JD Shelburne chosen for Kentucky Tourism Visitor Guide cover
Today, the Kentucky Department of Tourism announces that their 2020 Official Visitor’s Guide cover will feature Taylorsville, Kentucky native, and Nashville country music recording artist JD Shelburne.
Known for his unwavering work ethic, the announcement comes on the heels of Shelburne wrapping up a very busy 2019 tour schedule, performing at more than 215 shows throughout his beloved home state of Kentucky, along with Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Nevada, and Tennessee, where he currently resides, just outside of Nashville. Kentucky Country Music interviewed Shelburne earlier this year on his music and busy schedule.
“We are happy to partner with JD Shelburne for our 2020 Kentucky Visitor’s Guide,” said Don Parkinson, Secretary of the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet. “He is a talented artist with a lot of passion for music and for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. We look forward to a big year for Kentucky in 2020, and we thank JD for his partnership in helping to promote tourism in this state.”
The anticipated 2020 Visitor’s Guide cover will be unveiled during a special event set for 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 8, in the Kentucky State Capitol Rotunda. Shelburne will be on hand to help set the tone for Kentucky Tourism’s 2020 Year of Music. He will perform “My Old Kentucky Home” before the cover of the new visitor’s guide is unveiled, and his new song he wrote, “Straight From Kentucky,” after the ceremony.
The visitor’s guide serves as the main fulfillment piece for state tourism, with 400,000 copies printed and distributed worldwide to attract visitors to Kentucky. The guide shares travel tips, stories and regional highlights, while focusing on the main pillars of Kentucky tourism: music, bourbon, horses, culinary, outdoors, arts and history.
Shelburne is one of several Kentucky musicians to be featured in an all-new digital & social media series called ‘Sound Travels’ premiering in 2020.
“As a native of Kentucky, words can’t describe how honored and humbled I am to be selected for the cover of Kentucky’s Official Visitor’s Guide,” said Shelburne. “Growing up on my family’s farm, my love of this land stems from the values they instilled in me: a strong work ethic, a love of family, and having a passion for what you do. This is what has allowed me to connect with so many of my fans across this great state. My hometown of Taylorsville has provided me a huge platform to help share my story and chase down my dreams. I have been fortunate enough to be a part of many milestones throughout my career, and this is certainly one of my proudest moments. A very humble ‘thank you’ to the great folks at the Kentucky Department of Tourism for the opportunity for me to personally help share a little bit of Kentucky with the rest of the world!”
For more information on JD Shelburne, be sure to visit JDShelburne.com.
Jessica Blankenship is the owner and founder of Kentucky Country Music website with over 20 years experience in music journalism, concert planning, photography, and promotion. Jessica is a Kentucky Colonel and alumni of the 2019 Leadership Kentucky BRIGHT Class and a recipient of the Laurel County’s Ten Under 40 Award. Listen to her each week on WFKY on Friday mornings for the Nashville News Roundup.