Michelle Lee On Air 
The new Highfalutin Hillbilly album from The Kody Norris Show is out and ready for you to purchase, download and play over and over! “It’s just us being ourselves – off-the-cuff, full of heart and having a dang good time” is how Kody Norris described Highfalutin Hillbilly. If you have seen the band, you know they are a genuine group of individuals and love to give high-energy packed performances that are full of laughs, great music and sends you off with the “wanting more” feeling. The Kody Norris Show is the type of performance that has you leaving feeling great and better than when you arrived.
Highfalutin Hillbilly has captured every aspect of their performances (storytelling, fast-paced picking, fast-talking vocals) except for standing right in front of you. One song that stood out to me was “In The Circle” because of the story it tells about the dream many artists have. “In The Circle”, written by Larry Chunn, is the perfect song for The Kody Norris Show band to express their emotions from August 9, 2023 – their Grand Ole Opry debut. Great lyrics and in The Kody Norris Show’s upbeat way.
Winning SPBGMA (Society of Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America) Entertainer of the Year for four consecutive years (2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025) is an amazing accomplishment but understandable with songs like “Mississippi Squirrel Revival” and “Waitress, Waitress”. Banjo player Josiah Tyree’s imaginative take on Ray Stevens’ “Mississippi Squirrel Revival” showcases how sharing humor through music is not just a talent, it is natural for this band. Whether it’s a song about a squirrel going loose in a church or a fella flirting with a waitress, Kody Norris has created a winning group.
While Kody Norris is known for writing many of the bands’ original songs, Mary Rachel Nalley-Norris stepped in and knocked it out of the park with her songwriting debut song, “Blue Ain’t The Word”. The balance of telling a story or painting a picture of pain associated with heartbreak and doing it to a quicker pace than the normal “sad” song is spot on. As Mary Rachel Nalley-Norris captured the spotlight on “Blue Ain’t The Word”, she is later joined on the album by Gena Britt, Jaelee Roberts and Deanie Richardson from Sister Sadie for a wonderful interpretation of Tanya Tucker’s “San Antonio Stroll”. The harmonies in this song are beautiful and it reminded me of songs that created the vision of the old country salons.
“Ruby Jane” and “Ramblin’ Around” are two originals songs written by Kody Norris. “Ruby Jane” is a song about proclaiming love for a lady that is energized by the sounds of twin fiddles played by Mary Rachel and Jason Barie. “Ramblin’ Around” is the song that gives you that hard-driving music that you want and allows each artist to shine and show off their talents.
“Wild Mountain Rose” is a slower paced song but really demonstrates the love for a girl that takes a turn in the way of honoring her with a wild mountain rose. “Silver Eagle” picks up the beat but carries a story of how important an old guitar can be to a man. Would you want money or fame? “Tennessee” is that high energy song all about that great state of Tennessee. The home state of Davey Crockett has all that one needs.
“The Auctioneer” might be the first song, it might not be the #1 song off the album for you, but I can guarantee that “The Auctioneer” and “Rockabye Boogie” are the fastest vocals on the album. Both songs truly kick it in high gear, get your blood pumping and feet moving – all that you expect from an album titled Highfalutin Hillbilly!
The Kody Norris Show
Album: Highfalutin Hillbilly
Label: Rebel Records
Band members:
Kody Norris – guitar and vocals
Mary Rachel Nalley-Norris – fiddle, mandolin and vocals
Charlie Lowman – bass and vocals
Josiah Tyree – banjo and vocals
Guest artists:
Gena Britt and Jaelee Roberts of Sister Sadie – harmony vocals on “San Antonio Stroll”
Deanie Richardson of Sister Sadie – fiddle on “San Antonio Stroll”
Jason Barie – fiddle throughout the album
Tony Creasman – percussion throughout the album
You can get your copy of Highfalutin Hillbilly album by The Kody Norris Show buy purchasing physical copies on their website www.thekodynorrisshow.com or any streaming platforms. While you are strolling on their website, don’t forget to grab your Kody Norris Show t-shirt, hat, past cd’s, and/or even a TKNS pocketknife.
