Kentucky

Carrie Wells Carter was born and raised in Red Bush, Kentucky, immersed in traditional Appalachian music and art. Learning fiddle from her father, Jamie Wells, from the age of 7, she also spent a good deal of time in her youth learning from her uncle, Robbie Wells, and brother, Jesse Wells. She currently lives in Whitesburg, Kentucky, with her husband, Matthew, and two daughters. Carrie was selected for the SouthArts Emerging Traditional Artists cohort in 2022. She is also an advisory committee member for the Cowan Creek Mountain Music School, and enjoys playing and teaching tunes from the repertoire of local fiddlers and from her family. Particular fiddle influences include Paul David Smith, Snake Chapman, Buddy Thomas, J.P. Fraley, Bruce Greene, and Barb Kuhns. She also plays guitar and electric bass, and is bassist for a Kentucky-based punk band. Carrie finds that the eclectic musical influences of Eastern Kentucky are a constant inspiration and she looks for more ways for these varied styles to converge.