Ozarks Fiddler Crafted 73 Instruments, Played Opry at 99

Violet Hensley, celebrated for her fiddle craftsmanship and performance, passed away at her home in Yellville, Arkansas. She was 109 years old.

Hensley, who learned to play and carve fiddles from her father in Arkansas, developed a unique performing career spanning nearly six decades. She distinguished between playing the violin and the fiddle, stating she played the fiddle because she couldn't read music.

At age 99, Hensley made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry, fulfilling a long-held wish. She performed old-time mountain music, a genre she preferred over what she considered the more elaborate bluegrass.

She handcrafted 73 fiddles, earning nicknames like 'The Whittlin' Fiddler' and 'Stradivarius of the Ozarks.' Her skills extended beyond music; she also gardened, canned, sewed, and for many years, worked as a cleaning lady.

Her association with Silver Dollar City theme park in Branson, Missouri, began in 1967, where she played music and demonstrated her fiddle-making talents. The park recognized her as a vital part of the Ozarks' cultural heritage.

Hensley's career saw her performing on radio, television, and at various venues. She was inducted into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2018. She continued performing at the Grand Ole Opry in 2017 and 2018, leaving a legacy of authentic Appalachian music and craftsmanship.