On Saturday, December 13, mandolinist and singer-songwriter Sierra Hull brought music from her latest GRAMMY-nominated album, A Tip Toe High Wire, to CBS Saturday Morning for a three-song Saturday Session. With Erik Coveney (bass), Avery Merritt (fiddle), Mark Raudabaguh (drums), and Shaun Richardson (guitar), Hull performed three tunes: “Lord, That’s a Long Way” from A Tip Toe High Wire, which is nominated for Best Instrumental Composition, as well as “Stomping Grounds,” a tune by Béla Fleck and Victor Wooten, and “Movement 3,” a Hull original from an upcoming release. Watch all three numbers right here, on BGS.
Announcing the appearance on social media, Hull pointed out the serendipitous rarity of performing three instrumentals for her Saturday Sessions. “We were originally scheduled to play all three of our GRAMMY-nominated songs – ‘Boom,’ ‘Spitfire,’ & ‘Lord, That’s A Long Way,'” Hull explained on Instagram. “However, by this past Saturday morning, my voice was gone. The worst laryngitis I’ve ever had despite feeling great otherwise! Doctor’s orders was vocal rest and no singing for a few days (which I honestly couldn’t have even had I tried). I was super bummed thinking we’d have to cancel, but my publicist spoke with the show producers and in a very rare exception we are told, they let us come play 3 instrumentals on the show!”
Of course Hull could pull off three engaging and exciting instrumentals. Though of her two prior planned songs, “Boom” is nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Americana Performance and “Spitfire” for Best American Roots Song, the three tunes the group did perform still show the immense depth and breadth of Hull and band’s technical prowess and dynamic range. Plus, each of the selections showcase various creative inputs and outputs for Hull; “Stomping Grounds” isn’t just pulled from the catalog of Hull producer, mentor, and collaborator Fleck, but also from the set lists of her frequent touring colleague Cory Wong. “Movement 3” is a delightful harbinger of musical eras yet to come, a discursive and flowing composition that pulls as much from the Chris Thile school of mandolin as jamgrass, newgrass, and more crunchy roots music climes. “Lord, That’s a Long Way” is one of the tentpoles of the new album, a staple of her live shows over the past year and into the future, surely.
Hull’s appearance on CBS is just the latest in an impressive outlay of accomplishments and accolades in 2025. Not only is she nominated for four awards at the 2026 GRAMMYs – including for Best Bluegrass Album for A Tip Toe High Wire – Hull also appeared with her band on NPR’s Tiny Desk, made our own 2025 Good Country year-end list, announced two of her own signature model Gibson Mandolins, and is currently wrapping up a holiday tour appearing with Béla Fleck & the Flecktones. We’re sure 2026 will hold even more impressive musical moments for Sierra Hull, but in the meantime enjoy these CBS Saturday Morning performances by one of the most talented groups in bluegrass, Americana, and roots music today.
Check out our feature interview on A Tip Toe High Wire from earlier this year here.
