Violet Hensley, the Arkansas-born fiddler and fiddle maker known as the Whittlin’ Fiddler, died Friday, August 7, at the age of 109.
Hensley was born in rural Arkansas in 1916 and built her first fiddle by hand at age 15. That early craft defined a lifetime of work: she ultimately hand-carved more than 70 fiddles, numbering each one and reportedly retaining a memory of where every instrument ended up — whether gifted, sold, or placed on museum display. She stepped back from performing to raise nine children before gaining wider recognition in her 50s as a performer at Branson’s Silver Dollar City and across the Ozarks region. She passed away at her home in Yellville, Arkansas, surrounded by family.
A Life Spent in the Spotlight — On Her Own Terms
Hensley’s visibility extended well beyond the stage. She appeared in an episode of The Beverly Hillbillies filmed in Branson, where she reportedly formed a friendship with actress Irene Ryan, who played Granny on the series — a relationship that continued until Ryan’s death in 1973. Television appearances on The Art Linkletter Show, Captain Kangaroo, and Live with Regis and Kathy Lee followed, as did features in National Geographic, Mature Living, and Country Woman.
At 99, she made her Grand Ole Opry debut alongside Opry star Mike Snider, performing “Angeline The Baker.”
When failing eyesight eventually ended her fiddle-making, Hensley redirected her energy toward teaching others to build and play the instrument. In 2018, she was inducted into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame. That same year, on April 14, she made her third Grand Ole Opry appearance, performing “Faded Love.”
The Ozarks Mourns One of Its Own
Tributes spread across social media in the wake of her death. The town of Leslie, Arkansas, honored her in a statement: “She embodied the traditions, craftsmanship, and spirit that have made our community the Whittling Capital of America. Her kindness, humility, and passion inspired countless people, and she graciously became part of our Leslie family.”
Three of Hensley’s handcrafted fiddles remain on display at the Historical Arkansas Museum, a tangible remnant of a craft tradition she spent nearly a century championing.
