Caroline Owens

This Young Lady is the Whole Package!

If you have yet to hear music by bluegrass singer, songwriter and guitarist, Caroline Owens, you will soon…and be prepared to be impressed. Last year Caroline was signed to Billy Blue Records—first as a writer with Billy Blue Publishing and then as a recording artist. As this issue of Bluegrass Unlimited goes to press, Caroline is finishing up her first Billy Blue project and by the time you receive this issue there may be a single from that project out on the air waves and on the streaming services. But if that has yet to happen, take a listen to Caroline’s original song “Heartbreak Train,”—which was released on her self-titled album from Skyline Records in 2024—and you will get a feel for her talent as a singer and a songwriter.

When asked about his decision to sign Caroline to Billy Blue, the label’s A&R/Creative Director, Jerry Salley, said, “I was first introduced to Caroline Owens and her music through my uber-talented and long-time friend Darin Aldridge, who was producing a record on her. I immediately recognized her talent and understood why Darin was intrigued to work with her. And, as much as I loved her enchanting vocal style, I was equally attracted to her songwriting ability. Her instinct and capability to properly craft a song seemed very natural to me. I thought, ‘This young lady is the whole package!’ 
  “I began following her music and was hopeful we could work with her in the future. As fate would have it, we were able to sign her as a songwriter first to our Billy Blue Publishing company. She hit the ground running as a writer at Billy Blue, and as we got to know Caroline better—and she got to know us better—it was obvious to everyone that she would be a perfect fit for our Billy Blue Records family of artists. 
“We are very excited about Caroline’s future and are grateful for the opportunity to work with her, representing her songs and music, and walking hand-in-hand with her on her musical journey.”  

One of the other writers at Billy Blue, Bob Minner—who has been doing some co-writing with Caroline—said, “The first time I met Caroline to write, it was like meeting a ray of country sunshine. And she brings that sunshine and enthusiasm to every writing session.

“As for her singing, I think she will be a major force in bluegrass in years to come. Coupled with her writing and authentic likability, it will be exciting to see what she accomplishes.  I’m looking forward to her new record on Billy Blue Records soon, as I’m sure it will be amazing and will launch her as a major performer in bluegrass music.”

Growing Up Gospel

While many young bluegrass artists performing today came from a family that was steeped in bluegrass and had family members that played the music, that wasn’t the case for Caroline. The Denton, North Carolina native—who now lives in Nashville—started singing gospel music, at age two, at the church were her grandfather preached. She said, “I didn’t get started in bluegrass until I was a teenager. I grew up in southern gospel music from the time I was born. I sang gospel music and didn’t really know that other things existed until I got much older. When you are in that world, that’s just kind of all you know. Which I am certainly not complaining about, as I was blessed with the best childhood that any little girl could ask for. By the way, if you’re reading this, thank you, Mom and Dad, for being the first people to believe in me.” 

When asked how she became interested in bluegrass music, Caroline remembered, “I started taking piano lessons when I was eight. When I was twelve, I decided that it was time for something new and I started taking guitar lessons. I learned a lot from a man named Greg Luck and started learning bluegrass rhythm, but at the time, I didn’t know even know that the bluegrass genre existed.” A short time later, Caroline was searching YouTube and when she typed in “bluegrass guitar” a clip of Alison Krauss popped up and watching that inspired her to explore more bluegrass music. She said, “I stumbled upon a clip of a lady by the name of Alison Krauss singing ‘Heaven’s Bright Shore’ on YouTube and I thought, ‘This is incredible. How have I never heard this beautiful voice before? I was immediately intrigued by her.” 

In addition to teaching Caroline, Greg Luck also began recording her at his studio. Caroline said, “Greg wasn’t teaching lessons all of the time. I was just lucky that he was interested in teaching me. He was my first musical mentor and had it not been for people like Greg, I don’t think that I would have pursued this very seriously.” When I asked Greg Luck about those early lessons with Caroline, he said, “Caroline came in singing her heart out and all on fire about learning how to play instruments.  She had a love for the music and wanted to learn more all of the time.  I helped her, but she was so on fire about the music that I can’t take much credit.  She just loved it and once someone gets on fire and loves it like she did, you just stand back and watch.  She is a wonderful young lady and I wish her all the best!”

The majority of the singing that Caroline grew up with in church was in the a cappella style. When she began learning how to play the guitar, she was mostly focused on rhythm. She said, “I love to play rhythm guitar. If I get the opportunity at a jam session, I say ‘Do an instrumental,’ because I love to put the focus on playing rhythm guitar. I can do instrumental leads and I can play, but Greg mostly taught me right hand work, which I am forever grateful for because it has really benefited me a lot through the years knowing how to dig into the rhythm.”

