Board of Directors
Fiona Whelan Prine, Founder and President
Fiona Whelan Prine is Founder and President of the Hello In There Foundation. She is Owner and President of Oh Boy Records and oversees all aspects of her late husband’s intellectual property and legacy. Previously, Fiona managed John’s career, traveling with him to his sold out shows all over the world. She is a devoted mother and grandmother and has been a long time supporter of community initiatives that support those in need. Fiona lives in Nashville and enjoys spending time with her family.
Jody Whelan, Treasurer
Jody Whelan is the managing partner at Oh Boy Records, the independent record label founded in 1981 by John Prine, Al Bunetta, and Dan Einstein. Since taking over operations of the label in 2015, Whelan has sought to expand the audience for Prine’s work by embracing new technologies, partnerships and platforms, while being laser-focused on respecting the integrity of the artwork. Under his leadership Oh Boy has significantly expanded its roster of artists and is dedicated to serving the next generation of singer-songwriters & Americana musicians. As well as being active within the Americana Music Association, Whelan is also a member of A2IM, the Recording Academy, the CMA, Folk Alliance International, and Leadership Music.
Jack Prine, Secretary
John Patrick “Jack” Prine, named after his father, was born and raised in Nashville. He discovered his passion for music early on, which led him to Charleston to study music engineering. After three years of immersive learning, which included an internship at Truphonic Recording Studio, Jack returned to Nashville. In 2023, he joined Oh Boy Records as E-Commerce Manager. In addition to his role on the Board of Directors for the Hello in There Foundation, Jack helps to create fun community events and supports concert planning for the foundation’s annual You Got Gold events. Jack's experience working with organizations like Thistle Farms underscored his commitment to helping others, inspiring him with the impact of second chances on people's lives. Outside of work, Jack finds joy in playing guitar, video games, and spending time with his family and friends, including his partner, Hannah, and his goofy orange cat, Ham. His fondest memories include bonding with his father over music and sports, especially their shared enthusiasm for the Tennessee Titans. One of his favorite memories with his dad is a shared fishing trip to Arkansas that they took when Jack was 17 - just the two of them and a stack of Beatles CDs to pass time on the drive.
Jack is, of course, a fan of John’s music, with his all-time favorite song being "Fish and Whistle," and his current favorite, "Six O'Clock News," both of which reflect his deep appreciation for John’s storytelling through music. Looking forward, Jack dreams of exploring Japan, embracing new adventures, and continuing to nurture John’s legacy of community, family, and generosity through his work with the Foundation and Oh Boy.
Ruby Amanfu, Board Member
Ruby Amanfu is a Ghana-born, Nashville-based GRAMMY, Soul Train and BET Award nominated Songwriter, Recording Artist and Producer. Having written and recorded music since her teens, Amanfu has released 11 critically acclaimed solo studio albums and her songs have appeared in shows such as “The Morning Show,” “Station 19,” “Little Fires Everywhere,” "Love is Blind," "Pretty Little Liars," and in films such as "The Secret Life of Bees," "Hope Springs" and “The Photograph.” Her accolades include co-writing two Grammy-nominated Songs of the Year, "Hard Place” for the artist H.E.R. and “A Beautiful Noise” for artists Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile. Amanfu sings the theme song of the popular series, The Chosen, and her fluid vocals and original melodies can be heard throughout all seasons. Amanfu created and recorded the operatic vocals that appear on Beyoncé's song, “Don’t Hurt Yourself” on the Grammy-winning album, Lemonade. She also appears on Norah Jones’ album, Pick Me Up off the Floor, and alongside Jack White on the White Stripes singer-guitarist's solo LPs, Blunderbuss and Lazaretto, highlighted by a performance of their collaboration, "Love Interruption" at the 55th Grammy Awards. Outside of her vast musical career, Amanfu is a community leader, chef, wife and stepmother.
Mary Gauthier, Board Member
Mary Gauthier is a Grammy-nominated American folk singer-songwriter and author. She joined the Board of the Hello in There Foundation in 2024. Mary’s eleventh album, the first record in over 8 years consisting of all her own songs, Dark Enough to See the Stars, follows the profound antidote to trauma, Rifles & Rosary Beads, her 2018 collaborative work with wounded Iraq war veterans. It garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album, as well as a nomination for Album of the Year by the Americana Music Association. Publication of her first book, the illuminating Saved by a Song: The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting, in 2021, brought her more praise. Brandi Carlile has said, “Mary’s songwriting speaks to the tender aspects of our humanness. We need her voice in times like these more than we ever have.” The Associated Press called Gauthier “one of the best songwriters of her generation.” Mary’s songs have been recorded by dozens of artists, including Jimmy Buffett, Dolly Parton, Boy George, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Bettye Lavette, Mike Farris, Kathy Mattea, Bobby Bare, Amy Helm and Candi Staton and have appeared extensively in Film and Television, most recently on HBO TV’s Yellowstone.
Kelly McCartney, Board Member
With a style that is equal parts personal, political, and philosophical, Kelly McCartney inhabits a purposefully intersectional corner of the roots music space, making her one of the format’s favorite commentators and curators. As a journalist, Kelly has contributed to No Depression, NPR Music, Folk Alley, Stereogum, and others. She also spent over four years hosting/producing the Hangin' & Sangin' podcast/radio show and now hosts Apple Music's Record Bin Radio. When not promoting artists in a public-facing way, Kelly continues that work as co-founder/director of the Rainey Day Fund supporting roots artists with marginalized identities. She also regularly organizes benefit projects to support social justice causes and serves on the board of directors for both the Color Me Country Foundation and the Hello in There Foundation.
Celine Thackston, Executive Director
Celine Thackston serves as Executive Director for the Hello in There Foundation. A skilled fundraiser and nonprofit administrator with more than a decade of experience in infrastructure and capacity building, she has helped to raise millions of dollars each year for a range of nonprofit organizations and individual artists. Celine has worked for major cultural organizations, human services nonprofits, social justice institutions, and grassroots initiatives across a range of disciplines and issue areas. She gratefully married into John Prine fandom almost 20 years ago and lives in Nashville with her husband, daughter, and a menagerie of animal companions.