Artist Spotlight - Sierra Ferrell

Sierra Ferrell’s Trail of Flowers launched her into the stratosphere with Artist of the Year and Album of the Year wins at this year’s Americana Music Honors & Awards ceremony. We recently spoke with the newly minuted star about being discovered singing in her hometown.

“Todd Snider found me busking on the streets in Charleston, West Virginia when he was playing Mountain Stage,” Ferrell says. “He loved my music and was like, ‘We’re gonna go to Nashville, you’re gonna record a record.’ I thought, Yeah, right. You know how people always talk.” 

Alt. Country Specialty Chart: Explain how you reconnected with Todd.

Sierra Ferrell: He hit me up after about a year had gone by and said, “Hey, come to Nashville. We’re gonna record you.” “Cool.” I had a dog but didn’t have a car, so I hitchhiked here to Nashville. I showed up and we ended up recording with Eric McConnell. Todd’s an early riser, so we showed up at Eric’s probably around seven in the morning. Eric was like, “Who is this girl?” Then he heard me play and was super down.  

Were you familiar with Todd’s music when he discovered you? 

No, I got into Todd’s music after I saw him play. I didn’t know him when he found me in West Virginia. He’s phenomenal. Honestly, I went to his gig for the first time and was like, “Oh, here we go.” There were all these seats. I wanted to dance, but you had to sit down. I didn’t know what to expect, but he started playing and I loved how he can use his anxiety and nervousness to his advantage. He’s amazing and hilarious. He’s a genius.

And a great storyteller. 

His stories always take you somewhere else. You’re really there with him. He’s very captivating. Of course, everybody loves “Beer Run.” Who doesn’t love beer? I love that story about how he met up with that guy (Kent Blazy) who co-wrote the other beer run song (the Garth Brooks and George Jones tune ‘Beer Run (B-Double E-Double Are You In?).’ “Yo, that’s my song.”

He turned that story into the song ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes.’

Yeah. Todd has taught me that you can write a song about anything as long as the delivery is right. You’re onto something if you can make people believe you. It’s hard to hear someone today and believe what they’re saying. I create characters in my songs and write from their point of view. Todd helped me explore that more instead of just writing from my own experience. Todd is phenomenal. He absolutely created the East Nashville community.

– Brian T. Atkinson