December 12, 2022
Bluegrass Junction to re-air All the Way to Bethlehem Track by Track.
SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction host Kyle Cantrell decided to visit the archives and re-air the original Track by Track he taped with Donna when she released her landmark Christmas album All the Way to Bethlehem nine years ago. They talked about her inspiration for writing the songs on the album which tells the story of the birth of Christ from the perspective of each character in this great story.
Donna and her band spend December of each year touring and performing the beautiful music from this album.
The show is set to air four times during the the week before Christmas 2021 and may also be streamed with most subscriptions.
October 14, 2022
Read Donna’s Wee Farm Musings on her Facebook Page.
When the pandemic started in 2020, Donna began writing a daily gratitude journal on her facebook page. She committed to writing it every day for a full year. The response from her followers was tremendous and after she stopped, she received so many requests to start writing again that she decided to write what she calls her Wee Farm Musings.
The writings are often inspirational, sometimes funny, and give you a glimpse into her life with her husband Rick Stanley on what she lovingly calls their “Wee Farm” with plenty of pictures of their daily life. There is a post nearly every morning and we are hearing from followers on her Facebook page that they look forward to starting their day with her musings.
Sept. 24, 2021
New Single Release from Donna!
Billy Blue Records has released “Livin’ Large in a Little Town” as the first single off of Donna’s next album which is set for release in early 2022.
Donna wrote the song with her frequent co-writer and friend Jerry Salley. The song was inspired by the slower paced life that Donna and her husband have been living in Lebanon, TN for the past several years on what she lovingly calls their “wee farm”.
The song was produced by bluegrass legend Doyle Lawson and is available on all digital platforms.
Click here to stream or buy the single.
September 14, 2019
Donna introduces new single on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction
Donna was in the SiriusXM studios in downtown Nashville on the morning of September 13 to introduce her new single with host Kyle Cantrell on the Bluegrass Junction channel.
The single is her first release on Billy Blue Records and is “I’ll Never Find Another You” which was a major pop hit in the late 1960’s by The Seekers and also a country hit by Sonny James. Now Donna has made it her very own with her bluegrass rendition!
Pictured with Donna are husband Rick Stanley on the left and radio host Kyle Cantrell on the right.
Pre-order the album at Amazon and on iTunes.
May 29, 2019
Ralph Stanley II includes two of Donna’s songs on new album!
Donna was thrilled to get the word that Ralph Stanley II had released his new album and it included two songs she had a hand in writing. One was “A New Day in Heaven” which she co-wrote with long time co-writer Marc Rossi and “Old Family Graveyard” which she wrote with her husband and one of her favorite co-writers, Rick Stanley. The album was produced by Bil Vorndick.
May 3, 2019
Donna endorses new book on spirituals
Well known and respected journalist Henry Carrigan recently released a book titled Fifteen Spirituals That Will Change Your Life. Donna was honored to be asked to read an advance copy and share her thoughts on the book. Below is a paragraph about the book for those of you who love spiritual music. Donna’s endorsement is on the image to the right. Click here to read more about the book and purchase a copy.
This inspiring book is part memoir (Carrigan is both musician and music journalist), part tour of gospel music hits and artists, and part a quick history of forgotten parts of America. Music touches people’s hearts in deep and enduring ways that words often fail to do. We all remember the time and place where we first heard certain life-changing songs. Carrigan explores fifteen Gospel songs with enduring power: each chapter includes a brief history of the song, its setting, composer and lyrics, and illustrates its themes of comfort, healing, community, hope, and love.
March 22, 2019
Donna signs with Billy Blue Records!
Big news! Donna has recently signed an exclusive recording contract with Billy Blue Records as well as a co-publishing contract with Billy Blue Publishing. The record label is owned by Daywind Music Group which is a powerhouse in the Christian and Gospel music world. Donna was also very excited to know that bluegrass legend Doyle Lawson would be producing her first album on the label which is due out on November 1, 2019.
Pictured at the signing are L to R: Kathy Sacra-Anderson (Hadley Music Group), Ed Leonard (President of Daywind Music Group), Donna Ulisse, Jerry Salley (Creative and A & R Director, Billy Blue Records), and Rick Stanley.
Click here to read the full press release.
March 19, 2019
Donna makes the cover of Connect Savannah!
In advance of Donna’s show at Randy’s Pickin’ Parlor, Donna was interviewed by the journalist Sean Kelly of the Connect Savannah Magazine and also made the cover! The interview covers her days on Atlantic Records and how she ended up writing songs and singing bluegrass music as well as what it is like being produced by bluegrass legend Doyle Lawson. Click here to read the full interview.
February 27, 2019
Palatka Daily News Features Donna
When Donna played the Palatka Bluegrass Festival in Florida, it was nice to see the Palatka Daily News chose to feature a picture of her on stage with The Poor Mountain Boys in their article about the festival. Thanks to all of Donna’s fans who came out to see her!
