Valerie June

Valerie June Hockett (born January 10, 1982) is a Grammy-nominated American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and author. Her music draws influence from many genres, including psychedelic folk, indie rock, Appalachian, bluegrass, country soul, symphonic pop, and blues, as well as from her southern roots and later East coast life. She is signed to Concord Music Group worldwide.

Early life Born in Jackson, Tennessee, on January 10, 1982, June is the second of five children. As a child growing up in Humboldt, she was exposed to gospel music at her local church and R&B and soul music via her father, Emerson Hockett. As a teenager, her first job was with her father, owner of Hockett Construction in West Tennessee, and a part-time promoter for gospel singers and Prince, K-Ci & JoJo, and Bobby Womack. She helped by hanging posters in town. Her father died in 2016.

Musical career

2000–2009: Career beginnings June relocated to Memphis in 2000 and began recording and performing at the age of 19, in the duo Bella Sun.

In 2009 she was a featured artist on MTV's online series $5 Cover (following the lives of Memphis musicians attempting to make ends meet), and in 2010 she recorded the EP Valerie June and the Tennessee Express, a collaboration with Old Crow Medicine Show.

2010–2015: Pushin' Against a Stone and touring In 2011, she was honored by the Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission at the Emissaries of Memphis Music event. She raised funds to record an album with producer Craig Street via Kickstarter.com, raising $15,000 in 60 days. Later that year she relocated from Memphis to Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She contributed The Wandering's 2012 album Go on Now, You Can't Stay Here: Mississippi Folk Music Volume III. In 2012 she performed in the United Kingdom for the first time, playing at Bestival and appearing on Later... with Jools Holland.

She has received substantial radio play in Europe on BBC Radio 6, including a feature on Cerys on 6 with Cerys Matthews. Mary Anne Hobbs of XFM has said of June: "This woman has already touched my heart, she really, really has."

In February 2013, June was invited to support Jake Bugg on the UK leg of his tour. In March 2013, June performed two nights at South By Southwest. The first performance was on March 14 as part of the Heartbreaker Banquet. On March 16, June performed again, this time as part of The Revival Tour.

After self-releasing three albums, her debut album as a signed artist, Pushin' Against a Stone, was released in the UK and Europe through Sunday Best Recordings on May 6, 2013, and through Concord Music Group in August 2013. The album includes several songs co-written with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, who co-produced it with Kevin Augunas. The record includes performances by Booker T. Jones, who co-wrote one of the songs contained on the album. The track "Workin' Woman Blues" was produced and engineered by Peter Sabák in Budapest. June has described the recording of the song as "magical" as it was completed in approximately 30 minutes. The two singles released in the UK and Europe were "Workin' Woman Blues" and "You Can't Be Told".

In 2014, June was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the Best New Artist Debut category for Pushin' Against a Stone. She appeared on Austin City Limits in 2014.

2017: The Order of Time Rolling Stone listed June's second album, The Order of Time, as one of the 50 Best Albums of 2017, citing "her handsomely idiosyncratic brand of Americana, steeped deep in electric blues and old-time folk, gilded in country twang and gospel yearning....a blend of spacey hippie soul, blues and folk with June’s pinched, modern-Appalachian voice at the center".

In a 2017 interview, Bob Dylan was asked what artists he listened to and respected; June was among the artists he mentioned in reply. The songs were set to appear on her next studio album.

On January 22, 2021, June announced her album The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers, which was accompanied with the release of a new single from the album, "Call Me a Fool", featuring Carla Thomas. The video for "Call Me a Fool" was released on YouTube. To support the upcoming album, June made several live appearances on shows including CBS This Morning, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Kelly Clarkson Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live!. In February 2021, June made her third appearance on KEXP; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the performance was recorded from her home.

The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers was released on March 12, 2021, through Fantasy Records. The record was co-produced by Jack Splash and written by June. The album received critical acclaim, and was awarded a score of 85/100 on Metacritic, based on 10 critics' reviews. Pitchfork described the album as her "most heavy-hearted" and "far-reaching" record, and praised June for exploring themes of "love and loss" throughout the album. The album The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers ranked No. 3 on the Top 100 Americana Radio Airplay Albums of 2021, as reported by the Americana Radio Airplay Albums Chart (powered by CDX) for the period of January 11, 2021, through December 14, 2021.

In November 2021, June received a Grammy nomination for Best American Roots Song for "Call Me a Fool", featuring Carla Thomas.

Apple featured June's song "You And I" in their 2021 Christmas holiday ad.

From 2022 to present In June 2024, June appeared on Celebrity Family Feud alongside The War and Treaty and Earth, Wind & Fire. In the same year, she appeared as a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, where she discussed her music and latest projects. In September, she was featured in the premiere of Austin City Limits' 9th Annual Hall of Fame Honors, celebrating the legacy of John Prine.

