Alison Krauss facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alison Krauss
Krauss at the 2007 MerleFest
Background information
Birth name	Alison Maria Krauss
Born	(1971-07-23) July 23, 1971 (age 54) Decatur, Illinois, U.S.
Origin	Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Bluegrass country pop
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Vocals fiddle piano mandolin
Years active	1984–present
Labels	Rounder Capitol

Alison Maria Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American singer, fiddler, and music producer. She is famous for her bluegrass and country music. Alison started in the music world very young. She competed in contests by age eight and made her first recording at 14.

She signed with Rounder Records in 1985. Her first solo album came out in 1987. Later, she joined the band Union Station. They released their first album together in 1989. She has been performing with them ever since.

Alison Krauss has released 14 albums. She has also appeared on many movie soundtracks. Her music has helped make bluegrass music popular again in the United States. Her work on soundtracks, like O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Cold Mountain, made her even more famous. She even performed at the Academy Awards in 2004. Her album Raising Sand (2007) with rock singer Robert Plant sold millions of copies.

By 2019, Alison had won 27 Grammy Awards from 42 nominations. This placed her among the top winners of all time. She was the female artist with the most Grammy awards until 2021. When she won her first Grammy in 1991, she was one of the youngest winners ever. In 2019, she received the National Medal of Arts. She was also welcomed into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2021.

Alison's Early Life and Musical Start

Alison Maria Krauss was born in Decatur, Illinois. Her parents are Fred and Louise Krauss. Her father, Fred, came to the U.S. from Germany. He taught German and later worked in real estate. Her mother, Louise, is an artist who illustrates magazines and textbooks.

The family moved to Champaign, where Alison grew up with her older brother, Viktor. Alison's mother played banjo and guitar. This meant Alison heard a lot of folk music at home. She also listened to rock and pop music on the radio.

Alison started learning classical violin at age five. She wasn't always excited to practice. But she continued lessons until she was eleven. Her mother wanted her to try many activities, including music, art, and sports. Alison also enjoyed roller skating. In her teenage years, she chose music over roller derby.

In 1979, Alison's mother saw a notice for a fiddle contest. She bought a bluegrass fiddle book and an album. Alison learned songs by ear, practicing with her mother. At eight years old, she entered the contest and placed fourth. After this, Alison explored bluegrass music more deeply. She became very good at learning and changing complex musical parts by ear.

By age 13, she won the Walnut Valley Festival Fiddle Championship. She was also named the "Most Promising Fiddler in the Midwest." People even called her a "virtuoso," meaning she was incredibly skilled. Alison met many of her future bandmates at these music festivals.

Alison's Music Career Journey

Starting Out: 1985–1991

Alison Krauss made her first recording in 1986. It was an independent album called Different Strokes. She worked with Swamp Weiss and Jim Hoiles, and her brother Viktor. At 12, she performed in a band called "Silver Rail." This band later changed its name to Union Station.

In 1986, she signed with Rounder Records. At 16, in 1987, she released her first solo album, Too Late to Cry. Union Station played as her backup band.

Her first group album with Union Station, Two Highways, came out in 1989. It featured traditional songs and a bluegrass version of "Midnight Rider."

Alison's contract meant she would release a solo album, then a group album. So, her next solo album, I've Got That Old Feeling, came out in 1990. This album was her first to appear on the Billboard charts. It also earned her first Grammy Award. The song "Steel Rails" was her first single tracked by Billboard. She even made a music video for the title song.

Growing Success: 1992–1999

Alison's second Union Station album, Every Time You Say Goodbye, was released in 1992. It won her a second Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album. In 1993, at age 21, she joined the Grand Ole Opry. She was the youngest member at that time. She was also the first bluegrass artist to join in 29 years.

In 1994, she worked with the Cox Family on a bluegrass album called I Know Who Holds Tomorrow. Dan Tyminski joined Union Station that year. Alison also sang with the band Shenandoah on their song "Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart." This song became a Top Ten country hit and won a Grammy. She also contributed to a benefit album called Red Hot + Country.

In 1995, a collection of her songs and covers, Now That I've Found You: A Collection, was released. It included covers like "Baby, Now That I've Found You" and the Beatles' "I Will." Her cover of "When You Say Nothing at All" became a big hit, reaching number three on the country chart. The album sold two million copies, becoming her first double-platinum album. Alison also won four Country Music Association Awards.

So Long So Wrong, another Union Station album, came out in 1997. It won the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album. This album had a unique sound that surprised many bluegrass fans. One song, "It Doesn't Matter," was even featured on the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Her solo album Forget About It was released in 1999. It included the song "Stay," which appeared on the adult contemporary chart. The album sold well and charted high on the country list. Another song from the album, "That Kind of Love," was also used in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Recent Career: 2000–Present

Jerry Douglas joined Union Station in 1998. Their next album, New Favorite, came out in 2001. It won the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album. The song "The Lucky One" also won a Grammy. This was followed by a live album and DVD in 2002 and 2003. Both were recorded at The Louisville Palace and sold millions of copies. In 2002, she also provided a singing voice for a character in the animated movie Eight Crazy Nights.

