"That's All I Can Say", a song from Sierra's debut recording, Secrets, landed at #1 this month on Sirius/XM's - Bluegrass Junction as the most played track, making Sierra the youngest person to ever reach the top spot! Congratulations to Sierra and many thanks to Marshall Wilburn for writing such a great bluegrass song!

Sierra was featured on the cover of the recent issue of Mandolin Magazine!

To find out more about this magazine, or to order a copy of this issue, please visit: www.mandolinmagazine.com

"Pickin' Up A Storm"
by Randy Rudder

One evening last October, 17-year-old bluegrass performer Sierra Hull walked into the Highland 10 Cinema in Cookeville, Tenn., to see Billy: The Early Years, a film based on the life of the Rev. Billy Graham.

"I couldn't find anybody to go with, so I just went by myself," she recalls with a shrug.

None of her fellow moviegoers that evening, she's pretty sure, recognized her up on the screen portraying young Billy's sister. And they had no way to connect one of the singing voices on the soundtrack to the young woman sitting in the back of the theater, quietly munching her popcorn.

When the movie was over, Sierra drove the 35 miles back to her hometown of Byrdstown (pop. 903) and went to bed.

It was just another day in the double life of Sierra Hull, juggling the responsibilities of a small-town high school senior while exploring her expanding horizons as one of the hottest young artists in bluegrass music.

Although Hull's 2008 debut CD, Secrets, brought a lot of mainstream attention her way, she's actually been wowing bluegrass audiences for years as a mandolin-picking, singing, songwriting prodigy. She's appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and at Carnegie Hall, toured with Alison Krauss, performed on A Prairie Home Companion and won the admiration and support of many top bluegrass artists.

Every year since 2002, the city of Byrdstown has sponsored an annual music event, the Sierra Hull Bluegrass Festival, in honor of its most famous citizen. This year's festival is scheduled for Sept. 12.

The producers of the Billy Graham movie selected Sierra to not only act in a small part, but also to sing the hymn "Just As I Am" on the soundtrack.

Sierra enjoyed making the movie, but didn't particularly like having to set aside her mandolin for several days to focus wholly on filmmaking.

"The last day we shot, I made my mom drive home so I could sit in the back and play," she says. "I missed it so much."

Mom Brenda, a nurse, and dad Stacy, a fiber-optic technician, recognized early that Sierra had extraordinary talent, but they always taught her to be humble about it. "My parents always told me that just because I can play an instrument and sing doesn't mean I'm any different than anybody else," she says.

Sierra first became interested in music as a toddler, strumming her father's big guitar when he'd leave it around the house. Later, music lessons refined her natural gifts.

By the time she was 11, she was picking up a storm and winning national mandolin competitions.

"When I first met Sierra she was a little girl, very young," says bluegrass superstar Ricky Skaggs. "But I could tell by her playing that she had the talent if she would keep going, and she certainly has. She has matured as a player, as a beautiful young woman, and a great Christian example for other young girls. I'm so proud of her."

"Sierra is a remarkably talented, beautiful human being," says Krauss. "I adore her."

In the early days, Brenda used to chauffeur Sierra to shows. But the apron strings are loosening now that Sierra can drive, and she's got her eyes on the highway as she looks ahead to graduating from Pickett County High School this spring. ," We're talking about getting a van" she says, "and hitting it pretty hard."

Whatever the road ahead holds for the budding bluegrass star, rest assured that music will always be a part of it.

"Nothing makes her happier than playing," Brenda says. "I just don't think she could ever be content doing anything else."

Find out why there's so much excitement about Sierra Hull. Her acclaimed new CD, Secrets, can be ordered by calling (800) 715-6248 or by visiting www.AmericanProfile.com/store. Price for American Profile readers is $17.98 plus s&h. Please use order code HULL-A915.

-- 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards --

The Gospel Music Association on Friday (2/20) announced the nominations for their forthcoming awards show. Sierra is among the finalists for the 40th Annual Dove Awards nominations as part of the official "Billy:The Early Years" movie soundtrack. The soundtrack received a nomination in the - Special Event Album - category. Among the other album nominees for this award are:

Special Event Album (album; artist; producer; label)
---------------------------------------------
Billy: The Early Years Official Motion Picture Soundtrack;

Brooks & Dunn, Mac Powell, Sara Evans, Alan Jackson, China Edelman, Patty Griffin, Brandon Heath, Gregory Page, Michael W. Smith, Melinda Doolittle, Roy Orbison, Brad Paisley, Josh Turner, Sierra Hull, John Cowan, Harry Stinson, Ronnie Bowman, Ronnie McCoury, John Wesley Ryles; Anastasia Brown; Arista Nashville, Essential Records
-----------
Country Bluegrass Homecoming Volume One;

Gaither Vocal Band, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, The Grascals, Buddy Greene, The Isaacs, Gordon Mote, Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, The Booth Brothers, George Jones, Wesley Pritchard, Reggie & Ladye Love Smith, Brittany Allen, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Charlotte Ritchie, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Jimmy Fortune, Dailey & Vincent, Jason Crabb, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Cherryholmes, Lisa Daggs-Charette, Vince Gill, Sonya Isaacs, Becky Isaacs Bowman; Bill Gaither; Gaither Music Group
------------
How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites from the Grand Ole Opry;

The Charlie Daniels Band, Mac Powell, Alan Jackson, Patty Loveless, Ronnie Milsap, Ricky Skaggs & The Whites, Sara Evans, Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, Loretta Lynn, Vince Gill, Dierks Bentley, Carrie Underwood; Steve Gibson; Sony BMG Nashville
------------
Passion: God of This City;

Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall, David Crowder*Band, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, Fee, Matt Redman; Nathan Nockels; Sparrow Records, sixsteps Records
------------
Your Name;

Joel Auge, Leeland Mooring, Paul Baloche, Aaron Shust, Phil Wickham, Josh Reedy, Ayiesha Woods, Ian Eskelin, Mark Stuart, Vicky Beeching, Jared Anderson, Christy Johnson, Sean Loche, Aaron Boyd, Jason Roy, Wes Willis, Lincoln Brewster, Adam Agee; Ian Eskelin; Integrity Music
---------------------------------------------

The recipients will be announced at the televised show on April 23 in Nashville, Tennessee at the legendary Grand Ole Opry House.

A complete list of nominees and more information about the GMA and the Dove Awards is available online at: www.doveawards.com

"Pretend", a song written by Sierra from 'Secrets', was featured in USA Today's "Pick of the Week" list!

For more visit:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2009-02-09-pick-of-the-week-springsteen_N.htm?POE=click-refer

Music Review: Sierra Hull - Secrets
Written by John Taylor
Published December 19, 2008


The music industry is constantly on the lookout for the next youthful prodigy, the fresh face that offers a tired genre new hope. And while bluegrass is unlikely to usurp rap and pop music as the nation’s preferred form of aural escapism, Sierra Hull – all of sixteen upon the release of her debut disc – may well represent a beacon of brightness for an otherwise marginal musical form.

Sierra plays mandolin, an instrument rarely heard outside the idiom, and does so with an uncanny facility and a musical intelligence seemingly far beyond her tender years. And she sings – forgive the cliché – with the voice of an angel.

Judging by the high-profile help she’s surrounded with here, she’s also as sweetly likable as she appears on the disc’s cover. How else to explain the presence of a veritable who’s who of acoustic instrumentation, including the likes of Ron Block and Dan Tyminski (both from Alison Krauss’ band) and living legends Jerry Douglas, Rob Ickes, and Tony Rice. These esteemed gentlemen are the cream of the crop, yet they appear here as equals, content to provide accompaniment in support of Sierra’s surprisingly mature musical vision.

So Sierra adheres to bluegrass tradition in terms of instrumentation – guitars, fiddles, banjo, bass, and mandolin – drummers need not apply, thanks. But while there’s a timeless quality to her music that recognizes and respects the genre’s past, she approaches each tune with a delightful sense of discovery. And the effect is contagious - Sierra’s invigorating approach, the obvious joy she finds in making music in such rarefied company, is literally (cliché alert, but there’s simply no better way to describe it) like a breath of fresh air.

She’s also both an accomplished writer, judging by her credits on several tunes here, and a fiercely talented picker, as she so ably demonstrates on her own “Hullarious” (note the pun), where she tears off some downright dazzling leads on mandolin and guitar. Her voice is reminiscent of a young Ms. Krauss (a big fan, she helped bring this project to fruition), and having either Block or Tyminski adding harmony vocals simply adds to the heavenly quality.

Many young artists insist on tearing down barriers, in effect eliminating the old to make room for the new. But bluegrass, like blues, is arguably a near-perfect genre, it’s parameters providing more than enough space for both improvisation and innovation. Sierra Hull, still in her infancy as a performing artist, seems content to work within tradition, investing the music with the sheer sparkle of her personality – while playing is uniformly excellent as expected from such a cast, there’s a palpable and irresistible feeling of joyous wonder and delight permeating Secrets, a feeling that everyone involved was inspired anew.

The world is full of talented up-and-comers, but Sierra Hull is something special … I can’t remember the last time I’ve encountered a young artist of such accomplishment, yet shining with such enormous promise. Here’s hoping for much more from Sierra!

KEL Audio - www.kelaudio.com

Rising bluegrass star, Sierra Hull, performs with KEL mics

November 2008

Rounder recording artist, Sierra Hull is now using the KEL HM-1, HM-2D and HM-7U microphones in performance with her band, Highway 111. Sierra has gained a lot of attention in bluegrass and acoustic music over the last number of years for her stunning technical artistry on the mandolin matched with her sweet voice. She has also grown into a brilliant songwriter and her new album, Secrets, is garnering accolades from many quarters.


Mandolin legend, Sam Bush, says about Sierra ..."With Secrets, Sierra Hull takes charge and leads the band with full authority. Her vocals are effortless and straight to the point, while keeping the focus on melody. Her mandolin playing is smooth, in time, and downright slippery. It's amazing to listen to her precision and agility, and the potential for musical growth is tremendous. I can't wait to hear what Sierra comes up with next. Every so often, a talent comes along that makes us sit up and take notice. That time is now for Sierra Hull."

We couldn't agree more and we at KEL Audio are delighted to support Sierra as she tours through 2009

Bluegrass Breakdown
- Sat, 8pm (90.3 WPLN-FM)

"Sierra Hull & Friends Live" Alison Krauss adores her, she's Adam Steffey's favorite mandolin player, and Sam Bush thinks she's "hullacious." Sierra Hull is a high school senior setting the bluegrass world on its ear with her passionate singing and ferocious mandolin playing. Hull and friends Ron Block, Cory Walker and Beth Lawrence gather around the mics live in celebration of Sierra's new Rounder CD,
Secrets.

To listen to the show, please visit: http://e2ma.net/go/1488069545/1354907/49849831/goto:http:/www.wpln.org/
bluegrass/

Be sure to pick up a copy of the Nov/Dec issue of Bluegrass Music Profiles where Sierra is featured as part of their '3rd Annual Women In Bluegrass Issue' along with Carrie Hassler, Janette Williams, Next Big Thing and more!

For more information please visit: www.bluegrassmusicprofiles.com

Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Halloween! Have lots of funs!! :)

All the Best,
Sierra

"Billy: The Early Years" was officially released to theatres on October 10th!

