History Repeats: Sierra Hull Reunites With Mentor Alison Krauss At The Ryman

When Sierra Hull was 11, Alison Krauss & Union Station invited the child prodigy to join the band for a few songs during an All-Star Bluegrass Celebration for the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium. Alison Krauss went on to become a mentor to the young mandolinist/vocalist and the pair continued their long musical relationship on Tuesday at Hull’s concert at the same Nashville venue.

The gig was extra special for Sierra Hull as she grew up in Tennessee and attended many concerts at The Ryman. Krauss was one of several guests who joined Sierra Hull and her band for the latest show in the Bluegrass Nights concert series at the historic Nashville venue. Hull’s husband, multi-instrumentalist Justin Moses, sat-in on Tuesday as did mandolinist Lauren Price Napier.

Sierra Hull and her longtime touring band went it alone for a first set mixing material from the Tennessee-bred musician’s last few studio albums. The ensemble also performed their The Movements bluegrass concerto and closed the frame with a take on The Delmore Brothers’ “Blues Stay Away From Me.”

Hull played a solo version of “Stranded” to get the second set started. She then started “Angeline The Baker” solo before the members of her band joined in one by one. The parade of guests started a few songs later when Hull invited Lauren Price Napier down from the Bluegrass State of Kentucky to pick with her on Bill Monroe covers “My Last Days On Earth” and “Bluegrass Breakdown.” Justin Moses also contributed to “Bluegrass Breakdown” on banjo.

Alison Krauss emerged with no introduction to large cheers while Hull struck up Krauss & Union Station’s fan-favorite “Let Me Touch You For Awhile.” Sierra backed Krauss by singing harmonies while Moses filled out the band on dobro.

“This woman needs no introduction, of course, especially on this stage,” Hull said of Krauss after the song concluded. “There are people who come into your life every once in a while … for me, I was so lucky to have this lady come into my life at such a young age. I first heard her music at 9 years old. I had only been playing mandolin for one year and I got an album called Forget About It and it just blew my mind.”

The mandolinist then spoke about her earliest experience with Krauss. “When I think about people who have just sort of made me want to play music, she is certainly on the top of that list. I used to draw pictures of myself on stage with her — she knows, she’s seen ’em — and that was a long two years before I finally met her,” Hull continued. “One day I got a phone call from Alison asking if I would play the Grand Ole Opry with her and we got to play right here on this stage for the first time together when I was 11 years old. It’s still just as exciting to me tonight to have her here.”

Alison Krauss revealed Hull gave her one of the pictures she drew but the Union Station frontwoman doesn’t stil have it. “I said I’m going to keep this, but one day you’re going to need it for the Hall of Fame,” Krauss recalled of her response when gifted the drawing. Years later, the picture is indeed now on display at the Country Hall of Fame.

The collaboration continued with performances of Krauss’ “Every Time You Say Goodbye” and “Cluck Old Hen” by Fiddlin’ John Carson, two songs they initially played together at the Opry concert 22 years earlier. Lauren Price Napier returned to the mix to accompany Hull, her band, Moses and Krauss on a set-closing “Sawing On The Strings.” Sierra Hull played an encore of the Tears For Fears classic “Mad World” and her own “Lord, That’s A Long Way” sans guests.

Watch highlights from Sierra Hull’s guest-filled night at The Ryman below: