Artist Information
Trey Hensley is a GRAMMY® Award-winning musician and the 2023 IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Guitar Player of the Year. The Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival invitee has been referred to as a "bluegrass ace" by Rolling Stone magazine, "a guitar-slinging super hero" by Bluegrass Today, "Nashville's hottest young player" by Acoustic Guitar magazine and one of the "6 Blazing Bluegrass Guitarists You Need To Hear" by Guitar World magazine. Hensley's other-worldly guitar playing has received praise from a truly eclectic group of guitar legends from Vince Gill; Tommy Emmanuel, CGP; and Steve Wariner, CGP; to Deep Purple founder Ritchie Blackmore; Dean DeLeo & Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots; and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' Mike Campbell. But with Hensley, it's not just his guitar that does the talking—it's also his rich and powerful baritone vocals with echoes of Merle Haggard and George Jones. As Holler put it: “Hensley possesses a strikingly resonate, emotional voice, one that makes him a potent singer outside of his superb finger-picking ability.” Hensley is a multiple GRAMMY® nominee who received his first GRAMMY® Award at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in L.A. in 2025 as a member of The Taj Mahal Sextet, whose album Swingin’ Live At The Church In Tulsa won in the Best Traditional Blues Album category. Hensley has collaborated with the likes of Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Molly Tuttle, as well as longtime recording and touring partner Rob Ickes. The Grand Ole Opry holds a special place in Hensley’s heart, as he made his Opry debut at the age of 11, performing with Marty Stuart and Earl Scruggs (thanks to an invite from Stuart)—quite a way to be catapulted into the spotlight.
