Meels Debuts at Grand Ole Opry With 'Northern Star'
Northern California singer-songwriter Meels performed her single 'Northern Star' during her Grand Ole Opry debut on October 28.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Folk
Northern California singer-songwriter Meels released the single 'Northern Star', which she wrote and which was produced by Justin Francis and Peter Groenwald. She made her Grand Ole Opry debut on October 28, performing 'Northern Star' and the unreleased 'Over Miles'.
Why it matters
The Opry appearance followed a fall tour with Old Crow Medicine Show and marks a notable step for an independent folk and Americana artist. It also extends a run of releases that began with her 2024 debut EP.
The Grand Ole Opry debut on October 28 follows the January 2026 EP Across The Raccoon Strait and the 2024 debut EP Tales from a Bird's Bedroom. No sales, streaming, or chart figures for 'Northern Star' were reported, and the release date of the unreleased track 'Over Miles' remains unannounced.
The players
Meels
A Northern California singer-songwriter raised in Mill Valley whose folk and Americana work blends into a self-described 'Critter Country' style.
Grand Ole Opry
The long-running Nashville country music stage that remains one of the most prominent showcases in American country and roots music.
Lost Highway Records
A Nashville-based record label known for its roots and Americana catalog, which released Meels's EP Across The Raccoon Strait.
Old Crow Medicine Show
A Nashville-based American roots band known for its old-time string sound, with whom Meels toured in the fall before her Opry debut.
The details
Meels wrote 'Northern Star' and co-produced it with Justin Francis and Peter Groenwald, the latter a member of Hush Kids. Her music blends folk, Americana and country, which she describes as 'Critter Country'; she was raised among the redwoods of Mill Valley, California.
Timeline
2024: Meels releases her debut EP Tales from a Bird's Bedroom.
January 2026: Meels releases the EP Across The Raccoon Strait through Lost Highway Records.
October 28, 2026: Meels makes her Grand Ole Opry debut performing 'Northern Star'.
December 2026: Meels is scheduled to perform dates supporting Kaitlin Butts.
Roadmap
The Grand Ole Opry has long served as a credibility milestone for roots and Americana artists, and Meels's debut follows that pattern after a fall tour with Old Crow Medicine Show. The appearance reflects the continued movement of independent folk performers from regional touring into Nashville's established institutions.
Listeners can hear 'Northern Star' now, and Meels's December dates supporting Kaitlin Butts offer a live opportunity to see her perform. Ticket availability and venue details for those shows were not included in the source material.
The takeaway
For listeners following independent folk and Americana, Meels's progression from debut EP to Opry stage shows how regional touring can build toward Nashville recognition. Tracking her December dates is a practical way to see that trajectory in person.
What happens next
Meels is scheduled to perform December dates in support of Kaitlin Butts, closing out 2026.
Further reading
Explore more folk music coverage for context on the genre's current artists and releases.
Source note: This article includes information reported by uDiscover Music.
