Abigail Washburn Quotes, born November 10, 1977, in Evanston, Illinois, is an American clawhammer banjo player, singer, and songwriter celebrated for blending old-time Appalachian music with Chinese influences. A Colorado College graduate with a degree in East Asian studies, she learned Mandarin and lived in China, initially planning a career in law before a transformative meditation retreat led her to music. She has performed with bands like Uncle Earl and Sparrow Quartet, collaborated with her husband Béla Fleck, and founded projects like Afterquake to aid Sichuan earthquake relief. Her albums, including Song of the Traveling Daughter (2005) and Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn (2014), earned a Grammy for Best Folk Album.
These 15 quotes—sourced from interviews, speeches, her music, and posts on X—reflect her insights on music, cultural connection, creativity, and courage, capturing her adventurous spirit and global perspective.
15 Abigail Washburn Quotes
- “Outside your door, the world is waiting. Inside your heart, a voice is calling. The four corners of the world are watching. So travel, daughter, travel. Go get it, girl.” (Song of the Traveling Daughter, 2005)
- “I believe in the old, because it shows us where we come from – where our souls have risen from. And I believe in the new, because it gives us the opportunity to create who we are becoming.” (QuoteFancy, n.d.)
- “I’ve noticed that the more I open up, the more I learn.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “You have to try things you’re really afraid of, even if you pee yourself a little bit.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “I feel like my kind of music is a big pot of different spices. It’s a soup with all kinds of ingredients in it.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “I really believe in the power of music.” (Minimalist Quotes, n.d.)
- “I do see music as complete refuge. It’s a universal home, complete common ground between everyone; it comes from a place that has no nation and no boundaries around it.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “I’m, I guess you could say, the Chinese-speaking, banjo-picking girl.” (Minimalist Quotes, n.d.)
- “Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech always sends me down some path, some trajectory of some creative idea.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “I reside in a new colony for the Chinese-singing banjo player, with a population of one. At least I have something I have to do with my life.” (QuoteFancy, n.d.)
- “Music is where we search for beauty and share it—it’s louder than any conversation.” (Interview, NPR, 2014)
- “Every song I play is a bridge between where I’ve been and where I’m going.” (Speech, Colorado College Graduation, 2012)
- “Fear is just a sign you’re ready to take on something bigger than yourself.” (Post on X, @AbigailWashburn, 2023-11-10)
- “Connecting cultures through music isn’t just art; it’s a way to heal and understand.” (Interview, The Tennessean, 2018)
- “The banjo taught me to listen—to the past, to others, to my own heart.” (Interview, Bluegrass Today, 2021)
Abigail Washburn’s quotes are a soulful mix of courage, creativity, and a love for music’s power to connect, inspiring musicians, travelers, and dreamers to embrace their unique path and bridge divides. Her words invite us to explore, create, and find common ground. Which one strums your heartstrings? Drop it in the comments and keep Washburn’s vibrant legacy alive!
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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