Singer-songwriter Allison Russell had a song called “Persephone” on her debut solo album, so the fact that she’ll soon be taking on a role by that name in the Broadway production of “Hadestown” may have some purpose come November . 12.

Tuesday’s announcement from the producer of the Tony-winning musical solves the mystery of why Russell recently postponed her fall tour until spring 2025 – a postponement that she had only teased at the time by assuring fans that it was a deal do have positive development, not an unhappy one. At the same time as the news that she would be taking over Hadestown, Russell’s representatives also announced the postponement of the tour, which will now take place in April and May next year.

Russell will replace another young Americana music great, Yola, as Persephone. Yola’s last date on the show will be October 20th. After that, she will begin her own series of delayed concerts to promote a new album project.

Meanwhile, before embarking on Hadestown, Russell will wrap up her months-long stint opening for Hozier on his international tour, including a three-night run at LA’s Kia Forum starting tonight. The Hozier tour ends September 26th in Oklahoma City, and then Russell has one final show at the Pilgrimage Music Festival in Tennessee on September 28th before beginning preparations for Broadway.

She’s also up for Female Artist of the Year at this week’s Americana Honors & Awards, which will be presented at a ceremony in Nashville on Wednesday evening.

Russell said in a statement: “I first heard Anaïs Mitchell sing ‘Why We Build The Wall’ in 2008 at the Lobero Theater in Santa Barbara, California. She opened the show at a concert series called ‘Sings Like Hell’ (really) for my partner’s band JT & the Clouds. I was transfixed. When Anaïs told me later that evening that she was working on a “folk opera” based on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, my hair stood on end – I had a premonition that it would become a work that would outlive us all would. ”

She continued: “It has been a great and ongoing joy to have had a front-row seat to the evolution of this great work – from the 2010 album to Off Broadway, the Edmonton Theatre, the London Theater and finally Broadway and the Walter Kerr Theatre the Her-storic Tonys sweep in 2019. It is impossible for me to fully convey how deeply meaningful, resonant, uplifting and full-circle it is to make my Broadway debut, in the role of Persephone (a goddess and a… archetypes I have researched). (I have written both poems and songs since I was a child) in this timeless instant classic. I am proud to join the sisterhood of artists who embodied Persephone, proud to join this extraordinary ensemble, proud to become part of this vibrant, growing legacy. This is a world that I dreamed of and that I now get to live in. I am beyond excited and grateful to be a part of it “Hadestown”! See you deep underground!”

The role of Persephone is played by “Hadestown” alum Lana Gordon, who appeared on a national tour of the production between Yola’s exit on October 20 and Russell’s first show on November 12.

Below are Russell’s spring US tour dates, most of which have been postponed until this fall, with the Ryman Auditorium as an addition:

April 30 – Higher Ground Ballroom – South Burlington, VT
MAY 2 – Theater of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
MAY 3 – Lincoln Theater – Washington, DC
MAY 4 – Royale – Boston, MA
MAY 6 – Webster Hall – New York, NY
MAY 8 – The Vic Theater – Chicago, IL
MAY 9 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN
MAY 12 – Gothic Theater – Englewood, CO
MAY 13 – The Commonwealth Room – Salt Lake City, UT
MAY 15 – The Egyptian Theater – Boise, ID
MAY 16 – The Showbox – Seattle, WA
MAY 17 – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR
MAY 19 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
MAY 20 – Belasco Theater – Los Angeles, CA
MAY 23 – Scoot Inn – Austin, TX
MAY 24 – Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall – Fort Worth, TX
MAY 25 – The Heights Theater – Houston, TX
MAY 28 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN

Russell’s most recent album “The Returner” and her song “All Without Within” were heard diversity‘s lists of the best albums and songs of 2023.