For a list of theatres in your area, please visit www.billytheearlyyears.com

--------------------------------------------------------

The movie soundtrack was also officially released on October 7th! 'Just As I Am', recorded for the movie by Sierra, backed by an All Star Chior of Ronnie Bowman, Randy Scruggs, John Cowan, Ronnie McCoury, Harry Stinson and John Wesley Riles is featured as the last song on this special soundtrack.

Artist also featured include: Sara Evans, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, China Edelman, Patty Griffen, Brandon Heath, Gregory Page, Michael W. Smith, Roy Orbison, Brad Paisley and Josh Turner.

The CD can be found in stores nearest you, as well as the online iTunes Music Store.

The 7th Annual French Country Music Awards were announced on September 27th in St. Agreve, France. Congratulations to Sierra for winning the 'Best Bluegrass Band Award'!

Sierra was nominated alongside Donna Hughes, Rhonda Vincent, Becky Schlegel and Dailey & Vincent. - To see view 2008 winners along with past recipients please visit:

http://facm.free.fr/awards2008.htm

Join Sierra Hull on Friday, September 19 when she performs LIVE on the Grand Ole Opry at the Opry House in Nashville, TN. Call 1-800-SEE-OPRY or visit: http://www.opry.com/TicketsAndInformation/Tickets.aspx to
get your tickets now!

Sierra fans can use coupon code "WEBFAN" or visit: http://www.opry.com/fancoupon.aspx to print a coupon to present to any Grand Ole Opry box office to receive $3.00 off of your ticket purchase.



To Purchase Tickets

Website: opry.com

Phone: (615) 871-OPRY or 800-SEE-OPRY

Box Office: Grand Ole Opry House or Ryman Auditorium

The 6th Annual Sierra Hull Bluegrass Festival will be held in Sierra's hometown of Byrdstown, TN this Saturday September 13th, 2008. The festival begins at 12:00 p.m. featuring competitions on Guitar, Mandolin, Fiddle, Banjo, and a Novelty Event. Entertainment begins at 5:00 p.m. featuring: Sierra Hull & Highway 111, Broken Wire, Cody Hull and Friends, Ron Block, and Blue Moon Rising! Be sure to come join us for a fun day filled with lots of great music, crafts, and great food!

*Tickets to be purchased at festival.

For more information please visit:
www.dalehollow.com/bg

or Call:
The Byrdstown Chamber of Commerce - 931-864-7195

Sierra Hull & Highway 111 t-shirts now avaliable on the Merchandise page. Check out the two brand new designs and order your shirt today!

Congratulations to Sierra, along with Donna Hughes, Rhonda Vincent, Becky Schlegel and Dailey & Vincent, on their nomination for Best Bluegrass Band of the Year, by the French Association of Country Music. The final round of voting takes place during the 13th Equiblues Country Music Festival, held Aug. 14-17 in St. Agreve, France, where attendance tops 20,000. Award recipients will be announced Sept. 27, during the 6th annual French Country Music Awards.

RELEASE DATE:
The upcoming movie, "Billy: The Early Years" now has a set release date to select theatres of October 10th, 2008. The movie is based on the life of the world's most famous and loved preacher, Billy Graham. The movie, produced by Robbie Benson, includes Sierra playing the role of Billy's sister, Catherine Graham(as a young girl) and features Sierra singing Billy's favorite song, "Just As I Am".

GRAHAM MOVIE INSPIRES SOUNDTRACK:
From: www.Tennessean.com
By: Beverly Keel

The Billy Graham movie has inspired a spectacular soundtrack featuring a blend of Christian and country artists that stands alone as a work of art.

"I envisioned playing this soundtrack for Billy and Ruth Graham," said Anastasia Brown, the soundtrack's executive producer. "If I wasn't proud to play it for them, I wouldn't consider it."

Billy: The Early Years soundtrack will be released Oct. 7, and its first single, "Low" by Sara Evans, will be released next month. Eleven of the 13 songs were recorded for this Arista Nashville/Essential Records project, including Josh Turner's "Almost Persuaded."

"Every track is a passionate, heartfelt and soulful performance by the singers and musicians, and it's because of their love for the Grahams," said Anastasia, also the film's music supervisor.

Brooks & Dunn and Third Day's Mac Powell open the soundtrack and film with the Johnny Cash song "Over the Next Hill," and Michael W. Smith and Melinda Doolittle sing the Craig Wiseman song "Amazing Love." Other artists include Brad Paisley, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Roy Orbison and Brandon Heath. Sierra Hull, 16, who sings "Just As I Am" and portrays Billy's sister,was discovered through Anastasia's talent search launched in this column.

Alan Jackson beautifully sings Paul Overstreet's "Look at Me," which serves as the couple's love song in the film, and he also wrote "Ruth's Prayer," which was recorded by Patty Griffin.

After discovering his invitation to participate in this project, Alan began reading the Billy Graham autobiography. Inspired by a poem that Ruth wrote to God before she met Billy — "I don't need a handsome man, but let him be like you" — a melody quickly came to him. Alan used Ruth's poem as the lyrics, adding only three last lines, and recorded the demo the next day.

'Secrets' lands at # 1 on the Bluegrass Now Top 20 Music Charts for the month of August!

For more info visit: www.bluegrassnow.com

The nominees for the 2008 International Bluegrass Music Awards were made this morning at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Congratulations to Sierra for being nominated for Mandolin Player of the Year alongside Sam Bush, Adam Steffey, Doyle Lawson and Ronnie McCoury!

The awards will be presented on Thursday October 2 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, in an awards show and gala hosted by Del McCoury.

Thanks to all who voted!

For a full list of nominees please visit: www.ibma.org

Sierra is currently touring in Japan. Photo updates to the gallery will be made soon, so please check back often!

Next week, Sierra will be in the studio filming a mandolin instructional DVD for Acutab Publications, Inc. The DVD will showcase Sierra's individual style and several tunes from Sierra's new record will be described and taught on this video. More details will be coming soon in the next following weeks as this project is completed!

The video has a scheduled release for the Fall of 2008. For more information on Acutab please visit www.acutab.com.

Vintage Guitar Magazine
HIT LIST!
Sierra Hull - "Secrets"
Rounder Records

No American music style is as intergenerational as bluegrass. At festival jams you regularly find 10-year-olds playing with 80-year-olds. Sixteen-year-old Sierra Hull is a product of this tradition. By the ripe old age of eight, she was making the rounds in advanced picking circles at festivals. She debuted on the Grand Ole Opry at 11, invited onstage by Alison Krauss. Since then she has won numerous big-league mandolin competitions and even hosts her own festival in Tennessee. Pretty good for someone who doesn't yet have her driver's license.

Hull's reputation is based largely on her superb mandolin playing, which is more than amply documented on Secrets. But her lead vocals steal the show. With a clear soprano unfettered by extraneous affections, Hull soars above the music like a hawk in a friendly headwind. Whether it's an old classic such as "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" or an original like "Pretend", Hull delivers direct, forceful interpretations. Many listeners will immediately note the stylistic similarities between Hull and mentor Krauss. But Hull is more than merely a clone; her music displays less pop prettifying. The emphasis is on hot picking and ensemble vocals more than purely beautiful sound.

Co-produced by Hull and Union Station's Ron Block, the band is top-echelon bluegrass royalty. Jerry Douglas plays dobro, Dan Tyminski and Clay Hess share guitar duties, Jim Van Cleve and Stuart Duncan handle fiddle parts, and Block contributes banjo and baritone vocals. Bass parts are divided between Barry Bales, Jason Moore, and Dennis Crouch. Hull does all the lead vocals and mandolin solos. And what mandolin solos they are!

It'll be interesting to see where Hull goes, but while we wait, Secrets marks an auspicious beginning for a young woman who is already a bluegrass star!

-SS

Clips from the new album, photos, and an active message board can now all be accessed from Sierra's artist page at CMT.com:

http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/hull__sierra/artist.jhtml

Sierra Hull
05.13.2008 -- Review by: John Walker

Sierra Hull is a 16 year old musical prodigy that has drawn rave reviews from many of bluegrass’ elite artists. Her phenomenal mandolin playing, plus eloquent vocals, of course has drawn comparisons to Alison Krauss. Supported by Union Station band members Jerry Douglas, Ron Block, and Dan Tyminski, along with the great Tony Rice and young banjo picker Cory Walker, Hull’s debut CD Secrets on Rounder is a strong introduction to her multiple talents.

Hull began playing mandolin at age eight, and quickly became noted on the national festival scene for her fluid, inventive picking. She garnered several mandolin and guitar championships in the process. Hull even toured with Krauss and Union Station at one time, and has also performed on the famed Grand Ole Opry stage.

Produced by Ron Block, Secrets does an exceptional job of showcasing Hull’s immense talents. Attempting to avoid a Union Station laden mixture, Block chose to spread these band members among the thirteen songs on the CD. Hull has even written, or co-written, three of the songs, including an outstanding knuckle-busting instrumental titled “Hullarious.” Hull displays her supple picking prowess on mandolin and guitar on this one, showing why she is held in such high esteem by many artists.

Secrets does not rely on its instrumental strengths alone. Hull allows her vocal talents to shine in the title track “Secrets.” Supported by Douglas on Dobro, along with Tyminski and Block on harmonies, Hull’s vocals paint a pure musical picture far beyond her years. The playful “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” features Tony Rice on guitar, enhancing the vocal lead by Hull. “Pretend” displays the deeper bluesy talents of Hull.

Ending the CD is a sparsely arranged gospel song “Trust and Obey.” Supported only by Block on guitar, this poignant song illustrates how touching Hull’s vocals can be, hitting you strongly in the chest. This is perhaps her best vocal on the CD, displaying much more passion that allows her vocals to flourish.

Sierra Hull is poised to make a huge impact on the modern bluegrass scene. One can only wonder how she can continue to improve with experience. We should all enjoy this.

FROM: Country Standard Time
Sierra Hull Reveals Her "Secrets"
By: John Lupton, May 2008


The end of junior year in high school for many is a whirlwind of final exams, making summer plans (maybe even including a job) and complaining about a recently-taken senior yearbook picture. For a rising young bluegrass performer like Sierra Hull, it's all that and a lot more.

Just within the last two months, she's fronted her own band, played the venerable Merle Watson festival in North Carolina, shot a bit part in and played on the soundtrack of an upcoming movie and, let's see, what else? - Oh yeah, she's also enjoying the early May release on Rounder of "Secrets," her recorded debut as a full-fledged instrumental and vocal talent.

Enjoying a rare evening off two days after the end of the school year, Hull is relaxing at home in her native Byrdstown, Tenn., close along the Kentucky line some 90 miles or so to the east-northeast of Nashville (where she's become a familiar part of the Music City bluegrass scene - just check out the all-star cast backing her on "Secrets").

There's a steep price to pay, she acknowledges, for starting a professional music career so young. "It's really almost ridiculous sometimes. It's really rough. I have to really try to work extra hard a lot of times to stay up with my grades and to work on homework, and I'm usually going in early or staying late after with some of my teachers who will help me get caught up, and that sort of thing. I miss a lot of school, so when I come back I'm usually trying to do twice the work. So, sometimes it can get a little bit stressful and scary and all that, but it's just one of those things you've gotta do at this point. I want to play music, so I think it's all worth it, but it's just hard sometimes."

Young as she is, Hull is not exactly a newcomer. A mandolin prodigy, her recording debut came about in 2002 with the self-released, all-instrumental "Angel Mountain." When you're still only 16, she laughs, 6 years seems like a long, long time ago.

