Kristen Leigh Bearfield
Kristen Leigh Bearfield is a GRAMMY and IBMA nominated, award-winning artist whose voice and songwriting reflect a heart rooted in faith, country, and bluegrass. Kristen studied at Liberty University and graduated from East Tennessee State University. Early proponents of her musical endeavors included her great Uncle Clarence "Tater” Tate, who played bass and fiddle for the great Bill Monroe for many years.
Music has led Kristen to perform in several different countries around the world, and on hallowed stages such as at The Grand Ole Opry at The Ryman, The Country Music Hall of Fame, The Gaither Homecoming, MerleFest, the National Quartet Convention, The Station Inn, and at the IBMA World of Bluegrass to name a few.
As a solo artist, Kristen is currently nominated for:
2025 IBMA Momentum Awards: Vocalist of the Year. International Bluegrass Music Association
2025 AGM Awards:
Positive Country Female Artist of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Bluegrass Single of the Year
2025 Dove Awards (Round 1):
Bluegrass/Country/Roots Single – “Country Faith”
In 2024, Kristen was nominated for the AGM Positive Country Female Artist of the Year, and also held a previous nomination for the Singing News "Soprano of the Year".
Her Christmas radio single featuring Jimmy Fortune debuted at #11 on the Southern Gospel charts, and all four of her latest radio singles were featured on WSM Grand Ole Opry radio's morning show.
Her 2023 radio release with Brooke Aldridge, "Heaven's Getting Sweeter Each Day", debuted in the TOP 10 on radio charts for December 2023. In January-February 2024, reigned as the #1 Song on the "Mountain Bluegrass" and "Real Southern Gospel" Radio charts for multiple, consecutive weeks, and held a top 10 spot on the Singing News Bluegrass Gospel chart through July 2024.
Her most recent release, "Country Faith" featuring Karen Peck, spent 5 weeks at #1 on the "Mountain Bluegrass" Radio chart, and held a Top 10 spot on the Singing News Bluegrass Gospel Chart for multiple months. The release has garnered over 150,000 streams on digital platforms and serves as the theme song for Singing News "Faith Country & Bluegrass".
Kristen is also the columnist and host of the Singing News "Faith, Country & Bluegrass" series.
Kristen has worked with a variety of artists, including: Country & Gospel Music Hall of Fame Member - Jimmy Fortune, The Zac Brown Band, Rosemary Siemens, Emily Ann Roberts and Darin & Brooke Aldridge. Kristen tours full-time as a member of the band HighRoad. She has been a member of the band for ten years.
Kristen is endorsed by BlueChip Picks, Fishman Amplification, Eastman Instruments, Cedar Creek/ TKL Cases, D'Addario, and River Trail Mercantile. She has served on the staff of the International Bluegrass Music Association, and is currently serving on the Gospel Music Association's Roots Music Committee.