In addition to singing in church, once she learned how to play the guitar Caroline started performing as a solo act when she was about 14 or 15. She said, “I just took it around and started to play anywhere that I could play. A lot of times I was just doing cover material, just me and my acoustic guitar doing bluegrass standards. I did that for many years—and I went to a lot of jam sessions. I was doing something musical just about every night of the week.” 

When asked about the first band that she performed with, Caroline said that the advice that she received about forming a band came directly from the person who first inspired her to dive into bluegrass music—Alison Krauss. When she was sixteen, Caroline had the chance to meet Alison in the green room at one of her shows when Alison was on tour with Willie Nelson on the Outlaw Music Tour (2018). She recalls, “At the time I was taking fiddle from Greg Luck and he had told Alison that I played fiddle. We met backstage at the Willie Nelson concert. It was a big deal for me. I couldn’t believe it.”

In preparing for the interview with Caroline, I had watched a YouTube video of Alison and Caroline singing together with Suzanne Cox and so I asked if this video was taken during her first meeting with Alison. Caroline said, “Alison was very gracious with her time and we had been sitting there for a while, just talking. She was asking me questions about school and things like that…and how long I’d been playing. Then she looked at me and said, ‘Do you want to sing something?’ Through nervous, chattered teeth, I replied, ‘Of course!’ Then, after agreeing, I thought, ‘I’m either going to pass out or I’m going to sing. I need to pick one.’ We decided to sing and Suzanne was there and I said, ‘What about “When God Dips His Pen?”’ Because, you know, they do that song together. So, then we pushed the little red record button. It was a very surreal experience for a sixteen year old.” 

Caroline added, “She asked me if I played a lot and I said, ‘Well, I play some.’ She then gave me the advice that changed the trajectory of my career, ‘You should get a band.’ It was so simple, yet so profound. I thought to myself, ‘You know what, she’s right.’ It wasn’t long after that that I said, ‘It’s time. If she says it, I’m going to do it!’” Caroline did it and she hasn’t looked back. Caroline formed her first band right out of high school in 2020. She said, “It was time to either go to med school or get a bluegrass band. Because, you know, the two of those paths are so similar,” Owens jokes. “I had to pick one of them and I picked the music. I’ve found that in my life, the music always wins.”

When asked if she’s met with Alison since that time, she said, “Yes, I saw her about a year later and she remembered me. She was very gracious. In fact, she’s one of the kindest souls you could ever meet. The Isaacs are friends of mine and she was playing with them. Becky invited me backstage and asked if I wanted to meet Alison again. Of course I said, ‘Well, yes, please!’ That was down in Alabama.”

When asked about how she knows The Isaacs, Caroline said that in 2018 The Isaacs had a talent search called Musication Nation. Caroline entered and won that contest. The judges for the contest were The Isaacs and The Gatlin Brothers. The winner of the contest was given the opportunity to open for the The Isaacs and Gatlin Brothers show the night of the contest. Caroline opened the show singing ‘When God Dips His Pen of Love In My Heart.’”

Caroline Owens & New Company

When Caroline graduated high school and began to search for band members, she said she felt fortunate that she found seasoned players who were willing to help her get started. She said, “I was able to meet people through jam sessions who were very willing to play with someone who did not have a lot of experience. I’m very grateful to those folks because when you are first starting out, the venues are not interested in paying you a whole lot, which is understandable. I was very lucky to gather folks who were willing to pick with me for next to nothing at times. My first band was very helpful to me and very kind to take an 18-year-old under their wing and be so considerate and willing to play just for the fun of it. They were all older than me, so they were seasoned pickers who were willing to take a chance on someone who was younger and eager to learn.”

When asked about the members of that first band, Caroline said that while some members came and went, the two “notable mentions” who stayed with her for a couple of years were Parks Icenhour (on guitar) and Greg Penny (on bass). She said, “Outside of Greg Luck, Parks was one of the biggest mentors of my life. He was there when I didn’t feel so confident on the guitar, and he filled in the gap. He stayed with me, and encouraged me, until I was ready to play the guitar by myself. In addition, Greg Penny on the upright bass was one of the nicest guys who was just willing to go out and play with us. I feel very blessed to have made music and memories with them. They are another reason why I am where I am today.” 

For the most part, Caroline’s first band played venues close to home in the central North Carolina region. After she performed under the name Caroline and Company for a couple of years, she brought in new members and changed the band’s name to Caroline Owens and New Company. The current members of this band include Spencer Strickland on mandolin, Chase Bennett on banjo, Zak McLamb on bass and Ella Thomas on fiddle. 

Spencer Strickland, from Lambsburg, Virginia, won the 2004 and 2008 Galax mandolin competition and won the Merlefest mandolin competition in 2005. He also won the guitar competition at Galax in 2019. Spencer studied the art of lutherie under Gerald Anderson and is now the lead instructor at the Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts in Marion, Virginia. He has toured with Kenny & Amanda Smith, The Church Sisters, The Gibson Brothers, and many others.

