Sarah Lee Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie’s daughter and Woody Guthrie’s granddaughter, ultimately followed the family musical path despite lacking any early intention of doing so, issuing her self-titled debut on the family-owned Rising Son Records in 2001. Her earliest appearance on record came as a toddler vocalist on her father’s 1981 album Power of Love. During adolescence she also contributed vocals alongside him to the Grammy-nominated children’s collection Woody’s 20 Grow Big Songs. Punk records occupied far more of her attention in high school than any notion of becoming a folksinger. After graduation she nevertheless joined Arlo on tour, beginning as road manager before joining the band itself. Her first public performance took place at Carnegie Hall alongside family and friends. She met her future husband, Johnny Irion—previously of North Carolina alt-rock outfit Queen Sarah Saturday and a onetime touring member of Dillon Fence—in 1997. Two years later she joined Irion and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger in the folk trio RIG. In 2001 Guthrie and Irion also began extensive duo touring while each issued a solo album; they entered the studio together in 2004. Partly produced by Gary Louris of the Jayhawks and supported by several alt-country figures, their joint album Exploration appeared on the roots-oriented Yep Roc label in spring 2005, followed by Go Waggaloo on Smithsonian in 2009.
