08/09/2026
Our community has lost a true Ozark treasure!
Violet Hensley—the beloved “Whittlin’ Fiddler”—died peacefully at her home in Yellville on Friday, August 7, at the remarkable age of 109.
Born in rural Arkansas in 1916, Violet learned to play the fiddle from her father. At 15, she watched him work and made her first fiddle by hand, beginning a lifelong devotion to traditional Ozark music and craftsmanship. After setting aside her fiddle for 27 years while raising nine children, she returned to fiddling and fiddle making in the 1960s.
For more than 50 years, Violet shared her music, stories, humor, and craft with visitors to Silver Dollar City. Her talents eventually carried her across the country—from national television and the Smithsonian Institution to the Grand Ole Opry, where she made her debut at the age of 99.
Violet made more than 70 fiddles during her lifetime and was named an Arkansas Living Treasure in 2004. She was later inducted into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame. But here in Yellville, she was more than a celebrated artist. She was our neighbor and a living connection to the traditions, stories, music, and resourcefulness of the Ozarks.
At Lucky Star Handmade, we believe that traditional arts remain alive because people take the time to learn them, practice them, and pass them along. Violet devoted her life to doing exactly that. Her hands shaped wood into instruments, her bow brought old songs to life, and her generous spirit connected generations.
We are grateful that Violet called Yellville home and that her music became part of the soundtrack of this place. Her extraordinary life reminds us that the things we make—and the traditions we share—can continue speaking long after we are gone.
Our hearts go out to Violet’s family and to all those who loved her. We hope they find comfort in knowing how deeply she was cherished and how profoundly her life touched the Ozarks and far beyond.
Rest peacefully, Violet. Your fiddle may be quiet, but your music will carry on.
