Image credits: Wikimedia Commons
Emmylou Harris
April 2, 1947
Birmingham, Alabama, US
79 Years Old
Aries
Who Is Emmylou Harris?
Emmylou Harris is an American singer and songwriter known for her crystalline voice and emotionally resonant interpretations across genres. Her distinctive sound blends country, folk, and rock, making her a seminal figure in Americana music.
She gained significant public attention after collaborating with Gram Parsons, whose influence steered her toward country rock. This partnership, though brief, launched her solo career and established her as a powerful vocal harmonist.
Early Life and Education
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Emmylou Harris grew up in a military family; her father, a Marine Corps officer, served in WWII and the Korean War. She took piano lessons as a child, though her true musical interest leaned towards folk.
Harris graduated valedictorian from Gar-Field Senior High School in Virginia and briefly studied drama at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She soon shifted her focus to music, performing folk songs in Greenwich Village clubs.
Notable Relationships
A string of high-profile romances has marked Emmylou Harris's personal life, including marriages to songwriter Tom Slocum, producer Brian Ahern, and songwriter Paul Kennerley. Her early career was notably influenced by her musical partnership with Gram Parsons.
Harris has two daughters, Hallie Slocum and Meghann Ahern, from her first two marriages. She has been in a long-term relationship with singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell since 2014.
Career Highlights
Emmylou Harris cemented her legacy through numerous collaborations, notably with Gram Parsons, and her iconic work on the Trio albums alongside Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt. These projects garnered widespread critical acclaim and significant commercial success.
Her solo albums, such as Pieces Of The Sky, Elite Hotel, and Red Dirt Girl, showcased her profound songwriting and interpretive skills, earning her multiple gold certifications. Harris is celebrated for placing 27 singles in the US country chart's top ten.
To date, Harris has collected 14 Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame in 2008, solidifying her status as a revered artist in American music.
Signature Quote
“Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart.”