"I don't even remember a whole lot from when I made that album. I remember doing it, of course, but there are just certain things about it that I feel were foggy, you know, to look back on now. I don't really know, for sure, what drove me to pick the songs or whatever. I just remember my dad really helped me a lot as we tried to figure out what tunes to do. Then, to go from doing that to making the record I did now, I felt there were so many things I had changed. Not that I didn't know anything about music back then, but I knew so little, in a lot of ways I knew so little. I just knew I loved to play, and that was important to me."

"And now, throughout these years I've been able to go to a lot of festivals and listen to a lot of music, and I've learned just so much more since then and spent a lot of time studying certain things. I finally just felt ready to do it. I tried to work more on my singing and feel more comfortable with that."

"So, to have the chance to make this record was a big, big difference because I felt like I was coming into it with much stronger ideas and more of a desire to really want to make a really good album, whereas before I probably didn't even understand what it took to make a good album. I just went in there and went 'Wooo, I'm gonna play some music!' It was kind of similar with this, too. It was still fun in that effect, but I really had the chance to sit down and go, 'okay, what is it gonna take to make an album that I'll feel will express me and the things I like and have the type of sound that I want?'"

"I feel like just listening to a lot of different things, I slowly every year was getting a little bit better and getting closer to the point where I felt ready to make 'Secrets'."

Hull quickly names contemporary masters Chris Thile and Adam Steffey (a member of Alison Krauss' band for many years) as primary mandolin influences, but says that what Bill Monroe called the "ancient tones" are starting to resonate with her more and more.

"You can get inspiration everywhere, everything you listen to, really - I feel like everything I've ever had the chance to listen to or hear, all that just stirs up things inside you and influences you musically, everything you're exposed to...Chris and Adam would be the two that have really affected me the most, I would say, but...especially now that I'm older and listening to more Bill Monroe,:

"I was talking to somebody the other day and (was saying) I feel like I'm starting to play some things more traditionally because I've been listening to some of that stuff more. The older I get, the more I tend to really go back and appreciate Bill Monroe and Jesse McReynolds and be blown away by what they did and especially when I start thinking about that time period."

"Wow, for them to not have anybody much to pull any kind of influence from - I've got everybody and their brother to listen to and pull influence from, but those guys, they had nobody, so to go back and listen to that, it can be mind-blowing."

The major turning point in her development happened by chance when Nickel Creek's Thile encountered her at a festival jam and was impressed enough to sit down and play with her. Also at the festival was Krauss, to whom Thile introduced her. Hull was a featured performer on the 2004 Great High Mountain Tour, which included an all-star bluegrass lineup, including Krauss, performing songs from the soundtracks of the hit movies "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and "Cold Mountain."

It took a few years, but at many levels "Secrets" results from the "aftershock" of not only meeting two of her idols, but having them become mentors as well.

Krauss' influence is particularly keen all the way through. Though in no way a clone or slavish imitation, the album resonates with the same exuberance and freshness as when Krauss herself was a teenage sensation and bandleader 20 years ago. Hull agrees she's learned more than just how to play the music.

"I'm sure (Alison) doesn't even realize it, but I've learned so much from her. She's never had to really say anything to me. Just from watching her and observing her, and seeing the way she is, the way she treats others and the way she really is with her band. To me, I really respect the way she's always been towards her band, and I know all of her band would be the first ones to tell you that. You know, it's not all about her. It's about what they do as a whole, and they make all the decisions as a whole, and they come together as a band, as a team, it's not just one person saying, 'you need to do this, you need to do that.' But Alison's kind of the groundwork for it all, to hold it all together...she kind of leads the team, so to speak."

The roster of musicians playing on or writing for "Secrets" (including Ron Block, who co-produced with Hull) features nearly everyone who's ever been in Krauss' band Union Station, and Krauss herself brought some novel ideas to the table when it came time to select songs for the disc.

Exhibit A would have to be "Everybody's Somebody's Fool," a pop classic for Connie Francis way back in 1960. Hull laughs out loud as she agrees that it was a somewhat unexpected choice.

"That was definitely an 'AK' thing. That was Alison. She brought that song to me, and she kind of helped us pick a few of the songs on the album, so she's like, 'What about that old Connie Francis song?'...so Ron and I went to iTunes and bought Connie Francis' version of the song and listened to it and then slowly decided how we wanted to change it to a bluegrass song, and (Alison) kind of suggested the basic outline of it as far as how to do it, then (Ron and I) arranged it...the 'Connie' version was totally different, and I feel like we kept the basic melody of the song and just 'grassed it up a little bit."

And, like Krauss, Hull has been leading her own band for the last couple of years, dubbed Highway 111 for the Tennessee two-lane that runs from Byrdstown down to Nashville. The end of school, she says, means kicking up the touring schedule a notch or two.

"We definitely try to play more in the summer because that's when we can more because I'm out (of school) and more available and free then, but the thing is a lot of times I'll have a parent that goes with me, especially if it's a pretty good trip where we have to fly or really drive a longs ways or be out for a few days. So, usually my mom will go or sometimes my dad."

She's well aware of the late-'80s honky-tonk country band out of California called Highway 101, led by sultry and smoky lead singer Paulette Carlson, and admits it's been kind of fun to encounter the occasional confusion. "I do remember one time somebody actually thinking we were Highway 101 or misreading, so it seems like that has come up...but most of the time people get it straight. They might mess up the introduction and say 'Highway One-One-One', not quite say it right ('one-eleven'), but...I think it was actually close to home, somebody got that messed up and said 'Is Highway 101 gonna be there?'"

The aforementioned movie debut came through her part in the upcoming "Billy: The Early Years," a biopic about the Rev. Billy Graham in which she portrays the evangelist's sister Catherine Graham as a teenager. "I wasn't a huge part of it, so I didn't have to be on set a whole lot, just long enough to do my little part, and then I went and did some recording for the sound track...I'm in a few of the scenes early on, but then I guess she gradually grows up, and so does he."

Wise beyond her years, Hull counts herself fortunate to be playing music for a living before she and her classmates have even walked across the stage to grab that diploma. It's a ton of fun to be 16 and playing on a regular basis with the leading lights of the Nashville crowd, but she's especially proud to prove that when it comes to her vocal and instrumental talents, there are no longer any "Secrets."

"I feel like I was so lucky with making this album, just because there were so many songs on it - we went through a whole bunch of songs in order to pick the 13 that we did, and honestly, there's things about all of them that I just really like. I don't feel like there's a song we put on there just to take up space...I feel like every one we put on there was one I really wanted on there, and one that I enjoyed for different reasons."

This months issue of Bluegrass Unlimited features a great story on Sierra by Randy Rudder! To order the issue online visit www.bluegrassmusic.com.

Beautiful Music: Sierra Just Is
By Bill Graham - Special for the Mandolin Cafe
May 22, 2008 - 6:30 am


I'm just going to enjoy Sierra Hull's music and not worry about where it came from or where she's going.

Some things just are, and Sierra is, harmonious.

She's 16, she's beautiful, and she's ours—a product of the bluegrass festival and newgrass acousticat upbringing in good old Tennessee, Byrdstown to be exact. It's near the Kentucky border and a day trip away from Rosine.

Welcome spring flower to a new era.

"Go PHS Class of '09," she exclaims in the liner notes of her new Rounder release, "Secrets."

Sierra's hometown bluegrass festival carries her name. Her website is up to date, and she's already being sponsored by instrument makers.

Can she keep her feet on the ground?

"Oh absolutely!" Sierra said. "I certainly don't think of myself as being anything but simple and regular. Haha. My friends and family are all supportive of what I do, but I'm just Sierra to them and always will be hopefully."

Humility is a harmonious character trait and I have the feeling she means it.

I recently sat with my 10-year-old daughter and watched her fawn over the Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana concert video she got for her birthday. It didn't look to me like Miley was really having fun going through all the choreographed show motions. But my daughter bought the act.

I wrapped up "Secrets" in my birthday gifts for her to attempt an alternative influence. Thus far it hasn't worked. I don't think she's cracked the case open. But sooner or later she will tire of the same old glitter costumes and dance steps and give it a try.


What she will hear is silky vocals and smooth mandolin, all backed by some of the finest musicians in bluegrass. Sierra's original songs are strong, and she adds a hot guitar solo just to have a little more fun.

Alison Krauss and Chris Thile influences are obvious.

"I've been heavily influenced by both Alison and Chris," Sierra said, "and they have been some of my biggest inspirations."

She'll find people commenting on message boards and blogs who will criticize this.

Not me.

I think Tony Rice borrowed a chunk of his wonderful vocal style from the progressive-band lead vocalist of his youth, John Starling. And Doc Watson was the first great modern-era flatpicker. I'll not hold that against Tony.

Krauss, also once a teenage Rounder recording artist, borrowed vocally from Claire Lynch. Hordes copied Bill Monroe.

Sierra is at the starting line and not the finish line. She's like the five-tool baseball prospect who can hit for average, hit for power, throw well, play great defense and use speed on the bases.

This is a teenager who can already sing, play, write, arrange and switch instruments.

But she's also level headed, religious and sincere. You get the feeling she could become a crossover into the pop ranks like Nickel Creek but still remember what it's like to get up all picked out on a rainy Sunday morning in the festival campground and go stand in line at the concession stand for biscuits and gravy before the long ride home.

"I have never been the type of person to want to set a limit within myself," Sierra said. "I would certainly like to do something that I can call my own in the bluegrass world, but I do want to remain a bluegrass artist. I love bluegrass music, and know that's really where my love and heart is. That's the kind of music that excites me and keeps me driven. I am open to any pathways that may come along though. And I just plan to go where my heart leads."

She's got a good idea of what makes music click for both players and listeners, too.

"Good musicians really do play from the heart," Sierra said. "A good musician really loves what he or she does, and that's one of the reasons that when you listen to those kinds of people play, you can be so easily moved by what they are doing. Playing what I feel in the moment is really important to me in many ways. I do think there is certainly a time to be disciplined with your playing and play with good taste in mind, but sometimes just letting going and playing whatever you feel at that particular moment can really be a special thing, too."

Now that sounds to me like a recipe for a Hullacious harmonious musical ride.

Enjoy.

Quick facts for Sierra Hull fans:

Website for more info: www.sierrahull.com

Her mandolins: "I've recently been playing a Weber F5 Fern. It was given to me at the past IBMA and it's proven to be more of mandolin than I expected. It's the best Weber I have ever played, and the tone and volume is really great. I actually used this mandolin on a few tracks on Secrets - "From Now On", "Two Winding Rails", and "Hullarious".

"I also have an endorsement through Gibson, and played the Adam Steffey model for about 4 years prior to getting the Weber. I still play the Steffey from time to time. It's a great instrument."

Also pondering: "I really enjoy playing the guitar, but would really like to mess around with other instruments in the future. Maybe fiddle more, but definitely banjo, and maybe Dobro, too. I want to remain a mandolin and guitar player, but just for fun, I know I'll eventually try to learn some things on the banjo for sure.

College: "I'm still a little indecisive as of what I plan to do. I know without doubt that I want to play music. I'm really dying to get out there and just play as much as possible."

Final thoughts on Secrets: "I am so excited to finally have the record finished and out. It is a wonderful feeling having worked so hard on it, and then to finally see it all come together as a finished product is really rewarding. It's really exciting, but yes, somewhat scary in ways. I hope people will enjoy Secrets. I really feel like it's an album that says a lot about who I am. It can be a scary thought, but overall, I just feel so blessed and I don't worry about it at all. I know that whatever God has in store for me, that's what I want - nothing less, nothing more."

