(headline image: Vickie Vaughn -. Photo by Laura Schneider)
Vickie Vaughn, a bassist and singer-songwriter from Paducah, Kentucky, built her musical foundation in church and community performances. Her career began at The Kentucky Opry, where she was hired as a full-time backing vocalist and featured performer at just nine years old. She remained there for nine years, refining her stage presence, collaboration skills, and musicianship.
At thirteen, Vaughn took up the upright bass as a hobby, and by seventeen, she relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, to study Vocal Performance at Belmont University. While her primary focus remained on singing, the bass remained a key part of her artistic expression.
After graduating, she secured her first touring job as a bassist and backing vocalist. In 2015, she founded the Vickie Vaughn Band and released a six-song contemporary bluegrass EP with Vickie Vaughn on bass, vocals; Justin Hiltner on banjo, vocals; Maggie Estes White on fiddle; Zach White on guitar, vocals; and Casey Campbell on mandolin. Around the same time, she co-founded High Fidelity, contributing to four albums before departing in 2024.
Vaughn’s versatility led her to perform as a vocalist and bassist for artists such as Patty Loveless, Jesse McReynolds, Kelsey Waldon, Luke Bulla, and Billy Gilman. In 2020, she joined the acclaimed all-female string band Della Mae, with whom she continues to record and tour. Her musicianship has earned her recognition, including consecutive IBMA Bass Player of the Year awards in 2023 and 2024, as well as the honorary title of Kentucky Colonel in 2023.
On March 4, 2025, Mountain Home Music Company announced its exclusive signing of Vaughn as a solo artist, marking the next chapter in her evolving career.
Discography:
Vickie Vaughn Band (2015)
Hills And Home, with High Fidelity (Rebel Records, 2018)
Banjo Player’s Blues, with High Fidelity (Rebel Records, 2020)
Family Reunion, with Della Mae (2021)
Music In My Soul, with High Fidelity (Rebel Records, 2023)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.