Trey Hensley is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and guitar virtuoso whose music blends the heart of bluegrass, the soul of country, and the grit of Americana. Born in Johnson City and raised in Telford, Tennessee, Trey’s musical journey began early—singing gospel at age six and picking up the guitar by ten.
By the age of eleven, Trey was performing on the Grand Ole Opry, sharing the stage with legends Marty Stuart and Earl Scruggs. His early career also saw him collaborate with icons such as Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, and Tom T. Hall—cementing his place as a rising force in roots music.
In addition to his later work, Trey recorded and produced several acclaimed bluegrass albums with his band Drivin’ Force, including Backin’ to Birmingham (Copper Creek Records, 2004), Third Time Out, and Songs of Faith (Hog Holler Records). Over the years, he has performed with or opened for a remarkable range of artists, including Charlie Daniels, Steve Wariner, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ricky Skaggs, Blue Highway, J.D. Crowe, Peter Frampton, Randy Owen, Sara Evans, and many others.
In 2008, Trey performed at the President’s Dinner at the White House for President George W. Bush and later played a private event for wounded soldiers at Vice President Dick Cheney’s residence alongside Charlie Daniels.
In 2013, Trey moved to Nashville and teamed up with dobro master Rob Ickes, creating one of the most celebrated duos in modern acoustic music. Together, they released three acclaimed albums:
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Before the Sun Goes Down (2015) — Grammy-nominated for Best Bluegrass Album
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The Country Blues (2016)
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World Full of Blues (2019), featuring Vince Gill and Taj Mahal
Known for his fiery flatpicking, soulful vocals, and deep musical authenticity, Trey was named Guitar Player of the Year at the 2023 IBMA Awards. His artistry has led him to perform and record with Dolly Parton, Tommy Emmanuel, Old Crow Medicine Show, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and many more.
Hensley’s highly anticipated solo studio album, Can’t Outrun The Blues, is officially out on all digital and streaming platforms via Pinecastle Records. The 10-song collection marks a defining moment in Hensley’s career and features standout collaborations with Molly Tuttle, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steve Wariner and Vince Gill, showcasing both his deep roots and wide-ranging musical reach. Fans can download, stream or purchase a copy of the project HERE.
Produced by legendary hitmaker Brent Maher (The Judds, Kenny Rogers, Merle Haggard), Can’t Outrun The Blues pairs Hensley’s electrifying guitar work and commanding vocals with a stacked lineup of world-class musicians. The album blends Bluegrass, Americana and traditional Country influences into a cohesive, guitar-driven statement that is both timeless and fresh. Momentum surrounding the release has been building rapidly, with Hensley kicking promotional efforts into high gear through recent appearances on WSM’s Coffee, Country & Cody and the nationally syndicated Big D & Bubba show, plus much more on the horizon. In March, Trey headed back to the legendary Grand Ole Opry stage before heading home to Jonesborough, Tennessee for a special hometown album release celebration this weekend.
The current single, “Tucson,” continues its strong climb at radio, recently breaking into the Top Five on the Bluegrass charts following the chart-topping success of the album’s title track. Penned solely by Hensley, “Tucson” is a driving, straight-ahead Bluegrass story song built around a longtime guitar riff and cinematic outlaw narrative. The momentum follows “Can’t Outrun The Blues,” which reached No. 1 on the Bluegrass radio charts, marking Hensley’s first solo chart-topper and setting the stage for this landmark release. Other highlights include the hard-hitting Americana/Bluegrass recording “Going And Gone” featuring Molly Tuttle and the Country-inspired remake of Neil Young’s “Unknown Legend” with heartfelt harmony vocals from Vince Gill.
