Biography
Sierra Hull, born in Byrdstown, Tennessee, began playing mandolin at age eight after receiving the instrument as a gift from her grandmother. Her father taught her initial tunes and chords, leading her to participate in weekly jams and regional contests by age ten. Recognized as a child prodigy, she released her first album Angel Mountain around that time and performed on the Grand Ole Opry stage at age eleven, invited by Alison Krauss. At twelve, she signed with Rounder Records, releasing Secrets which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums Chart, followed by three more albums showcasing her songwriting, instrumental, and vocal skills.[1][2][3]
Hull's career advanced rapidly as a teenager, performing at prestigious venues like the White House, Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall. In 2009, she became the first bluegrass musician to receive the Berklee College of Music Presidential Scholarship. Her style, rooted in traditional bluegrass, evolved into innovative newgrass and Americana, blending genres while maintaining virtuosic mandolin mastery. Albums like Weighted Mind (2016, produced by Béla Fleck) and 25 Trips (2020) earned Grammy nominations, and her independent release A Tip Toe High Wire (2025) continues to push boundaries.[1][2][3][4][6]
A six-time (now seven-time) IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year—the first and only woman to receive this honor—Hull has collaborated with icons and mentors younger musicians. Now based in Nashville, she is celebrated as a leader advancing bluegrass, drawing new audiences through her inventive sound and performances on iconic stages.[1][3][4]
Fun Facts
- First and only woman to win the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Mandolin Player of the Year award, achieving it six times (now seven).[1][3][4]
- First bluegrass musician to earn the Berklee College of Music Presidential Scholarship in 2009.[1][2]
- Released her latest album A Tip Toe High Wire independently in 2025 without a record label, featuring collaborators like Béla Fleck and Tim O’Brien.[1][6]
- Comes from a family deeply rooted in Appalachian Tennessee traditions, where music was a way of life rather than a path to performance fame.[6]
Associated Acts
- Béla Fleck & My Bluegrass Heart - mandolin, original (2021-07-28–present)
- The Chester Bees
- First Ladies of Bluegrass - mandolin
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Alison Krauss - Early mentor who invited her to Grand Ole Opry at age 11 and produced early work (Secrets album (2008)) [2000s]
- Béla Fleck - Producer and stylistic influence in innovative acoustic music (Weighted Mind (2016), A Tip Toe High Wire (2025)) [2010s-2020s]
Key Collaborators
- Alison Krauss - Harmony vocals and production (Weighted Mind, early Rounder albums) [2000s-2010s]
- Béla Fleck - Production and performances (Weighted Mind, A Tip Toe High Wire) [2010s-2020s]
- Dolly Parton - Collaboration and respect (Various performances) [Ongoing]
- Billy Strings - Frequent collaborator (Live performances) [Recent]
- Justin Moses - Frequent musical partner (Musician Spotlight events) [Recent]
- Tim O’Brien - Co-writer and collaborator on latest album (A Tip Toe High Wire) [2020s]
Artists Influenced
- Wyatt Ellis - Mentored as a ten-year-old through Tennessee Arts Commission program, jumpstarting his career (Traditional Arts Apprenticeship) [2020]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| A Tip Toe High Wire | 2025-03-07 | Album |
| Daybreak | 2011-01-01 | Album |
| 25 Trips | 2020-02-28 | Album |
| Weighted Mind | 2016-01-01 | Album |
| The Void | 2025-04-18 | Album |
| Secrets | 2008-05-06 | Album |
| Songs That Sing Me | 2025-09-05 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Crossroads
- Bombshell (Daybreak)
- Boom (A Tip Toe High Wire)
- Softly and Tenderly / Ashokan Farewell - Hidden Trace Version (Evensong (Deluxe / An Evening At Hidden Trace Farm))
- Going To California
- Muddy Water (A Tip Toe High Wire)
- Boom
- Come Out Of My Blues (feat. Tim O'Brien) (A Tip Toe High Wire)
- Come Out Of My Blues (feat. Tim O'Brien)
- Spitfire (A Tip Toe High Wire)
External Links
Tags: #bluegrass
References
Heard on WWOZ
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