Date Signed: May 2026
Label: MCA
Type of Music: Country
Management: River House Artists
Booking: The Neal Agency
Legal: Hunter Cottingham PLLC
Publicity: LEDE
A&R: MCA
Web: kennywhitmire.com
Hailing from Woodstock, GA, Kenny Whitmire came to Nashville in 2022. The blossoming country star’s music draws on ‘90s-flavored hits every bit as much as the genre’s most famous traditionalists. He started putting original songs on social media, with one in particular, “I Gave Her The Moon,” taking off big time and generating a wave of industry attention.
Yet the wheels were already in motion for signing with MCA before that happened. Zebb Luster, who would eventually become Whitmire’s manager, connected him with Hannah Wilson, one of the storied label’s A&R reps. “She came to watch me play a gig, and soon after we had a little meeting,” reveals the crooner, whose voice has been compared to Keith Whitley and Randy Travis. “We got dinner and talked about music.”
That led to Wilson connecting Whitmire with producer Dave Cobb. “I had some phone calls with him, which is the coolest thing in the world,” admits Whitmire, “because I grew up on a lot of Chris Stapleton.” The artist was also impressed by MCA’s current crop of rising newcomers, including Carter Faith and Vincent Mason.
Before offering a contract, the brass at MCA had Whitmire perform a quick acoustic show in their offices. “I played them five or six songs I had been writing. They seemed to enjoy most of them,” he recalls with characteristic modesty. Whitmire believes that the quality of his songwriting, combined with his videos going viral, is what ultimately got the venerable label to put forth a deal.
“It felt like the right choice. I trusted my gut and the good Lord,” tells Whitmire. Instinct aside, he sought the opinion of fellow Georgian Austin Snell, for whom he’d played guitar. “I talked to him a lot about what I should do,” he recalls. “And he seemed to be aligned with MCA.”
Whitmire further felt comfortable going with MCA based on Luster’s advice. “I put all my trust in him,” the young performer swears. “I knew he had my best interests at heart.” And despite meeting with other labels, he wanted to remain loyal to the home that first showed interest, calling it “a pretty easy choice.”
The down-to-earth singer is currently in the midst of a major tour supporting Billy Currington, Ian Munsick, and Tracy Lawrence. His debut EP, Fool In A King Size Bed, is out now.
