Sierra Ferrell Says The Songs That Gave Her Goosebumps & Made Her Cry Won Her Grammy Awards

A sixth sense that it’s a good song.

Sierra Ferrell is a songbird like no other. The Appalachian fairy is a true rags-to-riches story, coming a long way since her days busking on the streets all over the nation.

After years of train hopping and addiction, Ferrell eventually ended up in Nashville, frequently performing at The American Legion Post 82, famed Honky Tonk Tuesdays, where she caught attention from Gary Paczosa and Rounder Records. From there, she began working on her debut record, Long Time Coming, which dropped in 2021 and instantly caught the attention of bluegrass and folk fans. Three years later, she released her sophomore record, Trail Of Flowers, which solidified her seat at the table and garnered attention from The Recording Academy, and which won her four Grammy Awards earlier this year.

Ferrell’s rise in popularity has not slowed since then, now having a massive following with fans foaming at the mouth to see her angelic presence live.

Ferrell has penned quite a few beloved songs over her career, and she’s previewing more, playing an unreleased song, “Dusty Foot,” on the road. I think that this song could be the next success following her showstopping hit “American Dreaming.”

Some artists never know what songs will be a hit. Chris Stapleton famously said songwriters predicting a hit song were “full of ****.” And while Ferrell might not have known that songs like  “American Dreaming” would have taken off the way that they did, after the single won her two Grammy Awards, she shared that there is an indicator she feels that a song is more special than others.

While talking to John Mayer on his Sirius XM show, she disclosed that when she feels two things, she knows that they are great pieces of work:

“First off, if a song gives me goosebumps, I know it’s going to go over well because I’m feeling it. If a song gives me goosebumps and makes me cry, I might win a Grammy.”

John Mayer sits back in awe and agreement with that sentiment, asking if Ferrell experienced that feeling with the song that she’s won Grammy Awards for. Once Ferrell says yes, Mayer asks:

“So you can draw a one-to-one correlation that ‘the ones that gave me goosebumps and made me cry won me Grammys’?” 

Ferrell giggles and says yes again.

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At the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, Ferrell went home with four total Grammy Awards. She took home Best Americana Album with Trail of Flowers, Best Americana Performance and Best Americana Roots Song with “American Dreaming,” and Best American Roots Performance with “Lighthouse.”

As we spoke about earlier, with the traction that “American Dreaming” had before the release of Trail of Flowers, fans were keen on the tune, noting that it was something very special. However,  with “Lighthouse” being one of the lesser-streamed songs on Spotify, that’s proof that these feelings of goosebumps don’t always equate popularity.

The song of hope, love, and noting that a lover or friend can be a guiding light out of a dark time is a truly beautiful message that should be streamed more.

I wonder what songs Ferrell has in the works that leave her with goosebumps and make her cry… This interview is the perfect reminder to listen to songs as a body of art. Dive into the lyrics, pay attention to the melodies, and you might be surprised that you are left with the same feeling and find a new appreciation for an overlooked song.

Fire up “American Dreaming” and “Lighthouse” before you go:

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