Chase Bennett, from Canton, North Carolina, got his start with a bluegrass gospel group called New Hope before moving to another gospel group called Middle Cross. Caroline said, “He is married to beautiful wife, Maggie, and the two welcomed sweet little Callie June, last May.” Zak McLamb began playing bass at a young age and has toured with Kenny & Amanda Smith, Alan Bibey & Grasstowne, Constant Change and New Vintage. He is a two-time SPBGMA Bass Player of the Year.

Ella Thomas enrolled in the University of South Carolina’s Suzuki violin program at the age of four. By the second grade she was a member of the South Carolina Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and continued with them until 2021. She became interested in traditional music and bluegrass at the age of ten. She is a recent graduate of East Tennessee State University’s Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies program.

In The Studio

Caroline’s first band recording was with her original band Caroline and Company. They produced an album titled Apple Jack.  When asked about this recording, Caroline said, “It was a fun little album to make— Something to get us started.” 

Her next recorded project was a self-titled album on Skyline Records, which was released in 2024. On this album she worked with a number of talented musicians such as Darin and Brooke Aldridge, Kristen Scott Benson, Jason Burleson, Samantha Snyder, Bryan McDowell, Tim Surrett and Zak McLamb. This album was produced by Darin Aldridge. Caroline’s original song from this album “Heartbreak Train” was listed as the number one song of 2024 on the Bluegrass Borderline Charts. Another cut from this album, “No More Blue Moons In Kentucky,” was listed as one of the Eight Must-Hear New Country Songs in Billboard Magazine. Caroline is a 3X nominee for IBMA’s “Momentum Vocalist of the Year”, as well as a 2X nominee for SPBGMA’s “Female Vocalist of the Year.” 

The success of songs from the Caroline Owens album led to Billy Blue taking an interest. When asked how she connected with Billy Blue Records, Caroline said, “Last year, we were performing at SPBGMA, and that’s where I met the Billy Blue team— (A.K.A. the Billy Blue Crew, as we call it.) I had known about them, and admired the label from afar, but I had not officially met them all. They were listening to my performance on the main stage, came up to talk me afterwards, and something just sparked. Jerry Salley is a great guy. Every sweet, positive thing that you hear about him is the honest truth. He is so very genuine and just a true joy to be around. Jerry is one of the best guys you will ever meet.”

Since Caroline first signed with Billy Blue as a writer, I asked if they had approached her after hearing some of her original material. She said, “I had written a song called ‘Heartbreak Train.’ At the time, that was the most played song on SiriusXM and I think that was intriguing to them. I had written it by myself, so there weren’t any co-writers. I think that was a good window into the conversation.”

When asked about her song writing, Caroline said that she had started writing when she was only eight years old. Owens joked, “Of course, at eight years old I wasn’t writing anything that was very professional.” She continued, “I really was just writing for fun. I was taking piano at the time, and was greatly interested in not only learning a melody, but writing lyrics to a melody, as well. But, I didn’t really take it seriously until I started the band.”

Regarding the content of her early songs, Caroline said, “They were always gospel songs. I didn’t know any other things to write about. When you are small and that is your whole world, that’s just what you write about.” Since signing as a writer for Billy Blue, Caroline has been spending time co-writing with other Billy Blue writers such as Mike Richards, Bob Minner, Bill Whyte, Rick Lang, and others. 

Now in the studio with Billy Blue Records, as a recording artist, Caroline is working with another all-star line up of musicians, including Jeff Partin (bass and Dobro), Tammy Rogers (fiddle), Darin Aldridge (mandolin), Cody Kilby (guitar), and Matt Menefee (banjo). The album is being co-produced by Darin Aldridge and Jerry Salley. The first single from this album will most likely be released in late February or March of 2025.  Caroline said, “We plan to release several singles before the record makes its debut.” 

Regarding his work with Caroline, Darin Aldridge said, “Collaborating with students and young musicians in the bluegrass scene has been a truly rewarding experience for me over the years. My journey with Caroline began when Brooke shared a video of her singing a Dolly Parton song at around age 15. Since then, Caroline has become a dear friend, and it’s been a pleasure to witness her develop into an up and coming artist. There’s been numerous moments when she sought our advice as she’s navigated her musical path. When I felt the moment was right, I spoke with Caroline about taking her career to the next level in the music industry. Together, we explored songs that would help define her unique sound in preparation for her first album with a label. That experience was fantastic and has now led us to her upcoming album with Billy Blue Records. Watching Caroline’s voice mature and her artistry flourish has been a joy, and I believe she has a bright future ahead. I’m grateful that Brooke and I could play a small role in her journey.”

Caroline Owens is a young talent who I predict you will be hearing a lot about this year and in the years to come. Check out her touring schedule at carolineband.com and go out to see her perform if you have the chance. Also, keep an eye out for her new singles coming out on Billy Blue Records.