In June 2024, June tapped Carla Thomas for the song "Friendship," which honors the Stax Music Academy legacy and celebrates Mavis Staples' 85th birthday.

In February, June announced her upcoming album, Owls, Omens and Oracles, with the release of the single "Joy Joy".

In 2023, June contributed a rendition of "Strange Things Happening Every Day" to the documentary Little Richard: I Am Everything. The song was featured on the film's official soundtrack.

Live performances Since 2013, June has performed between 50 and 100 live shows annually worldwide. In 2013, she opened for The Rolling Stones at BST Hyde Park in London. From 2017 to 2023, she was featured in major festivals and shared the stage with artists such as Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Jack Johnson, Gary Clark Jr., and John Prine.

In 2023, she toured with Dave Matthews at The Gorge Amphitheater and performed at the Newport Folk Festival alongside Floyd from The Muppets. In 2024, she was a guest performer on Tyler Childers' tour and performed with Trevor Hall at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

June has had extensive radio experience, including appearances on NPR's All Things Considered, First Listen, World Café, Fresh Air, and Mountain Stage, as well as BBC programs such as Loose Ends, and Woman's Hour. She has also been featured on shows like E-Town Radio, Elton John's Rocket Hour, KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic, and Sirius XM Outlaw Country Live at Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion. and "Train Fare," featured on the Blind Boys of Alabama's 2017 album Almost Home.

In 2018, she performed with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, followed by a performance with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in Cork City, Ireland, in 2019.

Written work

Maps for the Modern World June completed a book that was released in April 2021 under her full name, Valerie June Hockett. Maps for the Modern World (Andrews McMeel) contains poems, artwork, and homilies that speak on ideas such as consciousness and mindfulness.

Somebody to Love: The Story of Valerie June's Sweet Little Baby Banjolele In 2022, June published Somebody to Love: The Story of Valerie June's Sweet Little Baby Banjolele through Third Man Books. The children's book tells the story behind her song "Somebody to Love," inspired by her own experiences with a cherished banjolele.

Light Beams: A Workbook for Being Your Badass Self In 2023, June released Light Beams: A Workbook for Being Your Badass Self through Andrews McMeel. The interactive journal features essays, poetry, and writing prompts designed to encourage self-reflection, creativity, and personal growth.

Discography Albums Album Details Peak positions Certifications US US sales BEL (Fl) BEL (Wa) NED SWE SWI UK The Way of the Weeping Willow Released: 2006 Label: Self-released Formats: CD, digital download — — — — — — — — — Mountain of Rose Quartz Released: 2008 Label: Self-released Formats: CD, digital download — — — — — — — — — Pushin' Against a Stone Released: August 13, 2013 Label: Sunday Best Recordings Formats: CD, LP, digital download 41 — 26 56 23 34 51 29 56 US: 66,000 The Order of Time Released: March 10, 2017 Label: Concord Records, Caroline Records Formats: CD, LP, digital download 111 30 44 100 90 99 — 38 — The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers Released: March 12, 2021 Label: Fantasy Records Formats: CD, LP, digital download — 56 — — — — — 41 — Owls, Omens and Oracles Released: April 11, 2025 Label: Concord Records Formats: CD, LP, digital download — — — — — — — — —

EPs Title Details Valerie June and the Tennessee Express Released: April 24, 2010 Label: Self-released Formats: CD, digital download Stay / Stay Meditation / You and I Released: November 13, 2020 Label: Fantasy Records Formats: Digital download Under Cover Released: August 26, 2022 Label: June Tunes Music Formats: Digital download

Singles Year Single Peak positions Album USAAA BEL(Fl)Tip — — — The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers "You and I" — — — 2021 "Call Me a Fool" 24 — — "Why the Bright Stars Glow" — — — "Fallin'" — — — 2025 "Joy, Joy! 32 — — Owls, Omens and Oracles "—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

