Ramblin' woman: A conversation with Kelsey Waldon
Kelsey Waldon will play Asheville Feb. 27.
Alysse Gafkjen photo
The first time I ever spoke to renowned Americana/country singer-songwriter Kelsey Waldon was in the spring of 2020. I’d only scratched the surface of her music and talent when we scheduled a phone interview. In truth, I was an instant fan from what I’d heard. And I’ve never forgotten that interaction.
Amid the pandemic, the world was (and remains) crazy. Visiting my parents in the rural countryside of Upstate New York, I was in search of proper cell service and privacy to talk to Waldon, so I hunkered down in the old barn next to their farmhouse. Soon, I found myself in this genuine, heartfelt conversation with a truly kindred, salt-of-the-earth spirit.
Raised in the tiny unincorporated community of Monkey’s Eyebrow, Kentucky, Waldon radiates her down-to-earth roots in every performance. She’s filled with a true, honest appreciation for rural America. Her lyrics focus on the simple things in life, which tend to be the most important — friends, family, nature, creativity and exploring everything with a childlike wonder.
Based in Nashville, Waldon’s latest record, “Every Ghost,” is her fifth release for Oh Boy Records, a storied label founded by the late John Prine, the iconic singer-songwriter who became a real-deal mentor and kindred spirit for Waldon before his untimely passing in 2020.
When we spoke over the phone some six years ago, I asked Waldon about the social unrest and turmoil that had erupted across America and how “it really circles back to what we love about country music — it’s always been a voice for the people.”
“Absolutely. The downtrodden. People forget that. Country music was not [the] rich man’s music. Our music has always been for the oppressed, at least from the roots of it,” Waldon told me then. “Country and rural people everywhere should understand how it feels to be told, ‘You’re just one thing, you’re not this.’ How it feels to be oppressed by the government. We should at least realize why people are feeling this way and why people are hurting.”
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Last summer, I crossed paths once again with Waldon, this go-round at the Under the Big Sky music festival in the Rocky Mountain outpost town of Whitefish, Montana. Backed by her band, The Muleskinners, Waldon commanded the western stage, her vocal prowess and sheer stage bravado radiating into the surrounding mountains and heavens above.
The show was incredibly moving, which is the ultimate goal for a singer-songwriter, this artist who comes from humble beginnings only to strike fire in the hearts of those souls in search of truth and purpose in the all-too-crazy thing we call daily existence, and being a curious human in the universe.
Smoky Mountain News: What’s been the biggest takeaway of why you got into [music] and why you still believe in it so much?
Kelsey Waldon: Honestly, I’ve been singing since I could open my mouth. I’ve just always wanted to do this. Everything’s kind of been a creative process. I’ve just been lucky enough to make a living at it. It’s been a journey, even since signing with Oh Boy in 2019.
There’ve been so many records that I was like, “Oh, this is it, this is the thing.” And it’s never it. I think really you just have to be consistent, you know? This keeps me alive. As long as I’m happy and healthy, I hope I always put out records and have something inspiring to say and not just popping them out.
I really, honestly feel I’m only just now understanding so many things that I needed to learn. I feel like maybe I always had the soul, but now I just feel like I’ve lived [that] soul.
SMN: What was kind of the vibe and ethos with this new record?
KW: You know, this era of this band getting together was really inspiring. Ever since our [2022 album] “No Regular Dog,” we really started gaining momentum on the road post-COVID, and we started seeing people finally start coming out. Then, I released [the 2024 album] “There’s Always a Song,” and it kind of continued. And then, finally, this group of people came together [for this band] and I was super inspired. People are really responding to [“Every Ghost”] in a different way, which is cool.
SMN: You’re in a good place.
KW: Right now? I think so. I am in a good place. I’ve experienced a lot of challenging stuff this past couple months, but I’m very grateful to be here.
SMN: It’s all about how you react.
KW: Yeah, you’ve just got to push through it. I was thinking about this the other day, too, [where] I remember, at the end of [late country legend] Billy Joe Shaver’s life, I saw him still playing, and he was still in a van and trailer, still doing it. And that’s so inspiring. I mean, I don’t know what else I’m going to do. [Laughs]. It’s the only thing I want to do.
And we’re discovering new fans all the time. It kind of feels like only just the beginning. You know, I like to say I’m waiting for the day somebody’s going to be like, “All right, you’re a fraud, you’ve had enough fun.” And I’m like, “All right, it was a good run.” [Laughs].
Want to go?
Acclaimed Americana/country act Kelsey Waldon & The Muleskinners will hit the stage at 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at the Asheville Music Hall.
To note, country/rock rising singer-songwriter Taylor Hunnicut will open the performance. The show is ages 18 and up. Doors open at 8 p.m. Admission is $21.95 per person (tax and fees included).
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit ashevillemusichall.com.