January 20, 2019
Donna is once again nominated for SPBGMA Songwriter of the Year!!
Congratulations to Donna for once again being nominated for the SPBGMA Songwriter of the Year Award. She won the award in 2018. This year she is nominated with several talented and respected writers: Larry Cordle, Louisa Branscomb, Daryl Mosely, Barney Rogers and Becky Buller.
December 27, 2018
SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction features Donna’s live performance of All The Way to Bethlehem again in 2018!
Once again this year, SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction chose to feature Donna’s live performance of her landmark Christmas album All the Way to Bethlehem which was recorded at the request of Bluegrass Junction at Christ Lutheran Church in Nashville, Tennessee in 2017.
This performance was introduced by Kyle Cantrell and bluegrass artists Larry Stephenson and Jerry Salley read the scriptures that inspired the writing of each song. This is the show Donna takes on the road each December performing in churches and concert venues with local pastors often reading the scriptures.
October 6, 2018
Donna takes Red Hat Stage at IBMA Wide Open Bluegrass!
Donna was part of an all-star lineup that performed in Raleigh for a sold out crowd on September 28 and 29, 2018. She performed with her own band and also took the stage with Lonesome River Band (see photo on right) to perform the Don Williams hit “If I Needed You”. The performances were part of a segment of the show featuring artists who are part of the Mountain Home Records album Come See About Me which is a fundraiser for the IBMA Trust Fund.
February 8, 2018
Breakin’ Easy is the most played album on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction!
Donna’s current release Breakin’ Easy was the most played album in the month of January 2018 on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction channel with 180 total spins! The focus has been on three singles: “Back Home Feelin’ Again”, “A Little Past Lonely” and currently they have begun playing “Without Trouble” in a regular rotation.
A big thanks to all the fans who have requested Donna’s music on SiriusXM and especially to Kyle Cantrell who programs Bluegrass Junction.
February 5, 2018
Donna wins SPBGMA Songwriter of the Year Award!
The annual SPBGMA (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music Association) held their 44TH annual Bluegrass Music Awards and 35th National Convention and Band Championship in Nashville on February 1 – 4, 2018. Donna was nominated for Songwriter of the Year along with some of her favorite songwriters: Larry Cordle, Milan Miller, Eric Gibson, Daryl Mosley, & Wayne Taylor. The award was presented at the Sheraton Music City where the event is held each year.
Winning the award was a complete surprise for Donna but she graciously accepted it, talking about how she wrote her first song at age five and has been working at this dream from the time she was a young girl. The award was presented by Larry Stephenson and his wife Dreama Belcher Stephenson who happen to be close friends of Donna, making the award even more special. Larry was honored on the same night being inducted into the SPBGMA Hall of Greats.
January 25, 2018
Donna has feature story in Country Music People Magazine!
British journalist Kelly Gregory recently contacted Donna from “across the pond” for an interview to be part of an impressive three page spread about Donna and her current album Breakin’ Easy. The interview covered Donna’s days on Atlantic Records and how she ended up stepping into the bluegrass music world through her songwriting and marriage to Rick Stanley, cousin to bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley. She also shared what it was like going into the studio for the first time with Doyle Lawson when he produced her current release.
Country Music People is the leading country music magazine in the United Kingdom covering top country acts in the United States and Europe and the occasional bluegrass artist. Donna’s feature is in the upcoming February 2018 issue.
January 9, 2018
Breakin’ Easy receives a stunning review on ALL ABOUT VOCALS
A big thank you to Kaya Savas for such a great review on Donna’s current release! Here is how it starts:
Here at All About Vocals we are obsessed with the human voice and the first thing you’re likely to notice when you listen to Donna Ulisse, whether live or on a recording, is her pure, natural, and authentic voice. Variously described as “rapturous and angelic,” strong, supple, warm, rich, companionable and crystalline. Ulisse (pronounced You-liss-ee) has been called “one of the best singer-songwriters in bluegrass.” Which leads us to her release of Breakin’ Easy. The album was produced by label-mate and Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame member, Doyle Lawson.
Click here to read the rest of the review.
January 3, 2018
Donna’s Breakin’ Easy included in a Top UK list!
A heartfelt thanks to music writer Kelly Gregory in the UK for including Donna’s new album Breakin’ Easy on her Top Ten list for 2017 calling the album the best bluegrass album of 2017! Kelly writes for the premier country music magazine in Europe, Country Music People.
Country Music People is Europe’s number one country music magazine and is published monthly. It gives you the world of country music from Austin to Nashville and beyond. The magazine is a winner of the coveted CMA (US Country Music Academy) Wesley Rose International Achievement award for outstanding contributions to the promotion and development of country music internationally. For almost 50 years it has delivered the inside stories on country music’s hottest stars and in October 2011 celebrated its 500th issue.
