Alison Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass (Bluegrass music)-country (Country music) singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry (music of the United States) 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.

She has released eleven 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 (O Brother, Where Art Thou? (soundtrack)), an album also credited with raising American interest in bluegrass, and the Cold Mountain soundtrack (Cold Mountain (film)#Soundtrack), which led to her performance at the 2004 Academy Awards (76th Academy Awards). During her career she has won 26 Grammy Awards, making her the most awarded female artist (and the third most awarded artist overall) in Grammy history.