50 Fun Facts About Alison Krauss

At her mother's insistence, Krauss began lessons at five in which style of music?

Classical violin came first, but she soon tired of its regimented practice, and a fiddle contest her mother heard about turned her towards bluegrass instead.

What was John Pennell's band called when Krauss joined it at 12, before it became Union Station?

Silver Rail hired her as a fiddler, changed its name because another band already used it, and by its first album in 1989 she was the one leading it.

Krauss was born in Decatur and raised in Champaign, both in which state?

Illinois gave her folk records at home, where her mother played guitar; bluegrass came later, through the fiddle contests she entered as a girl.

Krauss's 2007 collaboration with Robert Plant, which won Album of the Year, was titled what?

Raising Sand grew out of a 2004 Lead Belly tribute concert where the pair first sang together; Krauss recalls that the first thing Plant wanted to talk about was bluegrass singer Ralph Stanley.

Krauss held the record for most Grammys won by a woman until which star passed her 27 in 2021?

Beyoncé took her 28th that night. Four years earlier Krauss had said she would be honoured to hand over the crown, calling her 'much more deserving than I could ever be'.

Krauss sang on the hit soundtrack of which film by Joel and Ethan Coen?

O Brother, Where Art Thou? won the Album of the Year Grammy in 2002, and its success put Krauss and the soundtrack's other roots musicians on the road together for a multi-artist tour.

Whose vocals on 'I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow' were used for George Clooney's character on screen?

Dan Tyminski first sang it as a guide for the actor, but producer T Bone Burnett said there was too little time to get Clooney up to speed, so the guide vocal stayed.

Krauss signed with which independent label at age 14?

Rounder Records co-founder Ken Irwin first heard her as the fiddler and harmony singer on a local band's demo tape, then signed her as a solo artist.

What was the title of Krauss's 1987 debut solo album, released when she was 16?

Too Late to Cry was recorded in Nashville, where her label had taken the teenager to meet pickers she knew only from album sleeves; one of them, mandolinist Sam Bush, played on it.

In 1993 Krauss, then 21, became the youngest cast member of which long-running show?

Grand Ole Opry membership made her its first bluegrass inductee in 29 years, and she recalls the staff band seeking out her teenage group backstage to say they were rooting for them.

Krauss's cover of which Keith Whitley song reached No. 3 on the country chart in 1995?

'When You Say Nothing at All' was cut for a Keith Whitley tribute album; radio stations picked it up unprompted, and a baffled Krauss called its success 'a freak thing'.

Krauss topped the country singles chart in 2000 as a guest on 'Buy Me a Rose', a hit for which veteran?

Kenny Rogers had started his own label, Dreamcatcher, after his run of hits faded; this ballad repaid the gamble, returning him to number one for the first time since 1987.

Krauss's duet 'Whiskey Lullaby' was recorded with which country star?

Brad Paisley cut it for Mud on the Tires. Co-writer Bill Anderson had arrived with one image, a love put out 'like the burnin' end of a midnight cigarette', and it became the opening line.

Krauss sang two Oscar-nominated songs from which 2003 film at the Academy Awards?

Cold Mountain supplied two of the five nominated songs and Krauss sang both on the night, but the Oscar went to 'Into the West' from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

At the 2004 Oscars Krauss wore a pair of $2 million 'Cinderella' sandals by which designer?

Stuart Weitzman picked her at the urging of his daughters, who were fans; Krauss protested, 'I have the worst feet of anybody who will be there that night!'

Which renowned Dobro player joined Union Station in 1998, having played on Krauss's records since 1987?

Jerry Douglas was only asked to cover some dates while the band decided whether to carry on after its mandolinist left. About two weeks in, they asked him to stay.

Krauss produced two albums for which young acoustic trio, the second of which won a Grammy?

Nickel Creek had known Krauss since they were children; she watched them open for Tony Rice at the Ryman, and when they got a record deal she was asked to produce.

Which Krauss and Union Station album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 in 2011?

Paper Airplane sold about 83,000 copies that week and topped the country chart. Told that was four times what a hit bluegrass album sells in total, Krauss snapped, 'That's a shame!'

Which Nashville veteran produced Windy City, Krauss's 2017 solo album of country classics?

Buddy Cannon had to wait: Krauss lost her voice to dysphonia mid-sessions and often sent the musicians home, until lessons with a vocal coach got the album moving again.

Union Station's 2025 album, their first since 2011, is titled what?

Arcadia introduced a new voice beside hers: Russell Moore, longtime singer of the bluegrass band IIIrd Tyme Out, joined as co-lead vocalist in place of a longtime member.

Krauss recorded 'I'll Fly Away' for a 2000 film soundtrack as a duet with which singer?

Gillian Welch and Krauss are on the hit album, yet the film itself plays a 1956 recording of the hymn by the Kossoy Sisters.

At 13, Krauss won the fiddle championship at which long-running acoustic music festival?

Walnut Valley Festival's 1984 title capped years on the circuit: her parents drove her to as many as three contests a weekend, and she called herself 'a real contest queen'.

Which sport did Krauss take up as a girl, before choosing music over it in her teens?

Roller skating came with a rock soundtrack: she has recalled skating to Foreigner's radio hits at a friend's house, and in her teens she picked music over roller derby.

A house in Urbana once owned by Krauss's father appears on the debut album cover of which emo band?

American Football's cover made a student rental famous: Fred Krauss had bought it in 1980, and by the time the album came out in 1999 it belonged to her brother Viktor.

Krauss's bass-playing brother Viktor went on to join the band of which Texas singer-songwriter?

Lyle Lovett's band came after early spells at his sister's side: Viktor played bass at the audition that got her into a bluegrass band at 12, and later filled in with Union Station.

