to partner with her in this next chapter.”
Though that next chapter will likely lead to a new original album from Kaitlin Butts in the not too distant future, she’s starting off the partnership by releasing a covers EP on November 14th. Called the Yeehaw Sessions, it’s the sequel to Kaitlin’s Sad Yeehaw Sessions that came out in 2022 through Kaitlin’s previous distributor, Soundly Music.
The new EP is led by Kaitlin’s take on the Jimmy Eat World song “The Middle” (listen below). Kaitlin also covers “Tulsa Time” by Don Williams, “Sin Wagon” by the [Dixie] Chicks, and Chappell Roan’s “Red Wine Supernova”—all songs Kaitlin’s featured in her live sets in the past. The EP will also include a reprise of “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me).”
“I feel very connected to Republic because I feel like their vision for me aligns with the dreams that I’ve always had for myself,” Butts told Variety. “And it just really feels good to work with a team that is so champing at the bit to get to work, and they seem to want to work just as hard as I have been for a long time, so I’m excited to get to work with them.”
YeeHaw Sessions is available to presave.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source savingcountrymusic.com ’