© Bill Graham and Mandolin Cafe

Bill Graham can be contacted by email at:

FROM: The Bluegrass Special
www.thebluegrassspecial.com
May 14th, 2008
David Mcgee

Cordell Hull was a man of achievement, a towering figure in 20th Century American history whose name isn’t even close to being a household word anymore, although it’s a rare news day when the United Nations, the organization whose blueprint he wrote, isn’t in the headlines. Born in a log cabin in Willow Grove, TN (the town no longer exists, having been submerged by the waters of the Dale Hollow Dam), Hull was a lawyer, judge, soldier (he fought in the Spanish-American War), Tennessee State and U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee for 18 years, a tireless and eloquent advocate for free trade, author of the first Federal Income Tax Bill, the Revised Act and the Federal and State Inheritance Tax Law and for 11 years Secretary of State under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the longest tenure of any Sec. of State. During those years he pushed reforms that begat the “Good Neighbor” policy mandating the abolition of American intervention in Latin American affairs and the promotion of free trade agreements with European and Latin American nations. Although he foresaw the coming of WWII, his warnings to the military and others to be prepared were largely unheeded; after the war, following his resignation (for reasons of ill health) from the Cabinet, he was a member of and senior advisor to the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Conference, held in San Francisco in 1945; his efforts in this endeavor earned him the Nobel Prize that same year.

However, there is no record anywhere of Cordell Hull’s exceptional talents including that of playing the mandolin with breathtaking facility and singing like an angel at any age, much less in his mid-teens. But one of Cordell’s cousins (“fourth or fifth cousin”) has begat a Hull descendant who has musical gifts on a par with her famous forebear’s political and diplomatic savvy.

That would be 16-year-old Sierra Hull, whose debut album, Secrets, was released on May 6 to wide acclaim by Rounder, the same label Amanda Shaw calls home. Produced by Ron Block (from Alison Krauss’s Union Station band, a banjoist par excellence who has two fine solo albums to his credit as well), Secrets begins with a quick pair of delicate, descending mandolin lines that run back up the neck before Sierra enters asserting in a high, sweet, crystalline voice, “No one else will ever know/This is how these passions always grow…” This is the title song, and it’s pure Sierra--seamless, confident instrumental work, an uncommonly expressive voice of tender years suggesting a well of complex feelings about to overflow in an ache of classic dimensions. There’s no denying the Alison Krauss influence everywhere—in the presence of Block behind the board, in the instrumental support provided by Block and fellow Union Station members Dan Tyminski and Jerry Douglas, in Hull’s silky, keening timbre, in the tight, ringing ensemble instrumental work and in the quiet, captivating ambiance throughout. Krauss even helped pick some of the songs.

But Sierra Hull stands on her own merits from first cut to last, serving notice of being here for the long haul and every bit as capable as Krauss of respecting tradition while expanding the bluegrass lexicon. With Block’s assured guidance, Secrets is the ideal framework for Hull’s audacious artistry, which extends across the board to embrace vocalizing and picking of the first order as well as assured songwriting, as evidenced by the wistful remembrance of wanderlust expressed in the trundling rhythm of the rail recalled in “Two Winding Rails” (co-written with her father) and more profoundly in her own surging, minor key lament for unrequited love, “Pretend,” in which she sounds preternaturally scarred. But she’s also able to have fun with heartbreak in a romping bluegrass treatment of the classic Connie Francis chart topper from 1960, “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” before laying on the interminable hurt again in an exquisite tearjerker, “Only My Heart,” that burns its way into memory when Stuart Duncan emerges with an exquisitely crafted fiddle solo that lifts the whole endeavor onto a plane where feeling runs so deep it obviates the need for words. A deeper aspect of Sierra’s personality and artistry emerges in the final cut, the 1887 hymn, “Trust and Obey,” on which she’s backed only by Block’s spare, evocative guitar as she offers the song’s solemn testimony in a voice imbued with the serenity and certainty of a true believe, which she is. Secrets is, all in all, a most compelling calling card and, like Shaw’s Pretty Runs Out, almost as exciting for what it says about the artist’s promising future as for what occurs on the tracks.



Onstage at age 11 with Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski: 'I was probably a little obsessed back then, when somebody can be such an inspiration for you.'

Just as age eight proved to be a pivotal year for Amanda Shaw, so it was with Sierra Hull. She wasn’t playing with a symphony orchestra at that age, though; in fact, she was only then being introduced to her instrument by her bluegrass loving amateur musician father. But she’d already felt the urge to play from listening to him pick tunes at home, so it was an easy sell. It never occurred to her that she wasn’t exactly drifting towards music most of her peers regarded cool.

“I’m just in many ways an open minded person, not just in music but in all aspects of everything,” she explains in her soft Tennessee drawl. “Trying food to whatever, I’ll try anything almost, and I guess I’ve always had some of that in me. So it wasn’t like I was really suckered into thinking, Oh, man, this isn’t cool. At that point I found it to be something that was fun, and my dad seemed to be excited that I was wanting to learn how to play. It felt pretty natural, mostly, and it’s fun, especially at that age, when you’re trying to do something and you’re learning new tunes and the farther you start moving the more you want to keep going with it. So I think I got inspired by that first little time I picked up the mandolin and he started showing me some tunes. I fell in love with doing it. And never really thought too much about going anywhere else with it, or feeling like I should be playing some other kind of music, or doing something else.”

Years before she started playing music, Sierra was singing it, in church (she attends services regularly now at Oak Grove Baptish Church), and coming back from church, riding in the car with her family, which includes an older brother. The bluegrass gospel of Doyle Lawson was a particular favorite, but these family singalongs also led her deeper into the roots of the music, through the progressive scene, right up to the present day.

“Hearing Doyle and that sort of sound, of traditional bluegrass gospel, that was my first, kind of exposure to bluegrass music. And that was all I knew at that time; in my mind that’s just what we did. We sang some in church and that’s what we listened to, and I had no reason not to like it (laughs). Then I started getting into Alison and the band, and it’s more contemporary stuff, especially later on. I was listening to a whole lot of contemporary bluegrass in the beginning, and now I’m going back and listening to more traditional things, the older I’m getting. I find it more interesting now than I ever would have back then, because I find it really easier to appreciate and get excited over now. I think, Man, that was back in the day when they just went in there and did all that live. It’s real exciting to hear someone like Jimmy Martin sing so great, or Flatt & Scruggs; it’s really cool to me, when back then I probably would have been more attracted to contemporary bluegrass. That’s still what I like to play the best, but it’s funny how now I feel like I can be so inspired by that music more than I ever really would have when I was younger.

“I find all of it. I’m one of the biggest J.D. Crowe fans—he’s one of those people I just start laughing when I watch him. I can’t really contain it; I just start laughing because it’s so great. Especially when J.D. had Tony Rice in his band. And that band--hearing that is insanely good. But I’ve definitely spent many hours listening and trying to learn Chris Thile solos, listening to what he does. I’m totally open to that too, because it’s so brilliant, all the Nickel Creek stuff. It just shows you what’s possible. I think it’s good for everybody to be open minded about it. I feel like everybody wants to put a label on what bluegrass is. But I don’t feel like that’s the way I look at it all; I don’t say, ‘That’s not bluegrass!’ I say, ‘Who cares what it is? If you like it, you like it.’ I feel like somebody like Chris, who’s really gone out on a limb and done his own thing and almost at a certain point got real far out there, I feel like even he and all those guys would say, ‘We’re bluegrass musicians. That’s where we come from, and that’s where everything we do is inspired by and comes from.’ I feel like Alison and all the guys who have taken a left turn away from ‘traditional bluegrass’ still always consider themselves bluegrass artists.”

Above all others, Krauss stood out for Hull—her voice, her choice of songs, the arrangements, the mandolin work of Adam Steffey behind her. And—

“She’s a lady. I’m sure that was something that really drew me to it, thinking, Oh, wow, I want to be that someday. It’s so easy to see. I always knew, even before I met her, that she would be a nice person. I just always knew that. It’s so easy tell through what she does and the way she goes about doing it, and just her personality, her stage presence. All that led me to think she was somebody I would admire not only musically but in general, and that’s true.”

As it happens, Chris Thile figures prominently in Sierra’s Alison Krauss connection—he introduced the two at Merlefest six years ago. It was a prayer answered, according to Sierra, who confirms stories that on the way to Merlefest she asked her mother and father to pray that she would be able to meet Alison. She laughs about it now, and adds sheepishly: “I was probably a little obsessed back then, when somebody can be such an inspiration for you.”



Producer Ron Block: 'I wanted to make this record at the highest level possible, so Sierra would have that as a benchmark to beat the next time.'

Ron Block was at that Merlefest gathering too, but he didn’t meet Sierra until almost a year later, at the annual International Bluegrass Music Association convention. Before he met her, he heard her, and the sound caught his attention.

“I was standing there, and a bunch of kids were playing,” he recalls. “Then I heard somebody playing off to my right, and thought it was somebody in their early 20s that had been playing for a few years. Look over there and there’s an 11-year-old girl. So it was pretty thrilling to see her.”

By that time, Sierra had recorded an album on her own, an all-instrumental outing with some local musicians titled Angel Mountain, talk of which elicits a self-conscious laugh from Sierra, who admits to remembering almost nothing about the sessions other than “detail” and adds how it’s been years since she even listened to it. She came to Secrets a much different musician than the one heard on Angel Mountain.

“I had so much time in between to grow and become more of a listener, and to have a higher level of excellence that I desire now,” she says. “I really had time to grow up just a little bit more and mature as a musician. I know that just by listening to Angel Mountain and listening to Secrets, you can tell there’s a big difference in not only that, but in just making a quality recording. We spent a lot of time working on Secrets.”

A year, to be precise, on Secrets, but not a solid 12-month routine. Block’s band went on tour with Tony Rice shortly after the Secrets tracking sessions were completed at Nashville’s Seventeen Grand studio, then Krauss and Union Station went out for a bit before Block could return to complete the Hull project with vocals and overdubs at his own Pro Tools-equipped home studio.

For all the assurance and smarts she exhibits vocally, Sierra says singing was her biggest concern going into the sessions. She’s had no vocal training at all but did her own version of pre-production at home by accompanying herself on guitar and “figuring out how I might want to sing the songs.

“At first I was a little bit nervous upon singing for the first time. I feel like singing isn’t necessarily—and I’m really working hard to improve that and it’s slowly coming—but it’s not as much of a comfort zone for me as playing. Playing, I’ve been doing that for so long now, I really don’t worry about it. It’s not easier, necessarily, but easier for me to be more confident in that. If I had troubles or anything it wasn’t necessarily the song, but finding the confidence to go, Okay, I know I can do this. I just have to go in and do the best I can. And I feel like that’s really all you can, do the best you can, and that’s what I tried to do on Secrets, the best I could.

“I’m really finding singing to be something I’m really passionate about. I love to play, and I know for a fact that if somebody is talking about me they’ll say something about my mandolin playing, or that’ll be what they think of rather than my singing. And I hope that with this record, and with the coming years, that people will start thinking of me not just as a mandolin player that sings, but as a singer that also plays mandolin. Because I’ve really come to feel like singing is really important to me, and I’ve really grown to love it more and more.”

Block pinpoints it best when he says Sierra “has a real sweet spirit in her singing. She comes off great and she’s only going to get better. That’s the deal.” He’s quick to point out that the young artist impressed him with how quickly she adapted to the recording regimen, so much so that he’s going to give her more responsibility next time around.

