6 Facts About Alison Krauss’ Life & Career

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Learn Some Fun Facts About The Legendary Alison Krauss

Fred and Louise Krauss welcomed their daughter, Alison on July 23, 1971. From childhood, Alison Krauss proved to have serious musical talent, and became a worldwide star before she ever turned 18.

The influence Krauss has had on country and bluegrass music is too immense to measure.

With an angelic voice and superb instrumental skills, Krauss continues to captivate all who listen to her perform.But as beloved as she is, there’s a few facts about her that we’re sure you never knew before! Learn all about them by heading down below.

Fact #1 – She Started Playing Violin At Age 5

Krauss is now known as one of the best fiddle players in music history. She got started playing at only five years of age, but originally studied classical violin.

She eventually made the switch to bluegrass style, and it stuck. Her musical career continued to gain steam throughout her childhood, and she began playing in local talent contests at age eight. She made her recording debut at age 14 on the independent album Different Strokes, and released her debut record Too Late to Cry when she was 16.

Fact #2 – Alison Krauss Met All Her Union Station Bandmates At Festivals

In addition to her solo records, Krauss is known for her work with her band, Union Station. The entire group has recorded seven albums together, with the most recent being 2011’s Paper Airplane.

Krauss met all of her Union Station band members early in her career, and met them all at festivals hosted by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass in America.

She met singer and instrumentalist Dan Tyminski at one of these festivals when they were both young teens. He has been a fixture of Union Station ever since, and is known for providing vocals on “Man of Constant Sorrow” from the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Fact #3 – She Was Once The Youngest Opry Member

Since Krauss got an early start with her career, she made a major impact on bluegrass and country music at a young age. She was only 21 years old when she was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry in 1993.

Krauss was the youngest member among the ranks of the Opry’s talented cast at the time. She also became the first bluegrass artist in 29 years to be offered membership.

Fact #4 – Alison Krauss Has An Honorary Doctorate

In 2012, the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, awarded Krauss an Honorary Doctorate of Music.

Krauss was awarded her honorary degree along with rock band The Eagles and Ethiopian musician Mulatu Astatke. Berklee explained the reason for selecting Krauss and the others for the honor, writing:

 “This year’s honorary doctorate recipients are being recognized for their achievements and influence in music, and for their enduring contributions to American and international culture.”

Fact #5 – She Received A Dysphonia Diagnosis

Prior to her 2017 album Windy City, Krauss hadn’t released a new album since 2011’s Paper Airplane with Union Station. She also had been fairly absent from the spotlight since her tour with Willie Nelson and Family in 2014.

Fans started to worry about Krauss’ absence, and she finally explained the reason for it during an interview with USA Today. Krauss had been diagnosed with dysphonia, a condition that causes the vocal cords to spasm and, therefore, interferes with speech and voice quality.

“In the studio my throat would close up,” Krauss said. 

Krauss recovered her voice through sessions with a vocal teacher and finished recording Windy City for her fans.

Fact #6 – Alison Krauss Only Has One #1 Hit

This may be the most surprising fact on this list! Despite her respected status among critics and fans, Krauss has only earned a single number-one hit.

Granted, she has seen many of her singles claim significant spots on the charts. However, her only chart-topper was 2000’s “Buy Me a Rose,” on which she was a featured artist alongside Kenny Rogers and Billy Dean.

No one else can compare to Krauss and her talent.