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From being invited by Marty Stuart to play the Grand Ole Opry at just 11 years old; to collaborating with musical icons such as Johnny Cash, Taj Mahal, Rob Ickes, Earl Scruggs, Molly Tuttle and Peter Frampton; to winning Grammys and International Bluegrass Music Association awards and receiving his own signature model Taylor Gold Label acoustic; Trey Hensley has worked hard to achieve a celebrated career in music. Along the way, Hensley’s curiosity about different styles has inspired him to revere acoustic bluegrass while simultaneously steering its future via his genre-blending potpourri of country, Americana, blues, rock and more.
Here are just a few of the tips, worries and wisdom you’ll take away from this insightful interview …
A Live Performance Inspired His Commitment to the Guitar
“I got a guitar when I was nine and took lessons when I was ten. But for some reason, it didn't click until I got to see somebody playing live in person at a bluegrass festival. In fact, Charlie Waller was the first guitarist I actually witnessed taking a guitar solo. That was a lightning bolt moment. It was all over.”
Everyone Can Get Intimidated (But You're Probably Just Fine)
“Recording Swingin’ Live at the Church in Tulsa with Taj Mahal in front of a live audience was intimidating. We were also playing brand new songs we didn't know were going to get played, and I remember leaving that night really unsure of myself and how it went. Part of that was not expecting what was going to happen, so I didn’t have everything prepared. If we had played the same songs over and over again, I would have known what I was going to do. But we didn’t, so I didn’t know if what I did was any good or not. When the record came out, I didn’t listen to it for a couple of weeks. I was nervous and I didn’t want to be disappointed with how I played—especially as I knew Taj sounded great. It wasn’t until the Grammy nomination [Best Traditional Blues Album, 2025] rolled in that I thought, ‘You know, I should probably check that record out.’”
Constantly Check Out Different Music for Inspiration
“Part of acoustic bluegrass music is you're always digging for the source. Eventually, you go back to Mississippi John Hurt or Mother Maybelle Carter, and it's like, ‘Okay, well, that's where this came from.’ Then, I’d listen to Tony Rice, who would play John Coltrane songs, so I’d check out Coltrane. When I got into Zeppelin, I also started getting into blues stuff, and I’d go down those Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters rabbit holes. And Taj Mahal. It was an honor to work with him, and I learned so much, because Taj is a musicologist. He’s always listening—it might be hip-hop one moment and Bill Monroe the next. I loved that.”
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