Nickel Creek's Sara Watkins is venturing out on her own. The accomplished singer/songwriter/fiddle player has signed a deal with Nonesuch Records, recruiting some big names to help make her solo debut.

Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones will produce Watkins' self-titled album. Musical collaborators will include Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Tom Petty keyboardist Benmont Tench, Elvis Costello drummer Pete Thomas, and last but not least, Watkins' Nickel Creek bandmates Chris Thile and Sean Watkins.

Watkins met Jones at a folk festival in England, where she was touring with Nickel Creek. She says theirs is a mutual admiration.

"He came up after Nickel Creek's performance and said that if I didn't let him produce my record he would never talk to me again," she tells Billboard. "I was thrilled that he was that excited about it."

Watkins' album is due April 7. In the meantime, you can see her in the video, 'Reno' -- her duet with Alex Woodard.

 

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