# The Petersens

The Petersens are an American bluegrass family band based in Branson, Missouri. Since their formation, the group has been a notable presence within the bluegrass music scene, particularly through their YouTube channel and television appearances.

## Band history

Beginning at an early age, the family was first heard at the 2003 Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival. They gave their first performance as The Petersens in 2005 at their mother's hometown church, the First Christian Church of Mountain Grove, Missouri.
The band was originally composed of siblings Katie (fiddler), Ellen (banjoist), Matt (bassist), Julianne (vocalist and dancer), their mother Karen (mandolinist), and their father Jon (guitarist). Over time, Julianne switched to the mandolin, Karen to the bass, Matt to the guitar, and Jon took up the piano for gospel songs. These early performances were mostly held at local festivals, churches, and cafes.
In 2010, the band won the CAM Gospel Sing-Off competition at the Sight & Sound Theatre in Branson, Missouri. This performance led to an invitation to perform regularly at the Little Opry Theatre in the IMAX Entertainment Complex.
In 2015, the band gained wider public exposure when Ellen Petersen competed on the reality TV show American Idol, reaching the top 48. In 2017, Emmett Franz joined the band on the resonator guitar.
In 2018, the band placed 4th in the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) Band Championship in Nashville, Tennessee.
Katie Petersen, the bands vocalist, has composed "California" and "My Ozark Mountain Home," the latter being a tribute to the Ozarksand was named the first official song by the City of Branson in 2023.
Julianne Petersen performs buck-dancing while playing the violin.
The Petersens also covered songs by other musicians, such as Dolly Parton's "Jolene," which has accumulated over 26 million views on YouTube, and John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads", which has accumulated over 51 million views.

## Touring

Prior to 2019, The Petersens had performed to audiences throughout the continental United States, in Canada, and Ireland. In early 2019, they toured Ireland again, alongside as the United Kingdom. In late 2019, the band went on additional singing tours to Finland and to Ireland for the group's fourth tour of that country. The band shares updates on their performances and recordings through their official social media accounts.

## Discography
### Albums and music videos

| Title | Release date | Label |
| Title | Release date | Label | Travelin’ Shoes - the Petersen Family Band (EP) |
| Finally Going Home - The Petersens | May 1, 2014 | |
| Shenandoah - The Petersens | October 22, 2017 | CD Baby |
| Homesick for a Country | August 9, 2019 | The Petersens |
| Gentle on My Mind - The Petersens (EP) | November 1, 2019 | CD Baby |
| The Petersens - Live Sessions, vol. 01 | August 8, 2020 | |
| The Petersens - Live Sessions, vol. 02 | October 20, 2020 | |
| Christmas with the Petersens | November 6, 2020 | CD Baby |
| The Petersens - Live Sessions, vol. 03 | September 15, 2021 | |
| The Petersens - Live Sessions, vol. 04 | November 19, 2021 | |
| My Ozark Mountain Home | November 18, 2022 | |
| We Don’t Need Anything This Year | November 10, 2023 | |
| The Greenest Grass | August 9, 2024 | |
Several of the group's newer releases, as well as covers of other artists, have been made available on Spotify and iTunes.