With Bella Sun No Crystal Stair (2004), Bella Sun Music

TV and film + Year Title Notes 2024 ACL 9th Annual Hall of Fame Honors John Prine Premiere 2023 Little Richard: I Am Everything Emmy Award-winning, Grammy-nominated documentary 2023 PBS Southern Sounds 2023 PBS The Picture Taker Ernest Withers documentary 2023 Good Ol Girl "Somebody to Love" 2023 Black Cake Season 1 (Hulu) 2023 TrueSouth Season 5, Madisonville, TN episode - "Can't Be Told", "Somebody to Love" 2023 GetTV Variety Specials Season 2 - "This Train is Bound for Glory" 2022 For Love & Country Documentary for Amazon Music 2022 A Love Song "Slip Slide On By" 2022 P-Valley Season 2 (Starz) - "Stay", "Star Dust Scattering" 2022 Jimmy Kimmel Live Season 19 - "Smile" 2022 American Idol ABC - Season 5 - "Smile" 2022 Truth Be Told Season 3 (Apple) - "Call Me a Fool" (feat. Carla Thomas) 2021–2022 True South Season 3 - "Pushin' Against a Stone", "Workin' Woman Blues", "Long Lonely Road", "Man Done Wrong" 2021 Late Night with Seth Meyers "Call Me a Fool" (feat. Carla Thomas) 2021 Americana Music Honors and Awards Ryman Auditorium featuring Carla Thomas 2021 Apple Holiday Ad "You and I" 2021 Grand Ole Opry Debut 2021 Legacies CW, Season 3 - "Call Me a Fool" (feat. Carla Thomas) 2021 National Geographic's Earth Day Eve Celebration "Home Inside" 2021 CBS Saturday Morning: Saturday Sessions "Two Roads, You and I" 2020 A Secret Love "With You" 2020 P-Valley Season 1 (Lionsgate) - "If And" 2021 TED Countdown "Astral Plane" 2019 Pearson USA Network, Season 1 - "Man Done Wrong" 2019 SMILF Season 2 (Showtime) - "Love Told a Lie" 2019 PBS Reel South Documentary series, host of Season 4 2019 BBC Stewart Copeland Music Documentary 2019 Grounded in Memphis Mindfulness Arts Collective Film score for Me & The Light to fight gun violence 2019 Bluff City Law NBC, Season 1 - "Shotgun" 2018 TN Tourism Spotlight Stories Series 2018 Queen America "Workin' Woman Blues" 2018 Little Woods "Workin' Woman Blues" 2018 Queen America "Long Lonely Road" 2018 Casual Episode 110 - "Somebody to Love" 2018 American Woman "Workin’ Woman Blues" 2017 The Passage Season 1 (Fox) - "Astral Plane" 2017 Transparent Season 4 - "Long Lonely Road", "Slip Slide On By" 2017 Queen Sugar Season 2 (OWN Network) - "Shake Down", "The Front Door" 2017 CBS This Morning Saturday 2017 PBS NewsHour 2017 Une saison en France "You Can’t Be Told" 2017 CBS Saturday Sessions "Astral Plane" 2017 CBS Saturday Sessions "Got Soul" 2017 Beauty and the Beast 2016–2017 season - "Wanna Be On Your Mind" 2016 Reel South "Man Done Wrong" 2016 Two Trains Running Grammy-nominated blues music documentary 2016 J'ai tout donné au soleil, sauf mon ombre 2015 Grace and Frankie Season 4 - "Pushin' Against a Stone" 2015 Suits Episode #3013 - "Wanna Be On Your Mind" 2015 Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Leadbelly documentary 2015 BBC Global Beats Americana Part One 2015 Lila and Eve "The Hour Won't Tell You No Lies" 2015 The Legend of Lead Belly "Workin' Woman Blues" 2014 Austin City Limits 2014 Qu'est-ce qu'on a fait au Bon Dieu? "The Hour Won't Tell You No Lies" 2014 No Cameras Allowed "This Train is Bound for Glory" 2014 Who Owns Water "Twined and Twisted", "Workin' Woman Blues" 2013 CBS Saturday Sessions "Workin' Woman Blues" 2013 The Originals 2013 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 2013 Late Show with David Letterman 2013 NPR Tiny Desk 2013 CBS Saturday Morning 2013 Rachael Ray Show Performance 2013 Catfish Season 2 - "Twined and Twisted" 2012 78 Project web series 2012 VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live Episode 845 - "Can’t Be Told" 2011 Let's Stay Together 2011 MusicBox Project of Americana Women "Workin' Woman Blues" 2012 Big Easy Express "This Train is Bound for Glory" 2009 MTV's $5 Cover Amplified Documentary Emmy Award-winning documentary 2006 Eat Actress

Awards and nominations + Year Award Category Result Reference 2021 Grammy Awards Best American Roots Song Nominated 2021 Americana Music Honors & Awards Album of the Year Nominated 2021 Americana Music Honors & Awards Song of the Year Nominated 2014 Americana Music Honors & Awards Emerging Act of the Year Nominated 2014 Independent Music Awards Singer-Songwriter of the Year Nominated 2014 Independent Music Awards Best Blues Song Nominated 2014 A2IM Libera Awards Breakthrough Artist of the Year Nominated 2013 American Country Music Awards Eric Church’s nationally televised duet Featured 2013 Q Awards Best New Act Nominated 2013 Starbucks Pick of the Week (US & Canada) Selected 2011 Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission Emissaries of Memphis Music Award Received 2010 Kickstarter Recording Campaign Raised $15,000 in 60 days for Pushin’ Against a Stone Achieved 2009 Emmy Award $5 Cover Amplified Documentary Featured