  alison maria krauss (born july 23, 1971) is an american bluegrass-country singer-songwriter and musician. she entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. she signed with rounder records in 1985 and released her first solo album in 1987. she was invited to join the band with which she still performs, alison krauss and union station (akus), and later released her first album with them as a group in 1989.http://www.angelfire.com/country/countrystateofmind/alison.html she has released fourteen albums, appeared on numerous soundtracks, and helped renew interest in bluegrass music in the united states. her soundtrack performances have led to further popularity, including the o brother, where art thou? soundtrack, an album also credited with raising american interest in bluegrass, and the cold mountain soundtrack, which led to her performance at the 2004 academy awards. as of 2012, she has won 27 grammy awards from 41 nominations, tying her with quincy jones as the most awarded living recipient, second only to the late classical conductor sir georg solti who holds the record for most wins of all time with 31. she is the most awarded singer and the most awarded female artist in grammy history.{{cite news|t
1971_births Alison_Krauss_&_Union_Station_members American_Christians American_bluegrass_fiddlers American_female_country_singers American_people_of_German_descent American_people_of_Italian_descent American_performers_of_Christian_music American_sopranos Grammy_Award-winning_artists Grand_Ole_Opry_members Living_people Musicians_from_Champaign,_Illinois Musicians_from_Decatur,_Illinois Rounder_Records_artists Writers_from_Decatur,_Illinois