“She’s really observant and she’s smart, she learns fast and she pays attention. And she listens to what I say!” he says cheerily. “I told her on the next record I’m going to have her sit there and overdub people and learn how to work the recording stuff, just to get a little bit more hands-on experience. She was up to speed pretty fast. And she got really comfortable once we started doing overdubs at my studio. The tracking I think was a little bit nerve-wracking, just trying to get all the tracks down and wanting to sing good.”

If it’s not apparent already, note here that Sierra was an active participant in the making of her Rounder debut. Krauss brought in four songs for her—including “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” which was once in the Cox Family repertoire; “Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder,” co-written by bluegrass legend Lou Reid; “That’s All I Can Say,” from the pen of Marshall Wilborn; and the album’s penultimate lament, “Only My Heart”—but Hull and Block together searched through batches of albums for other material, finding one, “The Hard Way,” on a Keith Urban album. But of all the songs, it’s her own “Pretend” that makes the strongest impression, because of its theme of unrequited love.

So, 16-year-old Sierra Hull, where does this come from?

“Yeah, yeah,” she says with weary understanding. “I expect people to go, ‘What!? She’s 16 and she wrote that!? What kind of TV has she been watching?’ I find that being a girl, you can find all kinds of pretty stuff, really pretty songs that are great to sing as a girl, but it’s really hard to find more bluegrass edge kind of stuff. I didn’t mean for the song to end up being so moody; I must have been having a sappy day. I wanted to write something in the key of B, which is a fun, bluegrass key to sing and play in, and I wanted to be able to do something there that I could sing, as a girl. I just started writing down stuff thinking, you know, how bluegrass songs go, always about falling in love or something crazy like that going on. So it was really trying to pull out my bluegrass influences and see what kind of song I could come up with. That’s what came out, I guess. We sort of just made everybody play real tame on it, so to speak, but real moody. I was real happy with the way it ended up sounding.”

Both she and Block reserve special praise for Stuart Duncan’s solo on “Only My Heart.” It is a striking moment, to be sure, and the very mention of it causes Hull to gasp. “I don’t care whose record this is, and I’m not uplifting anything that’s called mine; I’m just uplifting Stuart when I say this: He totally made that song awesome,” she says emphatically. “I remember listening to that in the studio; he played the song through six or seven times to give us different ideas and things, and every time he would play something it would be just amazing. I was listening to that and there would be times I would have to get up and leave; I couldn’t sit there and listen to it, it made me so emotional and so overwhelmed by how good it was, that I just couldn’t take it. I hear him play that, and I just go, Man, that is beautiful!”

Block is more succinct in his appraisal of the Duncan solo: “It’s one of the greatest things I’ve ever heard. I couldn’t believe it.”

About bringing Hull so deeply into the recording process, Block says he planned from the start to solicit her opinions on everything, and give her an education in a certain approach to studio work. “I wanted her to do the legwork and see what it took to get all the songs. And now she knows. She really knows what it’s like to make a record. And I also wanted to make it at the highest level possible, so she would have that in her mind as a standard, a benchmark to beat the next time. I didn’t want to just go in there and rip off a record real quick—well, I just can’t work that way. I’ve been in our band too long, where we work on stuff until we like it, instead of having to rush through it. She was great. She’s confident, but not to the point of arrogance.”

From what Hull says, it seems Block’s method paid off. “I feel like through doing this I have learned so much,” she says. “I can’t stress how much I’ve learned. I feel like I really know now. Coming into this I knew what I wanted to do with it, I knew I had a lot of ideas, and I knew that I had some experience with being around recording; but I hadn’t ever really got to make a record quite like this or even be a part of an album quite like this, where you go in and you cut the tracks and you do some overdub kind of stuff and then you sing the vocals. It was a new experience for me, and then to do it to that quality level, I hadn’t ever really had a chance to do that. So I learned a tremendous amount through the whole process, and I feel like during that time I did the very best I could do. So I look back at it and I’m happy about it all, and I go, You know, that was me at that time. By by the end of it I was going, ‘I think I could sing that better now,’ or something like that. I’m happy with it and I do think the next one will be better, because I got a big learning experience out of doing this one, and I feel like I can use that to make the next one better.”




'My faith the most important thing in the world to me. I feel so blessed to be able to do everything I’ve been able to.' Sierra is making her acting debut playing Catherine Graham, Billy Graham's sister, in a biopic about the evangelist's early life. In the film she sings Graham's theme song 'Just As I Am.'


There are other big doings in Sierra’s life now. For one, there’s the role as Catherine Graham in the biopic Billy: The Early Years, slated for theatrical release this fall. The part came out of the blue, when the producers and director Robbie Benson asked Hull to appear in it singing the hymn that became the Rev. Graham’s theme, “Just As I Am.” Before she knew it, she was playing young Catherine Graham, and speaking lines as well as singing hymns. She might have been nervous about all this, she says, except that the men’s choir she sings with in the big scene is comprised of Ronnie McCoury, John Cowan, Ronnie Bowman, John Wesley Ryles and Harry Stinson, with Randy Scruggs on guitar. “I tell you what, having them there was a blessing, because it was a long night. We filmed two different scenes but they were real similar; two different shots in the same scene. So we worked for about 12 hours, and just having those guys there made it so much more fun for me. To have some musicians there to hang out with and just goof off with, or else I would have felt, whoa, a little out of place.”

So might she get the acting bug and find a new career path?

It is to laugh, and she does. “I doubt that’s gonna happen,” she retorts. “I would never think of doing anything else; I’m so certain of that. I find it kind of humorous. I definitely don’t think of myself as a serious actress, but I’m happy to be a part of it and do the best job I can.”

The matter of faith in her life is no laughing matter, though, and it’s one reason why the album’s final song, “Trust and Obey,” is so powerful. It comes from a real place in her soul.

“My faith the most important thing in the world to me, truthfully speaking,” she says. “I feel so blessed to be able to do everything I’ve been able to. I don’t feel like I’ve ever really tried to make things happen, you know. I’ve worked hard at it, and I’ve always loved it and I’ve had parents who have been really good to take me wherever I’ve needed to go, but I certainly feel like anything and everything I’ve had a chance to do is straight from God and, you know, I feel really blessed. You know, He’s the most important thing in the world, and faith certainly is a big part of my life. And something I hope people, upon listening to my music, will always be able to see in me and know that that’s important to me.”

Block concurs, explaining further that Sierra’s faith and family support have allayed any concerns he had about the young girl having too much thrown at her too soon. “She’s so grounded in Christ, her Bible goes where she goes. She does have good family support; they’re not stage parents. Some stage parents blow smoke and tell a kid how great they are. They don’t do that. They go, ‘Well, you sounded kind of nervous today.’ They’ll just flat out tell her. So it’s good to have people like that in your life, that will say, ‘Everybody thought you were really good, but you weren’t that good.’ And I think she’ll maintain a good sense of direction, especially being anchored in Christ.”

Then there’s the Sierra Hull Bluegrass Festival in Byrdstown, this year’s being the sixth annual, set for September 13. The county seat of Pickett County, eight miles south of Albany, KY, and 12 miles northeast of Alpine, TN (the closest large city is Knoxville, TN, 92 miles to the southeast), Byrdstown had a 2006 population of 880 and welcomes a steady influx of visitors to enjoy its bountiful recreational opportunities (notably bass fishing) centered on Dale Hollow Lake (the one that submerged Cordell Hull’s home town when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the Dale Hollow Dam in 1943, and from which an angler snared the world’s largest bass to date, an 11-pounder). But really, as Sierra notes, there’s not much else going on. So when someone proposed mounting a bluegrass festival to draw in some more tourists, the Hull family was queried as to the specifics of festivals—Sierra being an old hand at these events—and then learned it was going to be named after Sierra.

Trouper that she is, the lass has taken her responsibilities to the festival seriously. She laughs when asked if she’s there every minute, like Jerry Lewis at his MD Telethons. “Umm, I’m there as much as possible,” she answers cautiously. “I try to be there as early as I can in the day, and I definitely I know I’m usually one of the last ones to leave. It’s a long day but it’s fun. It’s a nice little festival, and I think it’s good just in general, regardless of what they call it. Just that they have a bluegrass festival here, that’s cool to me. Considering how small Byrdstown is, it’s good to give the people here a dose of bluegrass every now and then.”

Giving people anywhere “a dose of bluegrass” is Sierra’s aim, both short- and long-term. The celebrity that comes with her acclaim is of little or no interest to her. Being accepted and acknowledged for her musical artistry clearly is the be-all and end-all of her raison d’etre. She also recognizes she’s in a unique position of being of an age where she can reach young people of her generation and perhaps be a positive inspiration.

“Well, I feel like as long as God will allow me to keep doing what I’m doing and that’s what He wants for me, to play music and make that my career, and hopefully have people enjoy what I do, then that’s what I hope to be doing from now till I’m 80 years old, if I can. I love playing music; I can’t think of one single thing I’d rather do. That may sound like something I’d say in any interview but seriously, I cannot think of another thing I would want to do. I can’t imagine doing anything else. And I really just hope that I can be playing music and still loving it, and you know, just finding my voice in the music, finding whatever I can call my own. I’m just trying to be me and hopefully be of some good influence. And if I can inspire somebody to want to play music or sing, to me that’s awesome. I love that. I hope I can be of some inspiration to some young person to really get the bug and try to play music, find a love for it, or something.”

Not the least of Sierra’s obligations at present is her schooling. She’s a junior at Picket County High School and intends to graduate, at which point she’ll decide whether college is in her immediate or far future, if at all. She tours throughout the school year, but selectively, only two or three days a month. But she’s disdained home schooling, preferring to stay up and catch up while integrating music and school into a demanding schedule. Needless to say, her classmates notice.

“It’s funny, people will laugh and say, ‘Oh, look, Sierra’s at school today.’ Because so often I am missing a whole lot of school sometimes to do what I am doing. But I can’t really, at this point in my life, just quit what I’m doing and go tour full time or something, even though that would be such a blast and I’m sure I would love every minute of it. I have to work around a school schedule, and I realize a lot of kids my age who are into music tend to be home schooled or do some kind of tutored program. But I go to a really small school anyway; there’s about 200 kids in my high school, so it’s really tiny, and where I live here is a really small place. I enjoy going to school--it can be a pain sometimes, and believe me, I can’t wait to get out! I can’t wait to get out and really be able to concentrate on music and do my thing, hopefully. But at this point, I’ve made it this far, I can go another year; I can do this.” (Yes, she expects to play at her senior prom, too.)

A sense of self, a selflessness, and a solid moral grounding are the attributes Block sees as the essentials for her blossoming as an artist. She’s coming from the right place, he notes, “and that’s one of the reasons God’s gonna bless the living daylights out of her. If He’s gonna continue to do so, she’ll stay in the right direction. We had a lot of conversations when we were making the record. I’d be doing something to the audio and she’d all of a sudden ask the question and we’d start talking for half an hour, just about whatever topic, trusting God, not getting your self-worth through music, getting it from Christ. It was good, it was really good. She’s real open to hearing; there’s a humility about it where she listens. Doesn’t have the attitude that she already knows it all. She’s got a real respectful feel about her.”

Of Cordell Hull a biographer noted: “…almost shy in manner, earnest and sincere in thought and deed, Hull had the power that comes to one who is thoroughly convinced of the rightness of his political and economic policies for peace and justice, is capable of defending them against all comers, and unwearying in his efforts to give them practical form.”

