Johnny Staats

Johnny Staats Inducted into the West Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame

Johnny L. Staats began playing the mandolin at just seven years old in 1976. By the age of ten, he was already performing live alongside his family — his father John Staats on guitar, his mother Betty Staats on piano, and his sister Missy Staats on banjo — playing local churches throughout West Virginia. Those early family performances laid the foundation for a lifetime devoted to music deeply rooted in tradition, faith, and community.

In 2000, Johnny signed his first major record deal with Giant Records / Warner Brothers in Nashville, TN, releasing his debut album Wires and Wood. The record featured an impressive lineup of guest artists, including Sara Evans, Kathy Mattea, Pam Tillis, John Cowan, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Scott Vestal, Jim Hurst, and Tim O’Brien.

Following its release, Wires and Wood drew national attention — most notably from Neil Strauss of The New York Times, who featured Johnny in a full-page article. The story captured the imagination of the public: a world-class mandolinist with a major label deal who refused to leave his job as a UPS driver or his home in West Virginia.

That decision defined Johnny Staats’ legacy as much as his musicianship. Known nationwide as “the UPS driver who is one of the best mandolin players and songwriters in the world,” Johnny remained committed to providing for his family and honoring the values he was raised with. He chose stability, responsibility, and home over the uncertainty of the music business — a rare and powerful stance that resonated deeply with audiences everywhere.

Johnny’s story led to national media features, including CBS News with Dan Rather, CNN, and multiple appearances on NBC’s Today Show.

Johnny’s major network television features also highlighted his personal life, including his passion for hunting and the outdoor lifestyle of the hills of West Virginia. Cameras followed him as he ran his hounds at night and played mandolin during his UPS lunch breaks, offering an authentic glimpse into the life he proudly chose to live.

He has been featured in People Magazine, participated in TED Talks in Atlanta, performed at the Grand Ole Opry six times, and played the Ryman Auditorium on multiple occasions. Johnny is also a regular performer on Mountain Stage, where he proudly represents West Virginia at the highest level. His music has taken him around the world, with performances in Paris, France; Taiwan; Ireland; and beyond.

Over the course of his career, Johnny Staats has released and appeared on eight or more albums and has shared the stage with hundreds of legendary artists, including Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury, Tyler Childers, Brad Paisley, Huey Lewis & The News, and the Davisson Brothers Band. He has also recorded extensively with longtime collaborator Robert Shaffer as Staats & Shaffer.

In addition to a lifetime spent performing and preserving Mountain and Bluegrass music, Johnny’s Wires and Wood album was transcribed by John Mock in Nashville. This led to performances with the West Virginia Symphony, Wheeling Symphony, and Huntington Symphony, further expanding the reach of his music into orchestral settings.

Johnny dedicated 37 years of service to UPS, all while maintaining an extraordinary musical career. His influences span the very heart of American roots music, including Bill Monroe, Sam Bush, Doyle Lawson, David Grisman, Jesse McReynolds, The Seldom Scene, and The Country Gentlemen.

Upon learning of his induction, Johnny shared:

“It put chills up my arms this morning. I haven’t won a lot of awards, so I still can’t believe this happened. It’s truly an honor to be inducted into the West Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame. That’s why I stayed here all these years — I love the people and our state. This is a complete surprise to me. I would like to thank Ron Sowell from Mountain Stage for believing in me early on and taking me to Nashville to record Wires and Wood. I would also like to thank my family for a lifetime of support — none of this would be possible without them.”

The West Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame is proud to honor Johnny Staats as a 2026 Recording Artist Inductee, recognizing not only his extraordinary talent, but his unwavering commitment to family, community, and the Mountain State he has always called home.