The death of Violet Hensley on Aug. 7, 2026, marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in American folk music. At 109 years old, the Arkansas fiddler known as the “Whittlin’ Fiddler” and the “Stradivarius of the Ozarks” was among the nation’s oldest living performers in the arts.
Her passing leaves country music without its eldest living legend by a significant gap. Western Swing pianist Lucy Dean Record, at 102, continues to perform. Leroy Van Dyke, famous for “The Auctioneer” and “Walk On By,” is 96. Willie Nelson, an iconic singer-songwriter, is 93. Yet none matched Hensley’s direct connection to 19th-century Ozark fiddle-making traditions passed down through her family.
Early Years and Family Tradition
Born Violet Brumley on October 21, 1916, Hensley grew up in Mount Ida, Ark., as the daughter of George and Nora Brumley. Following her mother’s death, George Brumley raised Violet and her two sisters, instilling in them a craft he had practiced since 1888: carving fiddles by hand through whittling and playing them. In 1935, she wed Adren Hensley, and together they raised nine children. Music took a back seat for more than a quarter-century while she focused on motherhood, but by 1961, with her children older, she returned to her fiddle and carving tools.
National recognition followed as her skills as a master luthier became widely known. National Geographic and the Smithsonian Institution showcased her work, bringing her craft to audiences around the world. CBS broadcaster Charles Kuralt featured her on his “On the Road” series. Television appearances included “The Art Linkletter Show” in 1970, “Captain Kangaroo” in 1977, a version of “To Tell the Truth” hosted by Alex Trebek, and “Regis and Kathie Lee” in 1997. The Arkansas Arts Council bestowed upon her the title of “Living Treasure.”
Half a Century at Silver Dollar City
For approximately 50 years, Hensley demonstrated fiddle-making and performed at Silver Dollar City, the Branson, Mo., theme park designed to evoke the late-1800s Ozarks. She became far more than entertainment; visitors encountered a living embodiment of handcrafted musical traditions that few Americans still practiced. A Silver Dollar City representative said she was the soul of an Ozark tradition connecting generations to the region.
When the cast of “The Beverly Hillbillies” filmed at the park in 1969, Hensley appeared in the production and reportedly formed a friendship with Irene Ryan, who portrayed Granny.
Across her career, she recorded three albums: “Old Time Fiddle Tunes” in 1974, “The Whittling Fiddler and Family” in 1983, and “Family Treasures” in 2004. She earned induction into the National Fiddlers’ Hall of Fame. On Aug. 6, 2016, at age 99, she made her Grand Ole Opry debut, a testament to her enduring artistry. A profile from November 2025 noted she continued playing and crafting fiddles almost until her death.
Honors and Community Ties
Though Hensley resided in Yellville, Ark., she maintained strong ties to nearby Leslie, which calls itself the Whittling Capital of America. In 2025, Leslie declared Violet Hensley Day and awarded her the Key to the City, recognizing her lifelong dedication to the hand-carved fiddle tradition and Ozark musical heritage.
The City of Leslie, Ark., confirmed her death in a Facebook announcement, describing Hensley as a treasured figure in state history and an honorary citizen. Silver Dollar City, where she spent more than half a century, issued its own statement honoring her life. City officials said her warmth and humility made her beloved beyond her artistic achievements, and her influence would endure through her art, music, and those she inspired.
Funeral services were held at First Baptist Church of Yellville, with visitation on Aug. 12 and the service on Aug. 13, followed by interment at Layton Cemetery. Hensley was survived by seven of her children and, by the family’s count, 158 direct descendants.
From Workshop to the Opry Stage
Hensley’s legacy spans from learning to whittle with her father to performing at the Grand Ole Opry, united by devotion to craft and community that lasted more than a century. Her life bridged eras, preserving hand-carved fiddle traditions rooted in the 1800s while sharing them with modern audiences through recordings, television, and live demonstrations that captivated visitors across generations.