Change the political attributes to musical ones, and the description is a good fit for the statesman’s mandolin playing kinsman who’s stepping into the national arena before she can even vote.

Must be in the blood.

FROM:www.Azcentral.com
Young Sierra Hull impresses with bluegrass 'Secrets'
by Keith Lawrence - May. 9, 2008 12:00 AM
Owensboro, Messenger

If you haven't yet heard of Sierra Hull, you will soon.

The 16-year-old mandolin player from tiny Byrdstown, Tenn. (pop. 880) is the new teen queen of bluegrass.

And the buzz about a new act hasn't been this loud since Alison Krauss began fronting Union Station two decades ago.

Comparisons to Krauss are inevitable.

In fact, Hull has worked with Krauss and Union Station off and on since she appeared with them on the Grand Ole Opry when she was 11.

Ron Block, Union Station's banjo man, co-produced "Secrets" with Hull, sings harmony on the album and plays banjo and guitar.

The other three members of Union Station - Dan Tyminski, Barry Bales and Jerry Douglas - also appear on Hull's album.

Block worked hard to keep from having all the members of Union Station featured on the same tracks. But they're all featured on different songs.

Cory Walker, the 17-year-old banjo prodigy from Hull's Highway 111 band, is featured on the album along with Clay Hess, Rob Ickes, Stuart Duncan, Jim VanCleve, Chris Jones, Tony Rice, Dennis Crouch and Jason Moore.

So how's the album?

As good as you would expect from a lineup like that.

Hull has a soft voice like Krauss that critics call "tender" and "eloquent." But while Krauss has a tendency toward soft ballads, Hull is still making hard-driving bluegrass on much of the album.

"From Now On," "Two Winding Rails" and "That's All I Can Take" all have a strong banjo presence.

Hull wrote three of the tracks - "Two Winding Rails" (with her father, Stacy Hull), "Pretend" and the instrumental "Hullarious."

She's a well-rounded musician already. And with the push she's getting from Rounder, expect great things from Hull in the future.

Front & Center: Sierra Hull's New Album's Out
By TheImproper.com


Music Phenom Ready for Break Out
New Album Showcases 16-Year-Old's Virtuosity on Mandolin

For the moment, Sierra Hull is known mostly in the small world of blue grass music. But today her first album is being released. Now it's only a matter of time before she skyrockets into a major star. And, she’s only 16! But don’t let her age fool you. Hull is an amazing music phenom. Her skills on the guitar and mandolin are almost beyond comparison. Plus she has the looks and voice of an angel. She blows away Miley Cyrus. Country star Alison Krauss has taken her under her wing, and Hull’s record, Secrets, (Rounder) is astonishing.

Hull began playing the mandolin at age 8, and quickly became noted on the blue grass festival scene for her fluid, inventive picking – winning several mandolin and guitar championships in the process, according to her official biography. Beyond her instrumental skills, Hull has developed into an exquisite vocalist since first starting to sing publicly two years ago. Working closely with co-producer Ron Block (Alison Krauss and Union Station), Hull’s vocals on the album are disarmingly tender and eloquent, yet delivered with the confidence and honesty necessary to cut through a top-notch bluegrass ensemble. Among the musicians and vocalists joining her on Secrets are Block, Barry Bales, Dennis Crouch, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Clay Hess, Rob Ickes, Chris Jones, Jason Moore, Tony Rice, Dan Tyminski, Jim VanCleve, and the remarkably hard-driving seventeen-year-old banjo phenom Cory Walker, who has already played alongside Sierra for several years.

Her title track includes a furious mandolin run and her driving vocals. All four members of Union Station — Tyminski on vocals, Block on guitar and vocals, Bales on bass and Douglas on dobro, support her. Hull's mandolin skills are on display on "Smashville" by Jim VanCleve, who plays fiddle on the track, and Hull's "Hullarious. Teen phenom Walker who also plays in Hull's band Highway 111, accompanies her on banjo.

Though she self-released an instrumental CD, Angel Mountain, in 2002, when she was just 10, Secrets is a far more mature professionally and emotinally. “What I’ve seen in Sierra over the months of working on Secrets is a passion for music in general – and specifically for bluegrass,” says co-producer Block. “She has an intense desire for excellence, a love of good songs, and an attention to detail that is not often found in someone so young…she’s only going to get better and better as time goes on. It’ll be intriguing to watch how her vision and creativity affect the future of bluegrass in the coming years.”

FROM: Smokey Mountain News
May 7th, 2008
Ability Beyond Her Years
By Chris Cooper

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At 16, Sierra Hull has a confidence and command of the mandolin that eludes players easily twice her age. Like her friend and mentor Alison Krauss, Hull fits the concept of “child prodigy” perfectly, gifted from the get go with a musical understanding that must’ve begun sometime in the womb.

In her early teens Hull was on the road with Krauss and Union Station, along with her mother and brother. She recorded her first album at the ripe old age of 10, performed at the Grand Ole Opry shortly thereafter, won scads of awards at bluegrass festivals, and on Secrets finds herself in the company of players like Jerry Douglas, Ron Block, Dan Tyminski and Tony Rice, to name a few.

Ron Block’s lush and warm production gives Secrets a modern sheen, and Hull’s affinity for the kind of forward thinking “crossover” bluegrass of players like Krauss, Alison Brown and another group of virtuosi, Nickel Creek, is immediately apparent. Lest anyone get the impression that the instrumental firepower is carried mostly by the stellar cast of sidemen and guests on Secrets, just cue up the Hull penned instrumental “Hullarious,” which highlights her supple picking on both mandolin and lead guitar. The knuckle busting melody that carries the tune is your first hint that you’re not listening to just any wunderkind — this one can hold her own with the best, and has an ear for unexpected melodic twists that make her solos not just impressive, but inventive. Cory Walker’s mile-a-minute banjo break isn’t so bad, either.

Fiddler Jim Van Cleve lends his instrumental “Smashville” to the proceedings, letting Hull take the opening melody and solo before a series of fantastic breaks from Ron Block on banjo, guitarist Clay Hess and Van Cleve himself. Hearing Hull’s mandolin doubling the twisting melody with the fiddle is a treat, and her rippling fills towards the song’s end make for some real inspiration to put in more practice time on whatever instrument you might play.

Secrets isn’t just about burning instrumentals, though. Hull is gifted with a marvelous voice as well, as evidenced by the title track. The always sublime Dobro picking of Jerry Douglas weaves between the verses, and Dan Tyminski and Ron Block’s harmony vocals bolster Hull’s lead beautifully. The playful “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” features Tony Rice on guitar (what, no lead?) but again gives ample playing room to all involved, with Hull’s leaping lead break the highlight. “Pretend” spins a tale of two friends debating whether to take the next step in love, and stands out amongst the other tunes in its almost bluesy feel and super crossover friendly production- and yeah, another tasteful and melodic solo from Hull.

“That’s All I Can Say” steps back into a more straight ahead bluegrass vein, with plenty of high and lonesome vocal work from Hull and Block, and a sparkling solo from Tony Rice. “The Hard Way” is a lilting piece of heartbroken pop-country that digs into the realities of a couple’s choice to walk away or keep going, and here Sierra Hull’s potential to astound instrumentally isn’t the star; vocally she can get you right in the chest when she wants to.

Sierra Hull seems poised to make a huge impact on the modern bluegrass scene. She’s a gifted player and singer, and one thing that may very well set her apart from the other barn burning virtuosi is an element that usually doesn’t become apparent until much later in a musician’s career — and that’s taste. As stunning as her playing often is, she keeps it grounded in melody, which — come to think of it — is another trait that eludes many players twice her age. Gosh darn kids.

Sierra visted Kyle Cantrell of XM Radio's Bluegrass Junction at the studio this past Tuesday to celebrate the release of her debut album, Secrets, on Rounder Records. Sierra and Kyle discussed songs off the new record as well as the experience of making the album. The show will first air this coming Tuesday - May 13th - at 2:00 p.m.CST. Be sure to tune in and hear the new music!

Sierra’s “Secrets” Revealed

By Bob Dieterlen Filed under: CD Review Tagged with:
Sierra Hull “Secrets” (Rounder Records) will be released tomorrow, May 6, 2008

Time is ticking and May 6 is almost here. Mark it as a date in Bluegrass History.

Why the big fuss? May 6, 2008 marks the date 16 year old mandolin prodigy Sierra Hull releases “Secrets,” her first solo album on Rounder Records.

Sierra is a one of a kind, pure gem with an astounding talent for playing our beloved Bluegrass. The technical knowledge she possesses for Mandolin and Guitar is decades beyong her years.

But wait, it gets better. The girl sings with emotion, phrasing and intonation that I can only compare to the singing on Alison Krauss’ 1987 album “Too Late To Cry.” To tell the truth, I have not heard a young female in the Bluegrass genre since Alison’s ‘87 release with more promise than Miss Hull.

“Secrets” does not disappoint the hype surrounding its release. Co-Produced by Hull and Ron Block of Alison Krauss and Union Station fame, the album is incredible. Yes, “Secrets” is jam packed with great pickers. Sierra and Block recruited some help from the guys in Union Station, Tony Rice, Chris Jones, Jim VanCleve, Stuart Duncan, Rob Ickes, Jason Moore and Cory Walker, an incredible 18 year old banjo picker that also plays in Sierra’s band Highway 111.

The real story here is Sierra herself. There is not a track on this album I do not love. It’s the first album in a while where I have not found myself using the fast forward button on the old CD player. Just one listen to the songs “The Hard Way,” and You’ll fall in love with this album. The song is mature, mellow, tasteful and beautiful.

The tune “Hullarious,” written by Sierra, is a lesson in flawless mandolin picking. Another beautiful song on the album, written by Sierra and Stacey Hull is “Two Winding Rails.” It is another testament to this young lady’s seemingly endless talent.

Obviously this is an album I believe everyone should have on the shelf and in the CD player. Sierra Hull is the real deal. “Secrets” is the first stepping stone of what I believe to be a future legend.

I am so looking forward to listening and watching Sierra Hull’s career blossom.

Apr 21, 2008
An Interview With Sierra Hull
FROM: www.bluegrassjournal.com
By Bob Dieterlen Filed under:
Spotlight Tagged with: Sierra Hull


Small town girl. Sweet 16, in fact.

A stellar student, judging by her membership in the Beta Club, a national organization for the cream of the crop among America’s youths.

All that, and a bluegrass recording artist to boot. Rubbing elbows and picking in studios with some of the genre’s hottest picker,

And now, filming scenes in a movie. Not to mention, being part of its soundtrack.

That’s the whirlwind life of Sierra Hull, a Tennessee teenager with all the makings of becoming a bluegrass mandolin master. She is on the verge of releasing her first CD for Rounder, titled “Secrets.”

BluegrassJournal.com had an opportunity to hear her skills and visit with her during an industry showcase for “Secrets” at Edgehill Studios Cafe in Nashville, Tenn.

The interview follows:

Bob Dieterlen - With your upcoming album “Secrets” on the Rounder label due out on shelves May 6, what has 2008 been like for you?

Sierra Hull - It has definitely been a whirlwind, that’s for sure! I’m still in high school and with classes and my music, it gets pretty crazy.

Bob Dieterlen - So, you’re still in a public school, no home school or private tutors while your on the road?