Lonely Runs Both Ways was released in 2004. It became another gold-certified album for Alison Krauss & Union Station. Alison also sang a duet with Brad Paisley on his song "Whiskey Lullaby." This song became a top hit and won awards for "Best Musical Event" and "Best Music Video."

Krauss in 2007

In 2007, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant released their album Raising Sand. This album sold millions and won five Grammy Awards. These included Album of the Year and Record of the Year for "Please Read the Letter." They also performed together on a TV special.

Alison returned with Union Station for the album Paper Airplane, released in 2011. This album was very successful, reaching number three on the Billboard 200 chart. It also topped the country and bluegrass album charts.

In 2014, Alison Krauss and Union Station toured with Willie Nelson and Family.

Capitol Records released Windy City in 2017. This was her first solo album in 17 years. It featured classic country and bluegrass songs. Alison received two Grammy nominations for this album.

In August 2021, Alison announced a new album with Robert Plant called Raise the Roof. It was released in November 2021. They then went on tour together.

In January 2025, it was announced that Union Station would release their first album since 2011. Arcadia was released on March 28, 2025. An extensive tour followed this release.

Other Musical Projects

Krauss on stage with Robert Plant at Birmingham, England's NIA on May 5, 2008

Alison Krauss has also appeared on many other artists' albums. She has sung lead and harmony vocals and played the fiddle. In 1997, she sang in both English and Irish on an album by the Irish band Altan.

In 2000, she had her only number one hit, singing on "Buy Me a Rose." She has contributed to many movie soundtracks. Her work on O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) is very famous. She and Dan Tyminski sang several songs, including "I'll Fly Away" and "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow." The soundtrack sold over seven million copies and won a Grammy for Album of the Year. This album helped bring bluegrass music back into the spotlight.

In 2007, Krauss released A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection. This album included new songs, soundtrack tunes, and duets with artists like James Taylor and Brad Paisley.

Alison has also performed on soundtracks for movies like Twister, The Prince of Egypt, and Cold Mountain. Two songs she sang for Cold Mountain, "The Scarlet Tide" and "You Will Be My Ain True Love", were nominated for Academy Awards. She performed both songs at the 2004 Academy Awards. She also produced albums for the band Nickel Creek, winning her first Grammy as a producer.

Alison Krauss is featured on Def Leppard's album Diamond Star Halos, released in March 2022. She also sang with High Valley on their 2023 song "Do This Life." Alison is featured on the song "Thankful" on Ringo Starr's 2025 album Look Up.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Krauss with her band Union Station

Alison Krauss has won 27 Grammy Awards. These awards are for her solo work, her work with Union Station, her duets with Robert Plant, and her work as a producer. As of 2025, she is among the top five artists with the most Grammy Awards. In 2004, she surpassed Aretha Franklin for the most female Grammy wins. The Recording Academy, which gives out the Grammys, honored her in 2005 for her musical achievements.

She has also won many other awards. These include 14 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards. She also has 9 Country Music Association Awards and 2 Gospel Music Association Awards. In 2002, Country Music Television ranked her 12th on their list of "40 Greatest Women of Country Music."

At the 76th Academy Awards in 2004, Alison wore special shoes. A famous designer chose her to wear $2 million 'Cinderella' sandals. These shoes had diamonds set in platinum. She also received a smartphone covered in crystals. The designer chose Alison because his daughters were fans of her music.

Honorary Alison Krauss Way in Champaign, Illinois

In May 2012, Alison Krauss received an honorary doctorate degree in music. This was from Berklee College of Music.

In March 2015, her hometown of Champaign, Illinois, honored her. They named a street "Honorary Alison Krauss Way."

On April 13, 2024, Alison Krauss received the Order of Lincoln. This is the highest civilian honor in Illinois.

Alison's Family Life

Alison Krauss was married to musician Pat Bergeson. They were married from 1997 to 2001. They have one child, who was born in 1999.

Alison Krauss: Albums and Movies

Studio Albums

• 1986: Different Strokes (with Jim Hoiles and Swamp Weiss)
• 1987: Too Late to Cry
• 1989: Two Highways (with Union Station)
• 1990: I've Got That Old Feeling
• 1992: Every Time You Say Goodbye (with Union Station)
• 1994: I Know Who Holds Tomorrow (with the Cox Family)
• 1997: So Long So Wrong (with Union Station)
• 1999: Forget About It
• 2001: New Favorite (with Union Station)
• 2004: Lonely Runs Both Ways (with Union Station)
• 2007: Raising Sand (with Robert Plant)
• 2011: Paper Airplane (with Union Station)
• 2017: Windy City
• 2021: Raise the Roof (with Robert Plant)
• 2025: Arcadia (with Union Station)

Film and TV Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Alison Krauss para niños