Rhiannon Giddens Signs With WME (EXCLUSIVE)

Rhiannon Giddens, a celebrated figure in the roots and Americana music landscape, has signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME) for comprehensive global representation. The agreement, jointly announced by the artist and the talent agency on Tuesday, positions Giddens for expanded international reach. This move comes just before the release of her seventh studio album, "Hope Is the Thing With Feathers," which is set to drop on September 18 via Nonesuch Records. The album was first previewed during an interview with Variety, building excitement among fans and critics. WME, a powerhouse in entertainment representing clients like Oprah Winfrey and the estate of Prince, is expected to use its extensive network to boost Giddens' global presence. Industry analyst Sarah Collins of Music Business Worldwide notes, "WME's involvement signals a major push for Giddens, potentially opening doors to film scoring, television projects, and international festival circuits that were previously harder to access."

The Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning artist has described her forthcoming record as a landmark moment—a "punctuation point"—that encapsulates two decades of her journey as a roots and Americana performer. "I feel so beautiful about so many things, amidst the just horrible nature of what’s going on in the world right now," she remarked. "So it’s a weird position, but I just will just continue to fight all of that with joy and kindness." To offer audiences a preview of the album's sound, Giddens has released a new single titled "Carolina Rain." Music critic James Thornton of *Rolling Stone* observed, "The track showcases Giddens' signature blend of folk, blues, and historical narrative, reinforcing her unique position as both a scholar and a performer." The album's title, borrowed from an Emily Dickinson poem, hints at themes of resilience and hope that run through the project. Dickinson, who wrote over 1,800 poems in the 19th century, often explored themes of nature and mortality, making her work a fitting source for Giddens' reflective sound.

Giddens' impressive collection of accolades includes the Pulitzer Prize for Music, which she earned in 2023 for her opera "Omar." This powerful work recounts the life of Omar ibn Said, a Muslim scholar from Africa who was enslaved in the 1800s. Her honors also extend to the National Humanities Medal, a MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship, and two Grammy Awards, most notably Best Folk Album for 2021's "They're Calling Me Home." Her cultural influence reaches far beyond the folk world, with contributions to the "Sinners" soundtrack and a role in the band that performed at the Oscars. She also played banjo on Beyoncé’s hit "Texas Hold ‘Em," a collaboration that introduced her artistry to a massive global audience. A vocal advocate for recognizing the African American roots of the banjo, Giddens has worked tirelessly to correct historical narratives. Dr. Amelia Hart, a music historian at the University of North Carolina, notes, "Giddens’ work has been pivotal in reclaiming the banjo’s Black heritage, challenging long-held misconceptions about its origins." This advocacy is central to her identity as an artist who combines rigorous historical research with musical innovation.

Giddens' live performance history is equally impressive, featuring large-scale events like her Biscuits & Banjos Festival, held in her native North Carolina last year, and a Hollywood Bowl concert titled "Rhiannon Giddens: American Tunes" in 2025, which included guests such as Steve Martin and her all-female, all-banjo playing supergroup, Our Native Daughters. This past summer, she launched a concert series called "American Tunes: Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing," celebrating the American songbook alongside artists like Mavis Staples, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Hurray for the Riff Raff. She also continues her work with the Silkroad Ensemble, a collective founded by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, where she serves as artistic director. This year's performances under the Silkroad banner are themed "Sanctuary: The Power of Resonance and Ritual," exploring music's capacity to create safe spaces for reflection and community. These diverse projects demonstrate Giddens' ability to move fluidly between intimate storytelling and grand, collaborative productions. The Biscuits & Banjos Festival, for example, drew over 10,000 attendees and featured workshops on banjo history, highlighting Giddens' commitment to education alongside performance.

Beyond her musical endeavors, Giddens has authored several books, including "Go Back and Fetch It: Recovering Early Black Music in the Americas," co-written with Kristina R. Gaddy, and two children's books. She appeared as an expert in Ken Burns’ PBS documentary series "Country Music" and contributed music to his upcoming film "The American Revolution." Recently, she took on her first lead role in a motion picture, "An Ode to Mary Joe," where she also serves as executive producer and music supervisor. The film stars alongside Ed Helms, Jason Isbell, Steve Earle, Regina Taylor, and John Sayles. Reflecting on her upcoming album, Giddens told Variety, "It’s been the last 20 years—21 years, really, if I date it back to 2005, when I met the other original Chocolate Drops at the Black Banjo Gathering; that’s kind of where I place the beginning of my career. Along the way I’ve made many musical friends, and the family slowly expands over the years. So I had all the different branches that I could—everything but Silkroad Ensemble, really—come together for this record." She added, "For me, the verses say a lot. We’re so focused on money and stature and status that we’re destroying ourselves and our environment. But if I’m gonna make a song, I’m gonna make a song that has my philosophy in it." This holistic approach, blending personal reflection with social commentary, is a hallmark of her two-decade career. Her children's book "Build a House," which won a Caldecott Honor in 2023, further illustrates her ability to translate complex themes of resilience into accessible formats for young readers.