Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Here Are Some Facts About Mo Pitney, A Small Town Country Boy From Illinois

Mo Pitney Facts
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

You may hear a lot about Mo Pitney, but you will soon get to know him even better with these exciting facts.

This rising star has a classic country style that can never be denied. Since the release of his ever-successful debut album Behind This Guitar in 2016, he started earning high praises and myriads of devoted fans – thanks to his distinctive soulful voice. Mo Pitney songs reflect the way he sees life, and listeners can’t help but embrace them.

So, without further ado, let’s get to know more about Pitney as he solidifies his career in country music.

1. He’s a native of Rockford, Illinois. 

Mo Pitney, whose real name is Morgan Daniel ‘Mo’ Pitney, was born on March 24, 1993. He grew up in the small town of Cherry Valley, Illinois.

2. He grew up around music. 

His parents, Danny and Tabitha, are actually both musicians. His mother would write songs while his father would play the guitar. 

3. He began his career in music at a young age. 

Pitney was only six when he picked up the drums and was twelve when he asked his father to teach him to play the guitar. It didn’t take long for the young aspiring musician to learn a couple of songs by Johnny Cash. He then made his debut at a local open-mic show. Three years later, he got hooked on bluegrass music and built an acoustic band with his friends.

4. Keith Whitley, Randy Travis, and Keith Whitley are just some of the artists that vocally inspired him. 

It’s no surprise why his deep baritone sounded mature well beyond his years.

5. His bandmates today include his siblings. 

Pitney’s sister plays the guitar and provides harmony vocals, while his brother serves as the bass guitarist as well as his road manager.

6. He loves hunting. 

And he’ll never forget the first time he went hunting with his father when he was fourteen. “We flushed out two pheasants, but we missed them both. It didn’t matter. I was hooked,” the singer said.

7. He is one big dog lover! 

This explains his tear-jerking song “It’s Just a Dog,” which sings about grieving the loss of a furry best friend. He also spends his free time training his bird dogs.

8. He admits to never being a city-type of person. 

In fact, he loves Illinois for its cornfields and woods.

9. He’s a married man. 

In 2016, Pitney married his longtime girlfriend, Emily Bankester, in a private ceremony in Emily’s hometown of Carbondale, Illinois. The two met at a bluegrass festival when they were only fifteen. Emily is also a musician who took home Vocalist of the Year during the 2012 International Bluegrass Music Association

10. He’s a father of two. 

Pitney and his wife were blessed with two lovely daughters, Evelyne Nadine and Audra Elaine Pitney.

Well, we can’t wait to see what’s more in store for Mo Pitney.

Latest Stories

Carrie Underwood defends her decision during a heartfelt moment on American Idol, advocating for the show's first Easter faith special.

Carrie Underwood Fought for American Idol’s Easter Episode When Others Said It Was “Inappropriate”

For the first time in its 23-season history, American Idol aired a fully faith-based Easter special. It was bold and heartfelt—and according to a report from The Sun, it almost ...

Pope Francis smiles and waves in his traditional white robes during one of his final public appearances before his passing at age 88.

Pope Francis, the First Pope from the Americas, Dies at 88 After Easter Weekend

Just one day after delivering his final Easter address and meeting with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, Pope Francis, the first pope from the Americas and a defining spiritual voice ...

Jelly Roll cracks up alongside Luke Bryan and Jennifer Hudson while sharing a hilariously embarrassing onstage story on The Jennifer Hudson Show.

Jelly Roll Overshared on National TV Telling Jennifer Hudson He Once Pooped His Pants While Performing on Stage

There’s oversharing, and then there’s Jelly Roll on The Jennifer Hudson Show, telling a national audience he once trusted a fart onstage and paid the price. It happened on April ...

Luke Bryan delivers an emotional Easter performance of “Jesus' Bout My Kids” on American Idol, capturing the raw heart of a father’s prayer.

Luke Bryan Sang “Jesus’ Bout My Kids” on Easter and Brought Real Emotion to American Idol

Luke Bryan has spent the last seven seasons of American Idol being the jokester, the crowd-pleaser, the guy who hands out compliments with a grin and a wink. But on ...

Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake perform “Hard Fought Hallelujah” on American Idol’s “Songs of Faith” Easter special, bringing emotion and testimony to the stage.

Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake’s “Hard Fought Hallelujah” on Idol Felt Like a Personal Testimony

Easter Sunday on American Idol brought faith to the forefront, but when Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake took the stage to sing “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” it stopped being a TV ...

Carrie Underwood sings “How Great Thou Art” on Easter Sunday during American Idol’s “Songs of Faith” special, delivering a soul-stirring moment.

Carrie Underwood’s Easter Performance of “How Great Thou Art” Was Nothing Short of Heavenly

Some performances raise goosebumps, and then the rare few feel like they could raise the dead. On Easter Sunday, American Idol turned primetime into sacred time. Carrie Underwood stood in ...

George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Jimmy Buffett light up the stage with a legendary "Margaritaville" performance that became a timeless Texas moment.

Nothing Beats George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Jimmy Buffett Singing “Margaritaville” Together on One Stage

Some nights, something happens on stage that you can’t rehearse, can’t recreate, and definitely can’t plan. In May 2004, three of music’s most iconic voices—George Strait, Alan Jackson, and the ...

Jeannie Seely proudly holds her CMA award, celebrating her triumph with "Don't Touch Me"—a hit she nearly lost to more connected country stars.

Jeannie Seely Almost Lost One of Her Biggest Hits to a Country Singer With Bigger Connections

In Nashville, a great song doesn’t always land in the right hands. Sometimes it gets stolen. Sometimes, it gets buried. And sometimes, if you’re lucky—and tough—it finds its way back ...

Side-by-side of Sutton Foster and Loretta Lynn, highlighting Foster’s casting as the country legend in the new Broadway musical Coal Miner’s Daughter.

Meet the Broadway Star Taking On the Role of Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter Musical

It takes more than a voice to play Loretta Lynn. It takes guts. It takes someone who understands what it means to grow up with nothing, to speak your mind ...

Willie Nelson performs “Georgia on My Mind” live in Macon, Georgia, at age 91, seated with his iconic guitar and red bandana as the crowd rises in reverent applause.

Willie Nelson Sang Georgia on My Mind and the Crowd Gave Him a Standing Ovation

When Willie Nelson took the stage in Macon, Georgia, on April 13, it didn’t feel like another tour stop. It felt like something sacred—something that only happens when a living ...