16-05-2025
Posthumous John Prine covers EP released to benefit fund supporting Nashville immigrants amid ICE arrests
On May 16, Nashville's Oh Boy Records released a posthumous collection of cover songs by John Prine to benefit The Belonging Fund, which supports immigrants in Nashville in moments of crisis.
The EP release follows a week-long operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Nashville that resulted in the arrest of 196 immigrants.
"Oh Boy Records is proud to call Nashville home, and we're also proud to be a record label that's run by immigrants," it says on the Oh Boy Records' bandcamp.
"We wanted to do something to help support the immigrant community here, and to also hopefully spread some joy to fans of John."
The country-folk hero died in 2020 due to complications related to COVID-19.
Oh Boy Records was co-founded by Prine in 1981 and is now run by the Prine family, including Prine's wife Fiona Whelan Prine, who was born in Ireland and immigrated to the U.S. in 1993.
"Oh Boy Records is announcing the release of 'The Belonging EP Vol. 1' a collection of cover songs by John Prine.
"Available for a limited time, and sold exclusively on Bandcamp, all proceeds from the sale of the EP will be given to The Belonging Fund."
The label suggests buying the record for the suggested price of $10, but if listeners are able to afford more, Oh Boy says the funds are going directly to families in urgent need.
The Belonging Fund was launched by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) and the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County to support immigrants through a variety of needs, from housing instability and child care to transportation and food insecurity.
To learn more about Prine's EP, visit
ICE's operation in Nashville included 468 traffic stops made in a joint operation with the Tennessee Highway Patrol on May 8.
ICE spokesperson Lindsay Williams said the operation focused on identifying those with criminal histories and that of the 196 arrested, 95 had prior criminal convictions or pending criminal charges.
Speaking from detention: Nashville immigrant, 19, went out for ice cream, ended up detained by ICE and sent to Louisiana. 'We're not criminals,' he says
ICE has released limited information on seven of the 196 arrested. They did not provide the names of anyone.
The Metro Nashville Council Immigrant Caucus has condemned the "tactics, scope, and narrative" used by the Department of Homeland Security.
"While we all share a commitment to public safety, true safety is never achieved through fear-based enforcement that harms entire communities under false pretenses," the caucus said in a news release on May 13.
"Let us be clear: Accountability must never come at the expense of due process, human dignity, or community trust."
1. 'My Old Kentucky Home'2. 'All My Love (Oh Boy!)'3. 'Loretta'4. 'I Just Called to Say I Love You'5. 'Sweet and Dandy'
Contributing: Craig Shoup
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: John Prine covers EP to benefit immigrants amid Nashville ICE arrests
