Evan Felker

Evan Duane Felker, born on March 24, 1984, in Okemah, Oklahoma, is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist best known as the lead singer of the band Turnpike Troubadours. He grew up in Wright City, a small town in rural southeast Oklahoma, where he was part of an outdoorsy family that enjoyed hunting and fishing. Felker began playing guitar at age 15 and initially wrote rock songs, considering country music uncool. Influenced by his uncle, a songwriter and musician, he later developed an interest in country music after moving to Stillwater, Oklahoma, in his twenties.

Felker formed the Turnpike Troubadours with guitarist Ryan Engleman and bass player R.C. Edwards, later adding drummer Giovanni “Nooch” Carnuccio III and fiddler Kyle Nix. The band relocated to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, but took a hiatus in May 2019. They reunited in November 2021, launching a successful tour with sold-out shows throughout 2022.

Felker is passionate about hunting, reflecting his Oklahoma upbringing. He married accountant Staci Nelson in 2016, divorced her in 2020 after their split earlier that year, and remarried in June 2020. They welcomed two children: Evangelina Hartford Felker in January 2021 and Everett Augustus Felker in September 2022. Prior to the hiatus, Felker faced reports of appearing intoxicated during performances, but he later achieved sobriety while working on a ranch in Texas.