Amanda Smith: Pushing Boundaries

While she’s half of the award-winning duo Kenny and Amanda Smith, Amanda is a powerhouse on her own. A native of Davisville, W. Va., she has been singing since she was eight. “I sang in church. My mama always sang, so I sang with her. My daddy got me an autoharp that I played and sang to, and my mama encouraged me to sing in church, so I did.”

By the time she was in junior high, Amanda had won talent competitions and was singing at local events. “I learned to play guitar in high school,” she says. “I’m fortunate because my parents listened to all kinds of music, so I was exposed to a lot early on.”

Amanda’s first taste of bluegrass was playing guitar and singing at an auction barn where folks picked in the parking lot. But the person who really got her attention was Alison Krauss. “I was driving home from work and heard her sing ‘New Fool’ on the radio. I went straight to the mall and bought the CD. I was mesmerized.”

She started attending bluegrass festivals with her dad in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. She met her husband, Kenny, in 1995 at a Lonesome River Band concert. ”I looked up and said, ‘That’s not Tim Austin.’” It was Kenny, and he got Amanda’s attention. “My mom encouraged me to give him my cassette.” The cassette was a demo tape that had her phone number on it. “I gave it to him and told him I’d like his feedback. He called me the next morning.”

Kenny was in the studio cutting his first album with Lonesome River Band, so the couple didn’t start dating until a month later. “I remember our first date. We went to the movies, then to my parents' house. We sat on the couch and neither of us knew what to talk about. I finally asked if he wanted to pick, and he said yes.” They married on November 16, 1996, and they’ve been picking together ever since.

Kenny and Amanda sang in churches, and when they made a CD for family and friends, WDVX radio station and soon other DJs began to play it. Without trying, they were on the charts at #26. “We decided that maybe that was our sign to get serious about a band,” laughs Amanda.

Now they are “nine or ten” albums in and still going. “We are working on a new one now. We have half the album cut and we’re hoping to get the rest done early this year.” Kenny and Amanda have their own record label. “We record at Gat3 Studio in Charlotte, North Carolina. We’ve cut most of our albums there.”

Choosing the material for an album is one of Amanda’s favorite things to do. “I try to pick songs that match our sound. We can listen to a song and tell if it’s right for us. Lyrics are a strong driver, and for me, the melody is important because I’m a singer. We are so grateful that we’ve had songwriters write songs for us. That is something special.”

Amanda says Whitney Houston inspires her. “I can’t listen to her albums without crying. She is my all-time favorite vocalist. She sang with such emotion.” Other artists who inspire Amanda are Alison Krauss, Rhonda Vincent (“she has a great work ethic”), and Dale Ann Bradley (“she is always so kind and encouraging”). “And I can’t forget Donna Ulisse, who is so talented. She is also a good friend.”

Other artists have been supportive over the years, including Del McCoury (“he is so kind to us”) and Russell Moore (“what a singer”). Andrea Roberts has also been a great supporter. “One of my first albums was with her band, Petticoat Junction. I was fortunate that I got to play a show with them.”

Amanda’s career highlight was when she was nominated for IBMA Best Female Vocalist for the first time. “Kenny and I found out we were pregnant with our daughter, Annabelle, after thinking it may not be possible. I kind of forgot about the nomination because I was excited about the pregnancy. On awards night, we sat with Barry Bales and his wife, Aliceson. Barry leaned over and wished me good luck. I laughed and said I hadn’t even written a speech. I was just thrilled to be considered.” When she won, Amanda accidentally let the secret out on stage when she said she was excited for their baby to come.

Amanda Smith, known for her powerful and expressive voice, brought her unique style to the partnership with Kenny. Together, their work pushes boundaries in the best ways while continuing to honor classic bluegrass traditions.