Sierra Hull - Yes, I still go to public school. Actually, I have been off for a week attending the Beta Club convention in Nashville this week. ( The National Beta Club is a club that recognizes academic achievement, promotes character, develops leadership skills, encourages service involvement, and provides technological advantages to students in grades 5-12.)

Bob Dieterlen - Your 16 now. What grade are you in?

Sierra Hull - I’m a junior in high school. So, I have a whole other year before graduation, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Bob Dieterlen - Some in the profession get out of school early to pursue their music. Do you think that’s something you would be interested in?

Sierra Hull - No, I don’t have any plans on quitting or getting a GED or anything like that. I plan on finishing what I started and toughing it out. I really like school and it is important for me to finish. But, it’s hard when I am missing so much school to try to stay caught up. I do look forward to getting out though so I can concentrate fully on playing my music.

Bob Dieterlen - Where are you originally from?

Sierra Hull - I’m from a town about two hours north east of Nashville called Byrdstown in Tennessee. It’s a small town where I still live.

Bob Dieterlen - How did you get into playing bluegrass?

Sierra Hull - My dad always liked bluegrass, but it was not unusal to hear a rock station playing on the boom box. Actually, when he started getting into bluegrass, it was kind of a shocker for my mom because he went from listening to rock to buying tapes of Larry Sparks. Larry is pretty hardcore traditional bluegrass, so I guess that was a pretty big jump! My brother and I also sang in church, but it was when I was eight that my dad bought a mandolin for himself and started taking lessons that really sparked my interest in playing bluegrass.

Bob Dieterlen - You also have a band, right?

Sierra Hull - Yes, Sierra Hull & Highway 111.

Bob Dieterlen - Will you be touring this summer promoting your new album “Secrets”?

Sierra Hull - Yeah as much as possible, with school still going on it’s kind of hard, because I feel like I have to try to promote a record in half the time that most people get because of my schooling. But, we are going to try to tour as much as we can. Actually, we are going to Japan to play, around the end of July. It should be real fun and interesting. I have never had the chance to do anything like that before, so I’m really looking forward to it.

Bob Dieterlen - Ron Block (AK & Union Station) produced your album, and played banjo and guitar with you tonight. Because Union Station is not touring this summer, will Ron be playing with your band?

Sierra Hull - Well Ron’s doing his own shows this summer, and sometimes if one of us is not busy, we will sit in together, but no, Ron will not be touring with us. Actually, Corey Walker plays banjo in my band Highway 111. He also did most of the banjo work on “Secrets”. Corey is 18 years old and from Florida. He is a great, great banjo player, and I’m not just saying that! He truely is one of the best on the scene today. I’m lucky to get the opportunity to play with him.

Bob Dieterlen - What’s coming up for you as far as professionally?

Sierra Hull - Well actually, I recently was asked to be a part of a new movie being made about the life of Billy Graham. It’s a movie being directed by Robbie Benson. Anastasia Brown from Nashville Star called me about a small part in the movie. I am playing Billy Graham’s sister, Catherine Graham. The movie is called “Billy Graham, The Early Years.”

I also just recorded for the (soundtrack) album at John Carter Cash’s studio. He’s kind of producing the music side of the movie. I was in the studio with Ronnie Bowman, John Cowan, Ronnie McCoury and two or three others. It was a blast. I recorded “Just As I Am”. It was kind of Billy’s theme song. I’m real excited about the whole thing.

Bob Dieterlen - Have you filmed anything yet?

Sierra Hull - Not yet. I go in April and in May for the filming, so I have’nt got to do all that yet. It should be a very interesting experience!

Bob Dieterlen - Do you listen only to bluegrass or have other types of music had an influence on you?

Sierra Hull - I think it’s good not to be closed minded to just one type of music. Some people get caught up into saying “bluegrass, that’s the only type of music there is.” and I understand where they are coming from, cause bluegrass is really where my heart and sole lie. I love bluegrass and I love playing it, but I think it’s good to pull influences from every kind of music.

It kinda helps you (as a musician) to find your own voice, find you. I’m really still working on that some, still workin on me. I mean I’ve listened to everything, Journey, Air Supply, Def Leppard, and things like that. Even one of dad’s favorites, ZZ Top! In the same breath, I listen to people like Larry Sparks and Doyle Lawson.

We used to drive to and from church listening to Doyle sing gospel on the car radio. My brother and I always tried to sing like Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver in the car. I feel like I’m just now finding my singing voice. I mean, I’ve been playing mandolin for eight years, and I have always been thought of and thought of myself as just a mandolin player. I did sing harmonies with my brother, but mostly worked on mandolin. In the last couple of years, I have really tried to work more on my singing because it has totally become a big part of me and a big part of what I want out of my music. I really want people to be able to think of me as a singer who can also play mandolin, rather than a mandolin player that can sorta sing! (Laugh)

Bob Dieterlen - You’re a heck of a guitar player to, let’s not forget that!

Sierra Hull - Well thanks! I’ve been playing guitar a little less time than mandolin.

Bob Dieterlen - Anything else in the arsenal?!

Sierra Hull - No not really. Well actually fiddle really was the first instrument I tried to learn to play, but I had a full size and it was too big for my hands. But because my dad was learning to play mandolin, he showed me a couple of tunes on the mandolin. Because the mandolin and fiddle are tuned the same, he thought that would help me learn the fiddle. I’ve been playing mandolin ever since! I still play fiddle a little bit, but I would not consider myself a fiddle player.

Bob Dieterlen - I noticed by your style of picking that you must have listened to alot of Adam Steffey. What others are your biggest influences?

Sierra Hull - Yeah definitely Adam. I listened to alot of Chris Thile of course. He’s really turned some heads and made people say “wow, you really can do that, you can do that on a mandolin?” Andy Leftwich is another, Sam Bush, Wayne Benson, Alan Bibey, and of course Doyle Lawson. But I would have to say influence-wise definitely Adam Steffey and Chris Thile.

Bob Dieterlen - Have you ever had the chance to play with Chris Thile at all?

Sierra Hull - Yeah, I met Chris the first time at MerleFest. See I was and still am a huge Allison Krauss fan. She, hands down, has had the biggest influence on my music. My parents found out Allison would be at Merlefest, and decided to take me. We had no idea how big the festival would be. We had never been to a festival like that before.

Bob Dieterlen - Let me interrupt, how old were you at the time?

Sierra Hull - I was 10 and really hadn’t done much traveling to festivals or anything at that point. I remember how big the festival was and thinking there is no way I will ever get to meet Allison.

My parents and I ended up running into Chris Thile right after he got off stage, and I asked him to sign my mandolin strap. Afterward, another little girl that was there asked me to play a song for her, so I started playing a song and Chris walked over and knelt down to listen to me, and said “holy crap your good, do you want to play?!” He was really great! He jammed with me for almost two hours the first time meeting me. He was just really nice. It was really cool that someone like Chris would take the time out to stop what he is doing and sit and play that long with a little kid. What was really cool was he ended up taking me backstage to meet Allison. It was a dream come true! It is a great memory.

Bob Dieterlen - What is it about bluegrass that you love the most?

Sierra Hull - There’s just something about bluegrass and the people involved that makes it such a great environment to learn music and play. I would never have gotten as far as I have, had it not been for all the people I have met along the way. I feel so blessed to be a part of this music.

Sierra has been keeping very busy as of late with her debut album on Rounder Records intitled "Secrets", set to be released in only 2 weeks!(May 6th)

The new album features some of Sierra's favorite musicians including: Ron Block, Dan Tyminski, Clay Hess, Barry Bales, Tony Rice, Cory Walker, Stuart Duncan, Rob Ickes, Dennis Crouch, Jason Moore, Jerry Douglas, Chris Jones, and Jim Van Cleve.

The new music can be ordered now on the Music page! You can also hear 3 cuts from "Secrets" by visiting www.myspace.com/sierrahullmusic

NOTE: The CD release party for "Secrets" is set for Wednesday, May 14th at the world famous Station Inn in Nashville, TN. Sierra will host a show with guest appearances by Ron Block, Dan Tyminski, Clay Hess, Barry Bales, Cory Walker, Jim Van Cleve and Rob Ickes. Come join the fun and be a part of the CD celebration!

---------------
Sierra has also recently spent time on set of the upcoming Billy Graham film. Sierra is playing the role of Catherine Graham (Billy's sister) as well as singing in the movie.

The movie is being directed by actor Robbie Benson and features Armie Hammer, Martin Landau and Lindsey Wagner. Kristopher Polaha, Josh Turner, Stefanie Butler, Jennifer O'Neill and Sierra Hull also star.

Sierra is very excited about this new adventure and has enjoyed the experience thus far!

---------------
This weekend, Sierra and the band will be headed to MerleFest in Wilksboro, NC. This 4 day event is definitly one you won't want to miss out on with preformances by some of your favorite artist! This will be the first festival that Sierra will have "Secrets" for sale. Come hear some great music, and be one of the first to get a copy of Sierra's new music! For more info please visit: www.merlefest.org

You can now hear three new songs from Secrets at the Sierra Hull Music Myspace Page! - www.myspace.com/sierrahullmusic

Be sure to go give the songs a listen and let us know what you think!

FROM - THE TENNESSEAN
www.tennessean.com

Teen Lands Role as Billy Graham's Sister in New Film
BY BEVERLY KEEL • MARCH 30, 2008


That's the lesson we've learned from 16-year-old Sierra Hull, who landed the part of the Rev. Billy Graham's sister, Catherine, in the movie about him that's being shot here in Nashville.

In February, I ran a column announcing that a movie on a young Billy Graham would be shot in Middle Tennessee. In that column, music supervisor Anastasia Brown said she was looking for a young girl with a voice like Alison Krauss. I asked people who knew of interested girls to send me packages containing photos and CDs. I received several armfuls of packages that I forwarded to Anastasia.

Claire Armbruster of Nashville's Keith Case & Associates saw the item and immediately thought of one of her firm's clients, Sierra, who lives in Byrdstown, Tenn. Sierra will release her debut for Rounder Records, an album called Secrets, in May.

"I sent it in without (Sierra) knowing," Claire says. "When I read what Anastasia said about needing an 11- or 12-year-old that sounded like Alison Krauss, I thought of Sierra, even though she's 16, because she's so petite. They do miracles in the movies.

"About a week later, Anastasia called and said Sierra was her number one pick."

Anastasia says, "She was the one that had the exact voice I was hearing in my head for this really important role. Director Robby Benson fell in love with her voice as well.

"I called and told her my vision and that I loved her voice. I said, 'Would you be willing to do this for the movie?' She said, 'Yes, ma'am, I sure would.' "

On Thursday, Sierra recorded "Just As I Am" and "I'll Fly Away" with producer John Carter Cash at his famed log cabin studio in Hendersonville. Participating in the sessions were top-notch musicians Randy Scruggs, Harry Stinson, John Cowan, Ronnie McCoury, Ronnie Bowman, Sarah Peasall and John Wesley Ryles. "Robbie and I were in the studio, and both of us got goosebumps about 10 times. We kept on showing each other our goosebumps," Anastasia says.

" 'Just As I Am' was being sung when Billy had his conversion and walked the sawdust trail to the altar," Anastasia says. "Her voice will be extremely highlighted during this climax of the film."

Many of the actors appearing in Billy: The Early Years are expected to arrive in Nashville today. Armie Hammer has been cast as the famed preacher. Armie, the great-grandson of industrialist/philanthropist Armand Hammer, is also slated to play Batman in George Miller's Justice League of America. He has appeared in Desperate Housewives, Veronica Mars, Flicka and Blackout.

