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When Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and East Tennessee State University alumna Amythyst Kiah shared her Appalachian story in a PBS documentary, her words resonated with many who call the region home.

“I just appreciate someone trying to tell the story in a way that is beautiful instead of harping on all the negative things,” Kiah said.

For more than 40 years, ETSU’s Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies program has helped shape the sound of a region while challenging the world’s understanding of Appalachia.

Today, it stands as a global leader in preserving tradition, fostering innovation and empowering voices in the region and beyond.

Kiah is one example of an ETSU graduate doing just that.

Through her groundbreaking music, Kiah is redefining Appalachia and reshaping an industry that, for generations, has suffered through less-than-flattering stereotypes.

Born in Chattanooga, Kiah has earned critical acclaim for her exploration of race, identity and personal experience. Her Grammy-nominated song “Black Myself” confronts the exclusion she has faced in bluegrass circles as a Black and queer performer.

“I pick the banjo up, and they sneer at me,” she sings.

In her album Wary + Strange, Kiah delves even deeper, addressing themes of loss, resilience and self-discovery. The New York Times heralded the album: “Amythyst Kiah found her powerful voice. Now she has a sound to match it.”

Global platform for Appalachian music

Kiah is far from the only ETSU graduate making waves.

In 2022, alumnus Tray Wellington released his celebrated album Black Banjo, which broke through traditional boundaries of the genre.

The Wall Street Journal lauded it as a genre-defying masterpiece, declaring Wellington “a new virtuoso” to watch.

In late 2024, Wellington captured the prestigious Steve Martin Banjo Prize, an honor highlighting rising banjo masters.

At the 2024 Grammy Awards, ETSU adjunct faculty member and musician Trey Hensley won the Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album for his work on Swingin’ Live at the Church in Tulsa with the Taj Mahal Sextet.

And at the 2024 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) World of Bluegrass Conference, one of the most significant bluegrass events in the world, ETSU faculty and alumni secured many honors. Among them:

• The Momentum Mentor of the Year Award went to alumnus Tony Watt, who studied bluegrass at ETSU in the early 2000s under program founder Jack Tottle and former program director Raymond McLain.
• Alumna Grace van’t Hof won IBMA Graphic Designer of the Year for the fourth year in a row.
• ETSU alumna Becky Buller, a renowned fiddler and songwriter, gave the 2024 World of Bluegrass Keynote Address.

Since 2013, students, faculty and alumni from the ETSU Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music program have earned more than 360 music award nominations, winning more than 170, including six Grammys and 54 International Bluegrass Music Association awards.

Excellence in the arts

ETSU has long been a cultural hub for creative expression and education.

The ETSU Martin Center for the Arts serves as a platform for world-class performances and exhibitions, bringing international talent and Broadway shows to Southern Appalachia.

The institution’s leadership in the arts extends beyond music.

The Reece Museum, one of the oldest museums in the state, preserves and shares Appalachian stories through innovative exhibits and programming. The museum regularly earns statewide recognition, including a recent accolade from the Tennessee Association of Museums.

The university also supports the visual arts through its studio programs and partnerships with regional galleries, giving students and community members opportunities to engage with art that reflects both the history and evolving identity of the region. The Tipton and Slocumb galleries often host engaging exhibitions.

“ETSU’s commitment to the arts is rooted in our responsibility to celebrate and elevate the voices of Appalachia,” said Dr. Ron Roach, chair of the Department of Appalachian Studies and director of the Center of Excellence for Appalachian Studies and Services at ETSU. “Through programs like Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies, we are not only preserving the rich cultural heritage of the region but also showcasing its vibrancy and relevance to audiences worldwide. Our alumni are living proof of the transformative power of Appalachian artistry.”