A legendary Arkansas fiddler who spent more than five decades entertaining visitors and handcrafting instruments at a Branson, Missouri, theme park has been laid to rest next to her husband Adrian in Layton Cemetery. Violet Hensley, known throughout the Ozarks as the “Whittlin’ Fiddler” and the “Stradivarius of the Ozarks,” passed away on Aug. 7, 2026, at 109 years old.
Silver Dollar City released a statement honoring Hensley’s extraordinary life, while the City of Leslie, Arkansas, described her on Facebook as a treasured figure in the state’s history and an honorary Leslie citizen.
Grand Ole Opry Debut at 99
Born Violet Brumley on October 21, 1916, in Mount Ida, Arkansas, Hensley learned the ancient art of carving fiddles from her father, who had practiced the whittling technique since 1888. Her father raised Violet and her two sisters after their mother died when the children were young, passing down both the craftsmanship and musicianship that would define Violet’s century-long career.
After marrying Adrian Hensley in 1935, she devoted 27 years to raising their nine children before returning to music and instrument-making in 1961. Her artistry eventually drew national and international recognition through profiles in National Geographic and exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution. CBS broadcaster Charles Kuralt featured her on his “On the Road” series, and television appearances followed on “The Art Linkletter Show” in 1970, “Captain Kangaroo” in 1977, an Alex Trebek-hosted version of “To Tell the Truth,” and “Regis and Kathy Lee” in 1997.
On Aug. 6, 2016, Hensley stepped onto the stage of the Grand Ole Opry for the first time, performing at age 99 in a moment that captured the remarkable longevity of her musical journey. She released three albums during her lifetime: “Old Time Fiddle Tunes” in 1974, “The Whittling Fiddler and Family” in 1983, and “Family Treasures” in 2004. The National Fiddlers’ Hall of Fame inducted her among its honored members, and the Arkansas Arts Council designated her a “Living Treasure.”
Five Decades at Silver Dollar City
Hensley’s roughly 50-year tenure at Silver Dollar City made her inseparable from the theme park’s mission to preserve late-1800s Ozark culture. Guests watched her demonstrate fiddle-making and heard her play the instruments she carved by hand, witnessing a tradition few living Americans could authentically represent. A park representative called her more than a skilled craftsperson and performer, describing her as the living soul connecting generations to Ozark heritage.
When the cast of “The Beverly Hillbillies” filmed at Silver Dollar City in 1969, producers featured Hensley in the production. She reportedly formed a friendship with Irene Ryan, who portrayed Granny on the series. According to a profile published in November 2025, Hensley continued playing and building fiddles almost until her final days.
Honor From the Whittling Capital
Though Hensley resided in Yellville, Arkansas, the nearby town of Leslie — which calls itself the Whittling Capital of America — held special meaning for the artist. In 2025, Leslie officials proclaimed “Violet Hensley Day” and awarded her the Key to the City for her lifelong commitment to preserving whittling and traditional Ozark musical forms.
Leslie’s Facebook announcement following her death emphasized her warmth and humility as traits that endeared her to countless people beyond her artistic achievements. City officials noted her influence would endure through her music, handmade instruments, and the generations she inspired.
Oldest in Country Music by Wide Margin
Hensley’s death removes the oldest living figure in country music history by a substantial span. Western Swing pianist Lucy Dean Record, who still performs, is 102 years old. Leroy Van Dyke, remembered for “The Auctioneer” and “Walk On By,” is 96. Singer-songwriter Willie Nelson, among the most iconic names in American music, is 93. Yet none embodied the direct transmission of 19th-century Ozark fiddle-building traditions the way Hensley did.
Her father’s daughter leaves behind a legacy spanning from the workshop where he taught her to carve wood to the Grand Ole Opry stage, unified by over 100 years of dedication to craft and community.