Breaking the Chain: Sister Sadie Confronts Trauma in “Let the Circle Be Broken”

(headline image: Sister Sadie is, from left, Dani Flowers, Rainy Mistake, Gena Britt, Jaelee Roberts and Deanie Richardson. Photo by Allister Ann)

In a genre long dominated by men and tradition, Sister Sadie continues to push bluegrass forward. With “Let the Circle Be Broken,” the GRAMMY-nominated, IBMA award-winning all-female group confronts generational trauma, offering a rare, unflinching narrative of domestic abuse through the lens of personal healing and collective resilience.

Although guitarist Deanie Richardson’s personal history inspired the song’s inception, the project quickly became a shared statement. Co-written by Richardson, Dani Flowers, and Erin Enderlin, the track reflects the lived experiences of each band member.

“Dani Flowers, Erin Enderlin and myself wrote ‘Let the Circle Be Broken’ right after my Dad passed away,” says the group’s co-founder, fiddler Deanie Richardson. “He was an abusive man who verbally, emotionally and sexually abused me for most of my 18 years living at home with him. When I confronted him as an adult, he said that it had been done to him as a child. This song is about that generational trauma and abuse that keeps getting passed down. The continuing of that trauma and abuse stops with me. It doesn’t go any further.”

Flowers, who sings lead, frames the song as a generational reckoning. “This cycle ends with us,” she states, describing her commitment to stopping patterns of abuse in her own family.

Banjoist Gena Britt emphasizes the song’s emotional impact during live performances. “We see tears in the audience,” she notes. “It hits home for so many.” Jaelee Roberts, named IBMA’s 2024 Female Vocalist of the Year, echoes that sentiment. She calls the track “a beautifully written song” with a message that “a lot of people need to hear.”

The emotional resonance extends to the group’s newest member, mandolinist Rainy Miatke. As she continues her own process of healing, she sees the song as a source of solidarity. “It makes me feel hopeful, grateful, and connected,” she explains.

Even behind the scenes, the song has left its mark. Rebekah Speer, the band’s longtime sound engineer, underscores the deeper significance: “It reminds us that we’re not bound by the struggles of those before us. Healing is a choice, and a legacy.”