CMP gives you the world of country music: New Country, Roots, Honky Tonk, Americana, Traditional, Acoustic, Country-Rock, Old Time, Bluegrass, NashPop, Cowboy, Rockabilly, Western Swing, Singer-Songwriter, Alternative…The biggest stars, the hottest buzz, and the best music – Country Music People is the passionate fan’s all-access pass to everything country!
January 2, 2018
Breakin’ Easy makes Dave’s Dozen 2017 Favorites list on Bluegrass Today!
Respected bluegrass music journalist David Morris compiled a list of his favorites for 2017. We were thrilled to see Donna’s album included in the list! He writes the following about the compilation and you can read about all of his choices here.
It’s time for my annual compilation of favorite recordings of 2017. It is decidedly subjective, not necessarily the best overall, but what caught my ear and imagination.
There’s just one caveat: I don’t include recordings that include songs or liner notes that I had a hand in writing. Anything else is eligible, provided it meets my admittedly broad definition of bluegrass.
December 28, 2017
Henry Carrigan includes Breakin’ Easy on end of year No Depression list!
Freelance journalist Henry Carrigan decided to compile a list of the ten CDs released in 2017 that had moved him in some way and that he had returned to and listened to over and over again. It was great to see Breakin’ Easy show up on that list! It was also wonderful to see the Rebekah Long CD Run Away on the list which Donna produced. See the full list here.
Dec. 26, 2017
SiriusXM airs live performance of Donna’s Christmas show!
SiriusXM Bluegrass Junction’s program director and radio host Kyle Cantrell approached Donna about recording one of her Christmas performances of her landmark album All The Way to Bethlehem this year to broadcast over the Christmas holiday. Donna immediately reached out to her good friends in the bluegrass world, Larry Stephenson and Jerry Salley, and asked them to read the scriptures for the show making it an extra special event. Bluegrass Junction has often featured the album during the holidays but the live show includes all of Donna’s very special narrative which brings the characters to life in a whole new way. The show aired four times from Dec. 23-25.
Dec. 22, 2017
Breakin’ Easy makes the CMT.com Top 17 for 2017 list!
We were over the moon excited to see Donna’s album Breakin’ Easy on the end of the year list put together by the staff at CMT.com! She is in some pretty good company along with Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Flatt Lonesome, The Grascals, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill to name a few. To read the full list click here.
On a point of interest, the staff writer who chose Donna’s CD was Edward Morris who has been following and writing about Donna’s career since she was an artist on Atlantic Records in the early 1990’s and wrote a wonderful article about her in Billboard about her very first album release. A heartfelt thanks to Ed for continuing to write about Donna’s music!
Dec. 22, 2017
A Little Past Lonely climbing charts!
Another composition by Donna and longtime co-writer Marc Rossi off Donna’s current release Breakin’ Easy just took a nice big jump in the Bluegrass Today chart from #16 to #3! The song has a real country heartache feel and has been a favorite by everyone at the record label from the get-go. As always, a big thank you to the DJs who continue to play Donna’s music!
Dec. 14, 2017
Donna featured on Handpicked by Del McCoury on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction
On the December 13, 2017 show Handpicked with Del McCoury on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction, Del chose to play Donna’s recording of the Dottie West classic “Here Comes My Baby Back Again” from her current album Breakin’ Easy. The show is hosted by bluegrass legend Del McCoury and songwriter/bassist Jon Weisberger.
Donna chose to record this song because of her personal connection to Dottie West who she met when she was singing at local clubs in Nashville years ago. Dottie West often came in to hear her and was always kind and gracious to Donna.
Dec. 13, 2017
Bluegrass Today offers up rave review of Breakin’ Easy!
Popular bluegrass online magazine Bluegrass Today featured a glowing review of Donna’s current release Breakin’ Easy written by David Morris. Below is just a sampling of what David had to say about the CD:
” The latest Mountain Home Music CD from Donna Ulisse is one of those “on the one hand, on the other hand” propositions.
On the one hand, Ulisse’s Breakin’ Easy is a textbook example of top-notch traditional bluegrass songwriting. Every listen unveils a new little gem, a turn of a phrase or a couplet that calls to mind home, faith and other cornerstones of the genre.
Right off the bat, in Without Trouble Please, she’s “hopin’ for a blue sky…a sweet 24 hours without trouble please.” We’ve all had that thought countless times. Ulisse turned it into a singable petition.
Elsewhere, she tells of being “a little past lonely,” of having “that back home feelin’ again,” and being “in a hurry to go nowhere” There are “rows of unplowed peas” and nods to deep roots, lasting love and strong wills.
On the other hand, the arrangements push the boundaries, in fresh creative ways. That’s largely the influence of her regular co-writers, Marc Rossi and Rick Stanley – a relative of those Stanleys and Donna’s musical partner and husband. But the instrumentation on the Doyle Lawson-produced project add a layer of newness, too. There are tenor guitars and a little steel here and there, even drums and percussion on some tracks. None of that is shocking, given Ulisse’s country music roots.” Click here to read the full review.
