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\n\tWhen the bellwether bands in the Red Dirt scene, Cross Canadian Ragweed<\/a> and the Turnpike Troubadours, announced the latest installment in their Boys From Oklahoma<\/a> tour de force, they put a brand-new name on the lineup. Shelby Stone<\/a> will join Ragweed and Turnpike on Feb. 28 at the Akins Ford Arena in Athens, Georgia. The concert will mark the first time the Boys From Oklahoma plays out in a venue other than a stadium, and Stone is the first woman to land on the bill.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI\u2019ve never even been to Georgia,\u201d Stone tells Rolling Stone<\/em>. \u201cI\u2019ve never played an arena, just the occasional national anthem gig. And now I get to open for two of the biggest and historical bands in the Red Dirt scene? I\u2019m beyond honored, and honestly just grateful as hell.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe billing marks the latest in the year-long rubicon that Stone, originally from Decatur, Texas, has been crossing from local act to the fringes of stardom. When the 4,500-seat Pinnacle opened in Nashville in March, Turnpike played one of its first shows, with Stone opening. She also played a showcase slot in June at Circus Mexicus, the annual festival in Puerto Penasco, Mexico, put on by one of Stone\u2019s mentors, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers<\/a>. She joined American Aquarium this summer too as a support act on a tour of clubs and theaters.<\/p>\n \n\tMost importantly, Stone dropped her debut full-length album, Silveryear<\/em>, in August. But there was a catch: The record was only made available in physical format and via digital download on Stone\u2019s website. She\u2019s not releasing the project to streaming services until April 2026. The move was very intentional. Early adopters of Stone\u2019s music paid for the record and she sees this as a gesture of thanks.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cSince we crowdfunded the album, I wanted to get it to our backers immediately,\u201d Stone says. \u201cFor everyone else, I wanted to give people the opportunity to purchase the album directly before it hits streaming, where artists make pennies on the dollar. I know releasing singles is the industry standard now, but I was already playing shows and wanted audiences to know more than just one or two songs. This approach felt like the best way to honor both my supporters and my artistic vision.\u201d<\/p>\n