Debbie Sutton / DJ

Debbie was born and raised in Leslie County, Eastern Kentucky, known as the home of The Osborne Brothers. She has been immersed in the rich tradition of bluegrass music for as long as she can remember. Growing up, her father, also a musician, introduced her to the genre, taking the family to festivals and jam sessions.

At the age of 12, Debbie joined a band with her sister and two cousins. The band, formed in 1986, lasted until 1992, but Deby continued playing beyond its run. Her performances led to backstage conversations with legends like Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, and Ralph Stanley, and she has built many friendships through bluegrass music over the years.

Bluegrass music also introduced Debbie to live sound engineering, a skill she pursued with dedication. It led her to live radio broadcasting, where she became a DJ and Bluegrass representative at a radio station in Whitesburg, Kentucky. She hosted her own show, “The Hillbilly Hayride,” spending six and a half years at the station and further strengthening her connection to the music industry.

Grateful for the opportunities music has brought her, Debbie has returned to one of her deepest passions—radio broadcasting. To top it all off, she is happily married to a talented banjo player, and together they are enjoying the recent birth of their first grandchild.