Kristyn Harris

Texas-bred musical powerhouse, KRISTYN HARRIS, is noted for her powerful vocals, solid swing rhythm guitar style, clever songwriting, award winning yodel, and captivating stage presence. She has been named the International Western Music Association Entertainer of the Year 6 times, and is the youngest to have ever received this honor. She is also a 7-time recipient of the IWMA Female Performer of the Year, and her latest album was most recently awarded the prestigious Wrangler Award for “Outstanding Western Album” from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. 

Though not raised in or around musicians, Kristyn’s musical journey began at age 14 when she first discovered the 1940s and ‘50s-era singing cowboy movies, which introduced her to the acoustic instrumentation and contagious rhythms of Western Swing. Falling instantly in love with the sound, she was inspired to pick up a guitar for the first time - and it has rarely left her hands since. 

Growing up on a small ranch, cowboy songs resonated with Kristyn’s passions and lifestyle, and her dad also raised her with an appreciation for classic country; all of which, plus her faith in God, became influences to her style. Before she knew it, music had turned into an entire career path for a very shy and introverted teenager whose first audiences were only the horses and cows in the barn and pasture. It was during those pasture “concerts” that she also discovered a voice that loved to belt and fill the wide open spaces.

Kristyn currently keeps a heavy and widespread tour schedule all across the US as well as internationally, both solo and fronting various configurations of the Kristyn Harris Band. When she’s not on tour, she’s living the life she sings about, and is regularly found in the saddle training her newest colt or with her herd of black angus cattle (the "Diamond K"). In their January 2022 issue, Western Horseman Magazine named Kristyn as one of 10 women who make it "Cool to be Cowgirl".

2025 saw Kristyn’s first venture into acting, with a starring role in the upcoming indie musical film, A Ranch Musical, in which Kristyn not only plays the main protagonist but sings her own music. The film is slated for release in January 2026.

Discography includes her 2020 album, "A Place to Land", which she co-produced with her husband and award winning producer and engineer, Aarom Meador. She has also released two other award winning albums: “Down the Trail” (2015) and “Let Me Ride” (2013). She has plans in place for a 2026 release of a gospel album of hymns as well as the recording of her next western album of original material.

National television appearances include ABC’s American Idol (by producer invitation), Good Morning America, RFD-TV’s The Penny Gilley Show, The Shotgun Red Show, and Nickelodeon’s popular game show, Figure It Out. She has also appeared in multiple western documentaries that have aired throughout the US, Europe, and Australia, and been featured in stories and on the cover of numerous local, national and international magazines.  

Kristyn is packaged with an energetic and genuine style that makes her love of what she does evident and contagious. Red Steagall says: “Kristyn Harris is one of the greatest talents that I have ever heard. Her heart is as big as Texas and it shows when she performs. She has a great career in store for her. I’m so proud that she’s my friend.” 

ABC News in Dallas called her “a rising star that has authenticity down to an art.” 

And, the Arizona Cowboy Gathering put it best: 
"This bundle of energy and talent is 'the rage' on stage from the east coast to the west and if you can stay seated when she finishes her performance you're prob'ly 'bout ready for the grave!!"

 

To see what other folks are saying about Kristyn, or to make your own comment, click HERE

To read Kristyn's Blog, click HERE


Accolades

6-time International Western Music Association Entertainer of the year (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024)
8-time International Western Music Association Female Performer of the Year (2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025)
2024 Academy of Western Artists Western Female Vocalist of the Year
2024 International Red Carpet Awards winner of “Best Voice - Female”; “Americana Original Song for The Mule Song”; and “Swing Original Song for Musician Standard Time”
2023 International Red Carpet Awards winner of “Americana Female Original Song of the Year for Place to Land”
2022 Country Music Association of Texas Cowboy Western Entertainer of the Year
2022 International Red Carpet Awards Female Country Cover Song of the Year for "Cows Around" 
2021 National Cowboy Hall of Fame Western Heritage Wrangler Awards Outstanding Traditional Western Album for “A Place to Land”
2019 Academy of Western Artists' Will Rogers Medallion Award for Western Swing Female Vocalist of the Year
2017 Pro Cowboy Country Artist Association Entertainer of the Year
2017 Pro Cowboy Country Artist Association Female Vocalist of the Year
2017 Ameripolitan Music Awards Western Swing Female Artist of the Year
2015 International Western Music Association Western Album of the Year for “Down the Trail”
2015 Rural Roots Music Commission "Pure Country & Western CD of the Year" for "Down The Trail"
2015 Cowtown Society of Western Swing Rising Star of the Year
2013 Academy of Western Artists Will Rogers Medallion Award for Western Female Vocalist of the Year
2013 International Western Music Association Cowboy Swing Album of the Year for "Let Me Ride"
2012 International Western Music Association Crescendo Award
2012 International Western Music Association Female Yodeler of the Year
2011 Kamloops, British Columbia Rising Star Award
2011 Western Music Association Janet McBride Yodeling Award 

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