Caroline Owens first stepped foot on a stage with a microphone at just two years-old. In the nearly two decades that have followed, Owens has laid the foundations for a bright music career. This year, with a record deal, two single releases and a slate of tour dates in tow, the North Carolina native is building momentum for a debut album release set for next year.
Having already found herself on a handful of curated Spotify playlists and in the top five on Bluegrass Today’s chart, Owens’ two single releases, “Heartbreak Train” and “No More Blue Moons in Kentucky,” have proven her to be one of the brightest rising stars in bluegrass.
We chatted with Owens about her early start in music, the success she’s earned so far, recording with an all-star band, new music and more!
Pro Country: You began singing in church at just two years-old. What was it about performing that connected with you so early in your life?
Caroline Owens: Really early on, especially singing in church, the audience was so gracious [laughs]. If you messed up, it was okay, and because I was so little; I think that helped some too. I loved performing for people and bringing a smile to their faces. There’s something about performing that makes me feel alive. Even though it was in church, it was still a stage, and I got to see people’s reactions. That was the biggest blessing to me.
PC: Your bio mentions catching the “bluegrass bug” at 13 years-old. What led you down a bluegrass path, and who were some of the earliest artists you remember hearing and falling in love with?
CO: Alison Krauss is the reason I got started in bluegrass. I heard a video of her on YouTube singing “Heaven’s Bright Shore” in my early teenage years. It was the most wonderful thing I’d ever heard in my life. Having grown up in church, I had a southern gospel background as well, so there were all kinds of different influences.
PC: You won several vocal competitions at fiddlers’ conventions in your early years. What does winning those competitions do for the confidence of a young artist early in her musical journey?
CO: It was a really big confidence booster! I didn’t win them all, of course, but winning those was a big boost. I’m actually going to be judging my first fiddlers’ convention this fall, so it’ll be fun to be on the other side of the table for once and have a little bit more fun [laughs]. I would recommend those competitions to all of the young artists looking to get started!
PC: When did your early interest in music translate into realizing you wanted to, and could, pursue music as a career?
CO: I was about 18. I knew music was what I wanted to do, I just didn’t know that I would get to do it. I was graduating high school, and I wasn’t sure what to do, to be honest. I had plans on going to medical school and becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon. I was really interested in that field, and I thought that’s what I would do, because music didn’t seem to be falling into my lap. Eventually, it just happened. I joined a band and things got moving. I knew that’s where I needed to be.
PC: As someone who had a deep love for music at an early age, what emotions were you feeling when you were preparing to release music for the first time with “Heartbreak Train”?
CO: I was torn up [laughs]. My nerves were shot! It was a lot of fun though. You want to do the best you can, so I was a little nervous, but as more singles come out, the nerves start to dwindle a little bit and you get a little more excited and a little less nervous. I had a wonderful team of pickers and singers on “Heartbreak Train.” Darin Aldridge produced it and played mandolin, Brooke Aldridge sang harmony with him as well, Jason Burleson from Blue Highway played the banjo, Bryan McDowell from Claire Lynch played the fiddle, and Tim Surret from Balsam Range played the bass, so I was very fortunate to have an all-star lineup. It was a wonderful time!
PC: “Heartbreak Train,” is a song that you wrote several years ago. What was it about the song that stuck with you and led you and your team to have it serve as your debut single?
CO: To be quite honest, I didn’t like the song when I wrote it [laughs]. I thought “this is the worst thing I’ve ever heard in my entire life! No one is going to want to listen to this song because it’s so darn sad.” I learned something about bluegrass early on: no matter how sad a song is, as long as you put upbeat music to it, people seem to like it, so that’s what we did!
PC: “Heartbreak Train” has landed on three curated Spotify playlists. What is it like for you to see a song you wrote on playlists with some of the biggest names in bluegrass?
CO: It’s giving me imposter syndrome [laughs]. It’s an amazing feeling. I feel so blessed to get to make this music in the first place. This has always been my dream, and I thought I’d never get to do it, so to have people taking an interest in what I’m doing is amazing!
PC: Your newest single, “No More Blue Moons in Kentucky,” was written by Darin and Brooke Aldridge and Dennis K Duff. What was it about the song when you heard it that drew you to record it?
CO: I was fishing on the bank of a river. Darin and I had been tossing songs back and forth, and he sent me “No More Blue Moons in Kentucky.” I had to stop what I was doing. If anyone knows me, they know that I don’t stop fishing for very many things [laughs]. I walked to the car, hooked up my phone to it and blasted it as loud as I could. I said “Oh my gosh, we have found the tune!” What spoke to me about it was similar to “Heartbreak Train;” we found something people could relate to. If you haven’t experienced love and loss in your life, you’re going to. That’s not something I’d wish on anyone, but it certainly makes for good singing content!
PC: Darin and Brooke Aldridge also feature on the song. What has it been like to you to work so closely with them and all of the all-star pickers who have played on both of your releases so far?
CO: It’s intimidating. Everybody is so nice, and they all work together so well. Everything is so smooth that you don’t really have time to be intimidated. Everyone is after one thing: making a song the best it can possibly be. That’s a rare find these days, and I feel very blessed to make music with them.
PC: Both “Heartbreak Train” and “No More Blue Moons in Kentucky” are currently in the “Top 50 Singles” on AirPlay Direct, and “Heartbreak Train” peaked in the top five on the Bluegrass Today chart. What has it been like for you to see the success that both songs have had at radio out of the gate?
CO: It makes me wonder if they’ve got the right person [laughs]. It’s been quite the confidence booster. There’s so many wonderful people on that chart, and seeing my name on there with them is almost unbelievable. I have to thank everyone who has listened, as well as all of the DJs and fans. I couldn’t do it without all of them!
PC: Your bio mentions that you have been working on your debut album, produced by Darin Aldridge. What information, if any, can you give about the album? What can listeners expect to hear?
CO: We already have six songs recorded, and we’re going into the studio next week to finish out the rest of the album. It’ll be here next year!
PC: You have been nominated for two IBMA Momentum Vocalist of the Year Awards in your career. What does recognition like that from within the industry mean to you?
CO: That’s really big for me! I got nominated for the first time when I was 19, and then again last year when I was 20. To have that happen at that time in my life was a really big thing. I’m still all torn up about those and how nervous I was about them [laughs]. It’s been a big roller coaster ride of emotions, but I’m so blessed to have received those nominations.
PC: Your website shows a pretty busy touring schedule through the end of the year and into next year. How much are you looking forward to taking your new music on the road and playing the songs in a live setting?
CO: I’m so looking forward to it! It’s always interesting to see different audiences and how they perceive your songs. We love playing all kinds of different festivals, venues and states and seeing what they think about it. I’m excited to see what they think about the new music!
PC: Along with those tour dates and continuing work on your album, what do you have planned for the rest of 2023 and going into 2024?
CO: Oh goodness, all kinds of fun and exciting new things! New venues and new festivals; we’re adding new shows to the site just about every day, so things are getting busy!
PC: Is there anything you’d like to add?
CO: Check us out on all of the social media platforms! You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, as well as Spotify and Apple Music.
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