Which TV series used Krauss's songs 'It Doesn't Matter' and 'That Kind of Love'?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer played 'It Doesn't Matter' just after Buffy coldly sent Angel away in its second-season opener, and came back for a second Krauss ballad four seasons later.

Krauss's cover of 'Baby, Now That I've Found You' was used in which hit Australian comedy?

The Castle borrowed a cover that had changed her career: she turned the Foundations' swaggering 1967 soul hit into a delicate ballad, and it gave its name to the 1995 compilation that made her widely known.

Krauss sang on 'If I Could', a 1994 track by which jam band?

Phish later got her on stage too: when their 1994 tour reached the Nashville area, Krauss came out to sing her part live, at the soundcheck as well as the show.

Which 1994 single did Krauss record with the band Shenandoah?

'Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart' gave Krauss her first country top-ten hit: a one-song guest spot that carried a bluegrass singer onto mainstream country radio and won both acts a Grammy.

Krauss's 2007 duet 'Missing You' revived a 1984 hit with which original singer?

John Waite was re-recording his old hits and thought another solo take on this one pointless, so he phoned his favourite female singer; Krauss, a fan for years, said yes.

Krauss guested on a 2010 concert DVD by which rock band led by two sisters?

Heart handed her the lead vocal on 'These Dreams', their 1986 chart-topper, and then turned backing band while she sang 'Your Long Journey'.

Krauss sang on 'This Guitar' and 'Lifeless' from which band's 2022 album Diamond Star Halos?

Def Leppard sent her two songs so she could choose one. She told singer Joe Elliott she could not pick, so she sang on both and added three-part harmonies of her own.

Krauss received which honour from the US government in November 2019?

National Medal of Arts citations give a reason: hers praised her for blending bluegrass, folk, gospel and country into a unique style. Actor Jon Voight was honoured at the same ceremony.

Krauss overtook which singer for the most Grammy wins by a woman, at the 2004 ceremony?

Aretha Franklin won that night too, her first Grammy since 1988 and her 16th, but three wins took Krauss to 17. 'I've always loved her voice,' Krauss said.

Which country legend does Krauss cite as a major influence and frequent collaborator?

Dolly Parton left her starstruck when Krauss sang on her live album Heartsongs: 'I kept forgetting when to come in, I was watching her in a trance.'

Krauss's voice is classified as which type?

Soprano, and a famously gentle one, yet she says she loves 'hard singing': her favourite vocalists are rock belters Lou Gramm of Foreigner and Paul Rodgers of Bad Company.

Krauss's 2002 live album and DVD with Union Station were recorded at which venue?

The Louisville Palace shows became a double-platinum album, and two Grammys for that recording in 2004 helped make her the most-awarded woman in the awards' history.

Krauss received her home state's highest civilian honour in 2024, an order named after which president?

Abraham Lincoln gives his name to the Order of Lincoln, created in 1964 for people who bring honour to the state by birth or residence; Lincoln himself qualified only by residence, having been born in another state.

Krauss and Union Station co-headlined a 2014 tour with which country icon?

Willie Nelson's co-headliner had been put on vocal rest the autumn before: Krauss was diagnosed with dysphonia, a voice disorder, in 2013 and cancelled shows, but it did not hamper this tour.

Krauss sang 'You Will Be My Ain True Love' at the 2004 Oscars with which artist?

Sting wrote the ballad for a film soundtrack but gave the lead to Krauss, who is the singer billed on the album; he liked the song enough to re-record it himself in 2010.

Krauss's 2021 second album with Robert Plant was titled what?

Raise the Roof took 14 years to follow their first album: the pair went back into the studio with producer T Bone Burnett soon after it, but that attempt was scrapped.

Krauss's father Fred emigrated to the United States in 1952 from which country?

Germany stayed in the family story: Fred Krauss taught German, and one of his high-school students, John Pennell, later hired his 12-year-old daughter for a bluegrass band.

Krauss sings on 'Thankful' from which music legend's 2025 album Look Up?

Ringo Starr made the country album with T Bone Burnett, who produced her two records with Robert Plant and brought her in for the closing track, a song Starr co-wrote.

Which star did Krauss join on stage for an acoustic performance at the 2013 CMA Awards?

Taylor Swift stripped her hit 'Red' down to a string-band arrangement for the night, with Krauss on fiddle and harmony, Vince Gill on guitar and Sam Bush on mandolin.

In May 2012, Krauss received an honorary doctorate from which Boston institution?

Berklee College of Music honoured her alongside the Eagles, and on commencement eve its students performed the honorees' own music back to them.

Krauss provided a character's singing voice in which 2002 animated comedy?

Eight Crazy Nights gives her its wistful number: in 'Long Ago' she sings as Jennifer, remembering Adam Sandler's bitter hero as the nice boy he once was.

Why did Krauss pass on an on-screen part in the 2000 Coen brothers movie she sang for?

She was pregnant during filming, nine months along by her own account, and when the makers offered to put her on screen that way she told them, 'I'll pass.'

What stretched the recording of Krauss and Union Station's 2011 comeback album across two years?

Krauss's non-stop migraines brought sessions to a dead stop. Engineer Mike Shipley, who had not engineered an album in ten years, recalled the band doubting him to his face on day one.

Krauss and Robert Plant won a Grammy for 'Gone Gone Gone', a 1964 hit for which brother duo?

The Everly Brothers' song called for close two-part harmony, and the Led Zeppelin singer had to work at it: Plant said he was 'on my back foot', listening to where Krauss 'would stop and where she would breathe'.

Which synth-pop hit did Krauss love on the radio as a child?

'Cars' by Gary Numan was Top 40 radio fare she loved as a girl, alongside AC/DC, ELO and Lynyrd Skynyrd: the future bluegrass star grew up on rock radio.