From busking on the streets of New Orleans and beyond to becoming a four-time Grammy Award-winning artist, Sierra Ferrell has truly climbed the ranks to be where she is today.
The songbird from West Virginia has quite a story. She spent many years homeless, train-hopping, and busking on the streets in cities all over the United States. During this time in her life, Ferrell was abusing drugs, and has shared that she’s died five times by overdose, but has been brought back to life each time. While Ferrell has overcome this chapter in her life, it was evident even during her nomadic period that she was trying to make a name for herself in music.
Ferrell would busk on the streets of any city she found herself in, trying to make a living and also to have people recognize her name. In 2016, Ferrell was living in Seattle, Washington, and could often be seen busking at Pike Place Market. I find this very interesting, given that she was busking a mere three years before signing her record deal with Rounder Records in 2019.
Recently, a video clip of Ferrell at Pike Place Market has resurfaced online, showcasing her raw talent… but also a song she featured on her sophomore record, “Chittlin’ Cookin’ Time In Cheatham County.” While Ferrell brought this song to light for our generation, making it her own, the tune dates back to the 1930s, when it was initially sung by Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith. Some say that Smith was helped by a fellow named “Busby” with the lyrics, but he is not credited on the tune.
Seeing the clip of Ferrell on the streets singing a song that would later appear on one of her tracklists eight years later is really cool and highlights that she’s always stuck to her guns with her music.
Although Ferrell is not wearing a dazzling stage get-up as she sports today, her style still screams that she’s the Sierra Ferrell we know today:
@roostersmusic Sierra Ferrell busking Pikes Place Market (2016) #throwback @Sierra Ferrell ♬ original sound – Rooster
In an interview with K5 News in 2023, Ferrell revisited the spot she first began busking at Pike Place Market after arriving in town, noting that she made $300 her first day sitting on her backpack with her dog. However, Ferrell recalled how challenging the days of busking were for her as well:
“Being on the streets busking, it’s very humbling. The people that come to see you, they’re not expecting to see you. Therefore, you’re not always going to have everyone’s attention.”
Busking is not for the weak. You are inserting yourself and your music in a place where people are not expecting to stop their busy day to enjoy your talents. However, for the artists who are lucky enough to have folks stop for a few minutes, their lives could be changed by discovering an artist like Sierra Ferrell.
Footage like this reminds you to stop and enjoy little moments… who knows, you might have stumbled upon the next big name in country music.
Fire up the studio cut of “Chittlin’ Cookin’ Time In Cheatham County” before you go:
