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Country Strong
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Carrie Hassler
IF YOU GO
The reception for Carrie Hassler is set for 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. CST Dec. 5 at the Perfect Light Gallery, 421 Spring St. in Pikeville.
PIKEVILLE, Tenn. — It’s been just over a year since rising bluegrass star Carrie Hassler and her band Hard Rain ventured onto a nationwide tour that launched a new album.
Next Friday, the Bledsoe County native’s hometown will honor her with a “Carrie Hassler Day” proclamation and key to the city, Pikeville Mayor Greg Johnson said.
Mrs. Hassler, 29, said the recognition takes her back to her roots.
“It just absolutely brought me to tears because this is such an honor for me. Of every thing I’ve ever done, this is probably the most important that I’ve had happen to me,” she said.
“This was the icing on the cake for this year.”
And that’s saying something, considering Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain’s past year.
The band members are Travis Anderson on bass, Kevin McKinnon on mandolin, Josh Miller on banjo, Jamie Harper on fiddle and Keith McKinnon on guitar.
Booking agent Penni McDaniel said the band’s popularity has grown enormously.
The album released this year, CHHR2, debuted at No. 3 on Billboard magazine’s Top 50 Bluegrass Album Chart. It was named to Bluegrass Unlimited magazine’s Top 15 and the Rural Music Report, Ms. McDaniel said.
“We’re very excited because next year she’s doing her first tour in France at a huge music festival,” she said. Mrs. Hassler’s single, “I Can Go Back Anytime,” reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom, she said.
“So obviously, now I’m working on a UK tour, as well.”
But the next two stops for CHHR are in Pikeville.
Perfect Light Gallery owner John Hargis will host a reception on Carrie Hassler Day. The band will perform Dec. 13 at Sunset Jammers Saturday Night Bluegrass, near Fall Creek Falls State Park.
Pikeville is proud of Mrs. Hassler’s accomplishments, Mr. Hargis said.
“Last month, in the bluegrass music world, Carrie Hassler was the No. 1-played bluegrass musician in the world,” he said. “She’s rocking, and besides that she’s a sweet, good person.”
Ben Benton is a news reporter at the Chattanooga Times Free Press. He covers Southeast Tennessee and previously covered North Georgia education. Ben has worked at the Times Free Press since November 2005, first covering Bledsoe and Sequatchie counties and later adding Marion, Grundy and other counties in the northern and western edges of the region to his coverage. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Tenn., a graduate of Bradley Central High School. Benton ...
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