The Hawkins Kids: Continuing a Family Tradition

Continuing a family tradition dating back to the 1930s, The Hawkins Kids band is inspired by family, faith, and the love of music. 

The Hawkins family lives on their farm in Woodstock, Virginia, where the three Hawkins children are homeschooled. Siblings Olivia (16), Tanner (12), and George (14) have musical gifts that are gaining notice around the region and beyond. “They are humble about their talents,” says Wade Hawkins, the father of the talented trio. “People will thank us after a show, and we have to explain that we didn’t do anything. It’s all the Lord’s work.” 

Wade says he and his wife, Jessi, don’t have musical talent, but they both enjoy listening to music. “I grew up listening to 90s country. But the musical talent skipped a few generations,” he says. “My great-grandfather and his brothers were in a band called The Hawkins Band. They played bluegrass, Gospel, and country at dances up and down the valley.”

Jessi bought a guitar and instruction books a few years ago with the idea of teaching herself to play. Instead, daughter Olivia, who was 10 at the time, asked if she could try, and she took to the guitar like a duck to water. 

Younger brother Tanner received a small guitar for Christmas when he was eight years old and immediately started playing it. He soon outgrew the small guitar and began playing a full-size model. Wade and Jessi signed him up for lessons. Olivia began taking lessons after Tanner.

Larry Rinard, the pastor of the church the Hawkins attend, and his wife, Kathy, have had a big influence on the kids. Larry is a musician and songwriter, and Kathy has taught music lessons to students in the area for decades. George discovered his interest in music while attending a jam session with Tanner and Larry. George tried the bass guitar and liked it. And like his siblings, it just clicked for George. 

The three siblings began playing together. “We like playing together,” says Tanner. “Our music teacher helped us perform at churches and carnivals, and George started joining us, and we had a band.” Learning to play on stage in front of an audience came fairly naturally to the Hawkins kids.

Wade explains that the kids all participate in 4H and one of the club requirements is to give a speech in front of the other members. “It helps them with public speaking. There is also a ‘share-the-fun’ session, which is like a talent show. That’s where Tanner first played in front of a crowd.” Tanner says it was nerve-wracking. “But playing in front of my friends gave me a little bit of confidence, and every time I play, I get a little more confidence.” 

That confidence took them into a recording studio where they cut their first album, Life on the Farm, released in 2025. The album features a few songs written by Larry, as well as a couple of songs co-written by Tanner and Olivia, along with Larry, called “Do Right” and “Flood of ’24.” Tanner sings lead on most of the songs, with Olivia singing lead on one of the songs.

Tanner and Olivia are headed towards being multi-instrumentalists. “I’m learning piano and still learning guitar,” Olivia says. Tanner plays guitar, a 12-string guitar, bass, dobro, drums, harmonica, and he’s working on playing the banjo. George says he’s content playing bass. All three have an amazing gift of “hearing” music. “I think it’s because of our genetics,” says Olivia. “Once you get the pattern down and figure out the key, you can learn to play anything.” 

The trio is inspired by the Rinards, as well as Clint Black, Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, and Reba McIntyre. Like their dad, they enjoy older country music rather than today's music. 

Between homeschooling, working on the farm, and their activities in 4H, the Hawkins kids stay busy. But they always find time for practicing together. They are hoping to play festivals and larger venues, but for now they are happy playing for a hometown crowd at churches and at Backyard Music, an outdoor music venue Larry Rinard built on his property. 

The Hawkins Kids recently returned from Nashville where they recorded three songs produced by Dean Miller, son of famous singer Roger Miller. “We recorded at the Sound Emporium, and the songs are being mixed for radio play,” says Wade. “We are new to the music industry, and we want to do all the right things.” 

Tanner has a goal of his own. “I want to play at the Ryman and the Grand Ole Opry.” With his talent and determination, playing at these venerable venues may happen sooner than he thinks.

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