Martin Landau will play Billy's mentor, Charles Templeton, in a role that was originally to have been played by Hal Holbrook. The movie also will feature Lindsay Wagner, Jennifer O'Neill and Stephanie Butler. The actors will meet to read the script on Monday and filming starts Wednesday. Nashville-based Ruckus Films is a production partner in the film.

FROM WWW.ROUNDER.COM:
Rounder Records -

Bluegrass Royalty – And Critics– Love 'Secrets,' the Highly Anticipated Debut from 16-Year-Old Sierra Hull, Due May 6

(Posted 03/19/08) TOUR DATES ALSO ANNOUNCED

Burlington, MA – The bluegrass world – and critics – are buzzing about Secrets, the forthcoming national debut album from 16-year old mandolin prodigy Sierra Hull. Due May 6 on Rounder Records, Secrets is an astonishingly mature album that balances hard-driving bluegrass with introspective ballads and features a who’s who of bluegrass all-stars including Ron Block, Dan Tyminski, Barry Bales, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Tony Rice, Jim VanCleve, Rob Ickes, Chris Jones, Jason Moore, and 17-year-old banjo whiz Cory Walker (who is in Sierra’s band, Highway 111).

____________________________________

“Sierra is a remarkably talented, beautiful human being. Success could not come to a more worthy person. I adore her.”
– Alison Krauss

“…displayed instrumental dexterity far beyond [her] years…”
– Michael Parrish, Chicago Tribune

“Sierra Hull is without doubt my favorite mandolin player! Her approach to building solos and working in all situations, both on vocal numbers and instrumentals, is SO far beyond her years that I constantly stand amazed. It’s always good to hear fresh young players with a hunger to pick and create good music, and I am convinced that Sierra Hull is going to be a player and singer that we’ll all be listening to and trying to emulate for years and years. If you’re a mandolin player and haven’t listened to Sierra, you are in for a TREAT. Get your mando out and prepare to rip off as many licks as you can figure out. I know I am! She’s a true inspiration and an even better person!!! I’m so glad I can call her my friend and you’re going to LOVE this recording.”
– Adam Steffey

“On the mandolin, she is wonderfully adept - unshowy and musical. And she is a lovely singer…pure and unaffected. Indeed, her whole personality [is] that way.”
– Jay Nordlinger, New York Sun

“With Secrets, Sierra Hull takes charge and leads the band with full authority. Her vocals are effortless and straight to the point, while keeping the focus on melody. Her mandolin playing is smooth, in time, and downright slippery. It’s amazing to listen to her precision and agility, and the potential for musical growth is tremendous. I can’t wait to hear what Sierra comes up with next. Every so often, a talent comes along that makes us sit up and take notice. That time is now for Sierra Hull. This CD is HULLACIOUS!!!”
– Sam Bush

“…rising bluegrass star…”
– Nancy Cardwell, Bluegrass Now
____________________________________

FROM WWW.CYBERGRASS.COM
REVIEW: Secrets: The Amazing Sierra Hull

Bob Cherry wrote: on Feb. 21, 2008:

Every once and a while, a bluegrass prodigy comes along that just stands above the rest. Ricky Skaggs was one. Alison Krauss was another. We've watched as Chris Thile perfected his music. These are the young artists that keep the music alive for at least another generation. Their music is just a notch above the norm - sometimes many notches. Such is the case with 16-year old Sierra Hull who, along with Union Station's Ron Block, have produced Secrets on Rounder Records. I've been listening to the music on this debut release for a couple of days now and, well, it is sincerely amazing.

Sierra is getting a big boost from Alison Krauss and her band, Union Station. Most of the musicians on the album are Union Station members. Ron Block even co-produced the album. But, the artists on the album are not limited to just Union Station. You'll also find Tony Rice, Stuart Duncan, Jim VanCleve, Rob Ickes, Chris Jones, Jason Moore and 17-year old banjoist Cory Walker who, by the way, is also in Hull's own Highway 111 band. With all this outstanding talent, you would expect an outstanding album. It's no secret that this group of artists are some of the best.

One thing that young artists seem to lack is mature vocals. This young lady is beyond her years in vocal quality. It's smooth, on target, emotional and strong. Once again, this album surprised me. I haven't heard vocal maturity from a younger artist since early Alison Krauss when she was also 16 years old. Again, the secret is out. This young lady can sing and sing well!

OK, lets pick the album apart a bit more. Instrumentation. Bluegrass is an art form that doesn't leave any room for inexperience in a quality release. If you want to leave your mark and mark it well, your playing has to be alive, perfectly timed and carry some soul throughout an entire piece. Hull's mandolin work does just that. It too is right on target. Smooth, articulate and bright. It's no secret either since, Hull has been playing for many years already. Five years ago, on her Grand Ole Opry debut, she performed mandolin with Alison Krauss and Union Station! (see video below.) No secret there. Here's another little secret...She plays guitar too and some of her guitar playing is also featured on this album.

So are there any other surprises with this album? Many. Most debut albums give you the stock 10 tracks to show off what an artist can do. Not here. This album features 13 wonderful tracks of instrumentation, vocals, harmonies, and some Hull original songwriting all wrapped up in a most amazing collection. We will all be hearing a lot more of her songs and her playing in the future. This young lady has talent and a lot of it too! The song "Hullarious" was written by Hull and "Two Winding Rails" was written by Stacy and Sierra Hull.

So, what about the music? It's wonderful. If you didn't know Sierra was only 16, you certainly would not guess it by the maturity and sincerity of the sound of this album. Hull's presentation has soul and emotion. The range is strong anywhere she puts her voice. The music is tight and bright. The selection of music is broad with a great appeal range. Her production of this album is top-notch. Professional all the way!

While the album doesn't officially come out until early May, keep your ears tuned to the radio. This is one secret that is going to get out early. People will talk about this new artist and her latest release, Secrets

Rounder Records has announced May 6th as the official release date of Sierra's upcoming record, Secrets!

For information please visit: www.rounder.com

Sierra will be performing at New York City's Carnegie Hall on Thursday, Feb. 21st, with Alison Krauss, Edgar Meyer, Ron Block, and Bobby McFerrin. See below for more details!


Carnegie Hall
154 West 57th Street
New York, NY
Showtime: 8:00pm
Ticket Price: $23.00 - $76.00
To Purchase Tickets: Visit the venue box office or Carnegie Hall website.

This concert is part of the "Around The Globe" series, and will be for one night only. Come out and see Alison, Bobby, and Edgar all performing together with special guests Ron Block and Sierra Hull.

After months of hard work and patience, Sierra's debut record for Rounder is finally finished! The new record entitled 'Secrets', produced by Sierra and Union Station member, Ron Block, includes many of Sierra's favorite musicians and singers. The album has a large variety of songs from some incredible songwriters, as well as some of Sierra's own original material.

With a street date yet to be determined, the release is to be expected around late March/early April by Rounder Records. More info will be posted in the upcoming months so please check back often for updates!

Hello Friends!

FYI:
Sierra and Producer, Ron Block, are currently in the last stages of finishing up her upcoming Rounder Records release. With only 10 more days left before flying out to California for a week of mixing, Ron and Sierra have been hard at work, and are getting close to completing the project. More info. will be posted soon, so please check back soon for more updates during this exciting time!

Work has resumed in my studio on Sierra's first Rounder release. I first met Sierra at the International Bluegrass Music Association's big convention up in Louisville back when she was a wee 11 year old. Sierra and I tracked 12 songs at 17 Grand in Nashville earlier this year; several great original songs written by Sierra are included. Musicians so far include Dan Tyminski, Clay Hess, and Tony Rice on guitars, Barry Bales, Dennis Crouch, and Jason Moore on bass, Rob Ickes on dobro, Jim Van Cleve on fiddle, Cory Walker on banjo, and myself on guitar and banjo. The record will be handed in at the end of November for a release in late March - it will be a strong showcase for her immense and rapidly developing mandolin, guitar, singing, and songwriting abilities.

-Ron

We have now loaded some new pictures to the photo gallery of recent performances. New ones are still soon to come, so be sure to check back. Enjoy!

The new video from Randy Kohrs, "Who's Going With Me?", in which Sierra took on the role as the preacher's daughter, has now been added to the rotation on CMT, as well as GAC. The video can also be viewed online at www.cmt.com.

The International Bluegrass Music Association's World of Bluegrass to be held at the Nashville Convention Center October 1-7, 2007 has invited Sierra Hull & Highway 111 to be an Official Showcase Artist as well as Fan Fest Performer. Sierra and the band will also take part in workshop activities throughout this exciting week. We invite you to come join us as this amazing event!

For more information please visit: www.ibma.org

Be sure to check the schedule page to find out when Sierra and the band will be playing.

The 5th Annual Sierra Hull Bluegrass Festival(which is always held the 2nd weekend in September) will take place this year on Saturday, September 8th. The festival is held in Sierra's hometown of Byrdstown, TN, and is a much anticipated event each year. This year's music line-up includes - Sierra Hull & Highway 111, Kenny & Amanda Smith, and Newfound Road. We hope you'll come join us, and make plans to bring a friend for a day filled with great music,food and fun!

2007 Festival Schedule:

11:00 AM- Gates & Registration Opens
12:00 PM-DAVA-presenting of the Colors
12:15 PM- National Anthem-Sierra Hull
1:00 PM- Competition Begins
4:00 PM- Cloggers (TBA) & Live Remote Broadcast Begins 94.7 FM Radio
4:30 PM- Sierra Hull & Hwy 111
5:00 PM- Kenny & Amanda Smith
6:00 PM- NewFound Road
7:30 PM- Kenny & Amanda Smith
8:30 PM- Sierra Hull & Hwy 111

For More Information on this Festival please visit:
http://www.dalehollow.com/bg.htm#schedule

Or visit:
www.kenny-amandasmith.com
www.newfoundroad.com

A recent two day video shoot took place in Hendersonville,TN that featured Sierra in Randy Kohrs & The Lites upcoming music video.

The song, Who’s Goin’ With Me, is about a boy who has a crush on the preacher’s daughter and ends up getting baptized by default. While Sierra played the flirty preacher's daughter, the role of the boy was played by Clay Hess's son, Brennen.

The video was produced by Bell-Jarboe Films, a production company with a track record of producing music videos that ascend to the #1 position on the video charts.

In addition, the shoot went really well, and they are all excited to see the end results!

A true prodigy and one of the youngest of the new players, 15-year-old Sierra Hull began playing mandolin at the age of eight and has since won numerous awards for her instrumental prowess. In 2002, she appeared twice at the Grand Ole Opry-performing the bluegrass-gospel classic "The Sea of Life" with her brother Cody, and accompanying bluegrass veteran Mike Snider on the much-covered instrumental "Big Mon." That same year she also took the stage at Nashville's famous Ryman Auditorium, accompanying Alison Krauss and Union Station for a performance that aired live on CMT.

Since developing her skills on an Adam Steffey Signature Series Gibson mandolin, Hull has become a seasoned bluegrass artist. Fronting her own band, HWY 111, she's toured with the likes of Krauss, Ralph Stanley, and other bluegrass greats. At the age of 11 she made her debut with the independently released Angel Mountain, to stellar reviews. For the past four years she's hosted a one-day bluegrass festival in her hometown of Byrdstown, Tennessee.

"Bluegrass musicians are different than pop stars," Hull has said. "Many of the best-known songs are heirlooms passed down in impromptu gatherings. The music they play is driven by a sense of tradition and place."