President Biden Nominates Fiona Whelan Prine to Join National Council on the Arts

Fiona Whelan Prine, president of Oh Boy Records and the wife of late songwriting legend John Prine, has been nominated to join the National Council on the Arts by President Biden. The news was announced via a White House press release issued earlier today (June 23).

“Fiona Whelan Prine brings an expansive viewpoint to the American roots music community,” the press release states. It refers to her as “one of Nashville’s most prominent and dedicated philanthropists” mentioning her countless volunteer hours on behalf of global nonprofit Thistle Farms, the Hello in There Foundation (for which she is serves as founder and president), fundraisers she has put on, and more.

Revered ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro was also among the list of nominees announced for the National Arts Council today.

John Prine died last year of COVID-19 complications. He was 73. Revisit Pitchfork’s Afterword feature “Remembering John Prine, the Ultimate Songwriter’s Songwriter.”