Allison Russell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Allison Russell
Russell in 2021
Background information
Born	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genres	Americana folk
Instruments	Vocals guitar banjo clarinet
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Fantasy

Allison Russell is a talented Canadian singer, songwriter, and musician. She is also known for her work as an activist, using her voice to support important causes.

Before starting her solo music career, Allison Russell was part of several music groups. These included Po' Girl, Birds of Chicago, and Our Native Daughters. In 2021, she released her first solo album, Outside Child. This album was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2022 for Best Americana Album. Her song "Nightflyer" also received two Grammy nominations.

Her second album, The Returner, came out in September 2023. This album earned four Grammy Award nominations. It even won a Grammy for Best American Roots Performance for the song "Eve Was Black". Overall, Allison Russell has received eight Grammy nominations and won one. She has also won four Canadian Folk Music Awards and two Juno Awards.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Allison Russell was born in Montreal, Canada. She had a challenging childhood and faced many difficulties. At age 15, she left home and later moved to Vancouver in 1998. She attended Dawson College.

Russell's musical journey began with the Celtic folk band Fear of Drinking in Vancouver.

Music Career Highlights

Forming Po' Girl

Russell performing with Po' Girl in 2009

In 2003, Allison Russell co-founded the band Po' Girl with Trish Klein. They released seven albums together, including their first album, Po' Girl (2003). Their other albums included Vagabond Lullabies (2004) and Follow Your Bliss (2010).

Birds of Chicago and Our Native Daughters

The next year, Russell started the group Birds of Chicago with JT Nero. They released three studio albums, such as Birds of Chicago (2012) and Love in Wartime (2018). They also released a live album and an EP.

In 2018, Russell joined a musical group called Our Native Daughters. This group included other talented musicians like Rhiannon Giddens, Leyla McCalla, and Amythyst Kiah. In 2019, they released the album Songs of Our Native Daughters. They were also featured in a Smithsonian Channel documentary.

Solo Success with Outside Child

Russell in 2020

In early 2021, Allison Russell released cover songs of "By Your Side" by Sade and "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac. She also covered "Everything I Wanted" by Billie Eilish.

In March 2021, she released "Nightflyer" as the first song from her solo album Outside Child. Other songs like "Persephone," "Montreal," and "The Runner" followed.

Her first solo album, Outside Child, was released on May 21, 2021. The album shares her experiences from her youth and her journey of healing. For this album, Russell received many awards and nominations. She was nominated for four Canadian Folk Music Awards and for Emerging Act of the Year at the 2021 Americana Honors & Awards.

Russell performed her song "Nightflyer" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! with guests Brandi Carlile and Brittney Spencer. She also made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry and performed at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Returner and Recent Work

In November 2021, Russell received three Grammy nominations for her work. In August 2022, she and Brandi Carlile released a new version of "You're Not Alone."

In March 2023, Russell organized a special benefit concert called Love Rising in Nashville. This event was held in response to certain laws in Tennessee.

Her second solo album, The Returner, was released on September 8, 2023. It received four Grammy nominations. The album was also a finalist for the 2024 Polaris Music Prize.

In July 2024, Allison Russell provided the voice of Teddi Barra in the Country Bear Musical Jamboree at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. In September 2024, it was announced that she would perform the role of Persephone in the Broadway musical Hadestown, starting November 12, 2024.

On July 16, 2025, Russell performed Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" with the Kronos Quartet at The University of Chicago. This performance was part of an event for preventing nuclear war.

Personal Life

In 2013, Allison Russell married her Birds of Chicago bandmate, Jeremy Lindsay, also known as JT Nero. They had a daughter named Ida in 2014. Russell believes that "empathy is a superpower and that diversity is not a dirty word." She also believes that "Our differences are riches...Our rainbow coalition is unstoppable."

Band Members

• Allison Russell - vocals, guitar, banjo, clarinet
• Elenna Canlas - musical director, keyboards, melodica, backing vocals
• Ganessa James - bass, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
• Yissy Garcia - drums, percussion, backing vocals
• Joy Clark - acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals
• Caoimhe Hopkinson - acoustic and electric guitars, bass, backing vocals
• Caoi de Barra - drums, percussion, backing vocals

Previous band members:

• Larissa Maestro - cello, backing vocals
• SistaStrings (Monique and Chauntee Ross) - cello and violin, backing vocals
• Mandy Fer - electric guitar, backing vocals
• Megan Coleman/Elizabeth Goodfellow - drums

Discography

Studio Albums

Solo Albums

Tim Readman & Fear Of Drinking

Po' Girl

Sankofa

Birds of Chicago

Our Native Daughters

Singles

As Lead Artist

As Featured Artist

Theme Parks Attractions

Awards and Nominations