The Lovell Sisters

The Lovell Sisters received their first big break in 2005, when the acoustic trio won a teen talent contest sponsored by Prairie Home Companion. The three siblings — fiddler Jessica, Dobro player Megan, and mandolinist Rebecca — had previously studied classical music in Calhoun, GA, where they took part in the city's youth symphony and sang in a local church choir. After hearing a recording by bluegrass artist Jerry Douglas, the Lovells decided to ditch their classical instruments and pursue roots music instead, leading to their first performance as the Lovell Sisters in 2004. Following the first-place finish on Prairie Home Companion one year later, the trio released When Forever Rolls Around, a confident debut album co-produced by Brent Truitt.

Rebecca Lovell furthered the band's profile in 2006, when the 15-year-old became the youngest person ever to win the mandolin contest at MerleFest. The Lovell Sisters built upon that recognition with a string of festival appearances and international shows, playing everywhere from Nashville to Norway in the process. Brent Truitt resumed his partnership with the band in 2008, as the girls began recording material for a second album. The resulting Time to Grow was released one year later, featuring five original songs as well as a handful of Americana covers. The group had semi-officially split up by 2010, though, with Megan and Rebecca playing music together as Larkin Poe instead.