Alecia Nugent

Alecia Nugent's childhood unfolded amid the sounds of traditional bluegrass, though she would eventually fuse that upbringing with a classic country approach. The Southland Bluegrass Band was launched by her father in the year of her birth, and Nugent later joined the group once she was old enough, delivering the lead vocal on Holly Dunn's hit "Daddy's Hands." By her late teens she had become the band's primary singer, incorporating the bold delivery of her idol Reba McEntire. A devoted regional audience grew around her throughout Louisiana by the close of the 1990s. Bluegrass promoter Johnny Stringer counted himself among her supporters and ultimately connected Nugent with Rounder Records by way of his friend Eddie Stubbs, the Grand Ole Opry announcer. Rounder signed her and issued the self-titled debut album in early 2004. A Little Girl...A Big Four-Lane followed two years later, and Hillbilly Goddess arrived in 2009.