Over the past twenty-five years, bluegrass and country music vocalist Alison Krauss has established herself as a household name in the music scene. Particularly impressive about Krauss' talent is its versatility; she is able to write or co-write her own songs, play fiddle, as well as sing with her angelic voice.
Alison Krauss: Most Awarded Female Artist in Grammy Award History
With a record-breaking twenty-six Grammy awards under her belt, bluegrass singer Alison Krauss holds the record for most wins by a female artist in Grammy history. Although her songs are not played regularly on country radio, two of her recordings have managed to peak at #3 on the Billboard Country Charts, including her rendition of Keith Whitley's "When You Say Nothing At All," as well as her duet with country singer Brad Paisley for their haunting "Whiskey Lullaby."
Thanks to the critical success of "When You Say Nothing At All," Alison Krauss managed to win all four categories she was nominated for in the 1995 Country Music Association (CMA) awards, including "Female Vocalist of the Year," "Horizon Award" and "Single of the Year."
At the 2002 Grammy Awards, Krauss' album "New Favorite" won the "Best Bluegrass Album" Grammy besting out Patty Loveless' equally compelling record "Mountain Soul," and her soothing single "The Lucky One" garnered a "Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group" Grammy for her and her band; moreover, her work on the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack, along with fellow bluegrass artists Ralph Stanley, Dan Tyminski, as well as Emmylou Harris and Gillian Welch, helped it win the coveted Grammy for "Album of the Year."
In 2009, for her collaborative effort with Led Zeppelin front-man Robert Plant on their album "Rising Sand," Alison Krauss received five Grammy nominations, including "Album of the Year" and "Record of the Year," and both vocalists managed to sweep all of the categories they were nominated for. Krauss and Plant's pop collaboration "Rich Woman," bested out Madonna and Justin Timberlake's "4 Minutes" duet for the Grammy win.
Alison Krauss Lends Harmony Vocals on Multiple Artists' Hit Singles
Similar to country music sensation Emmylou Harris, Krauss is one of the most sought-after musicians due to her mellifluous harmony vocals. Krauss' voice may be heard in the background vocals of Kenny Rogers' hit "Buy Me A Rose," which topped the country charts in 2000, Gillian Welch's "I'll Fly Away," Vince Gill's "The Reason Why," as well as on Shania Twain's rendition of "Coat of Many Colors," in Dolly Parton's tribute CD entitled "Just Because I'm a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton."
Thanks to Krauss' harmony and backing vocals, several of these aforementioned tunes received Grammy nominations including "Coat of Many Colors," and Vince Gill was awarded the Grammy for "Best Male Country Vocal Performance" for "The Reason Why."
In addition, Krauss' collaboration with Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris on "Didn't Leave Nobody But the Baby," from the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack was nominated for the "Best Country Collaboration with Vocals" Grammy in 2002. This aforementioned soundtrack also consisted of a mesmerizing rendition of the classic "Down in the River to Play" by Alison Krauss.
In addition to the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack, the following year, Krauss collaborated with pop vocalist Sting on yet another soundtrack, this time for the motion picture Cold Mountain, and they co-wrote the song "You Will Be My Ain True Love." This tune received a Grammy nomination for "Best Female Country Vocal Performance" for Krauss, as well as an Oscar nomination for "Best Original Song" and Krauss performed it live on the 76th Annual Academy Academy Awards that were held in 2003.
Although she is mostly praised for her sweet voice, Krauss is able to hit the high notes, showcasing her soprano range, on such tunes as "Ghost in This House," "Oh, Atlanta" and "A Living Prayer."
Country Music Television Honors Alison Krauss
For all her accomplishments in the music industry, in 2002, in its "40 Greatest Women of Country" episode, Country Music Television (CMT) honored Krauss as the twelfth most influential woman in country music history. This list included an elite group of veteran female country vocalists such as Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Emmylou Harris, Reba McEntire, Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn.
The Verdict
Alison Krauss is a musician who proves that she does not need to have chart-topping songs nor substantial radio airplay to leave an indelible mark in the bluegrass and country music industry. Instead, she lets her exceptional fiddle playing, mellifluous voice, soothing harmony vocals and raw talent, do all the talking. In the end, Krauss manages to win the hearts of Grammy voters over, which is why she is the most awarded woman in Grammy award history.
Markos Papadatos - Markos Papadatos holds over six years journalism experience, authoring over 700 articles, many of which are feature profile interviews.
Join the Conversation