Sheila Kay Adams
Carrying the Song
About the project
For more than five decades, Sheila Kay Adams has carried the ancient ballad tradition of Madison County, North Carolina onto stages across the country and around the world. Rooted in the mountains of Marshall and Sodom Laurel, her voice connects past to present — family to community — story to song.
Now, for the first time, her life’s work will be gathered into a beautifully produced career retrospective: part documentary narrative, part oral history archive, part visual celebration of Appalachian music. The project will result in a first-edition hardcover book, a curated archival record of photos and oral histories, and a live ballad swap tour designed to carry this book and the work it represents to audiences nationwide.
Join the Launch Circle
The book and archive is being brought to life through our Launch Circle, and it will only happen with the early commitment of readers and supporters – so please help us bring this to life. The project highlights Sheila Kay Adams not only as a musician and author, but—most importantly—as a community builder, documenting how she is passing the tradition to a new generation of artists who now gather around her to carry the music forward.
We are preparing to publish in Fall 2026, in conjunction with Sheila Kay Adams’ recent recognition as a recipient of the prestigious United States Artists Fellowship. The United States Artists Fellowship is one of the nation’s most respected awards supporting creative excellence across disciplines. The award recognizes both artistic achievement and lasting cultural impact. In conjunction with this significant lifetime achievement you can help bring this book and archive into the world.
- National Heritage Fellowship recipient (National Endowment for the Arts), the United States’ highest honor in folk and traditional arts.
- 2026 United States Artists Fellowship recipient, recognizing her lifetime contributions to traditional Appalachian music and storytelling.
- Award-winning storyteller and long-time performer at the National Storytelling Festival.
- Featured performer and cultural representative at the Smithsonian Institution Folkways programs and national folk festivals.
- Author of multiple books documenting Appalachian life and tradition, including the novel My Old True Love.
Choose Your Support Level
Standard First Edition – $60
This is the foundational level.
• First edition hardcover
• Advance pre-publication pricing
• Shipped upon release (Fall 2026)
• Helps fund editorial, design, and archival preservation work
Supporter Edition – $150
This level helps ensure the work reaches future generations.
- First edition hardcover
- Name listed in the book as a Launch Circle Supporter
- Special recognition at book events
- Priority access to tickets for Ballad Swap + Book Launch events
The Porch Party – $500
An intimate afternoon of songs and stories at the home of Sheila Kay Adams.
- Two (2) signed First Edition hardcovers
- Invitation for two to an exclusive Porch Party and ballad swap at Sheila’s property
- A Personal experience in the environment where these traditions live
- Name listed in the book as a Launch Circle Supporter
The Sodom Laurel Heritage Tour – $1,500
A private, guided journey through the heart of the Madison County ballad tradition.
- Private guided experience of Sodom Laurel for a group of up to six (6) people.
- Hosted by Sheila Kay Adams, offering firsthand history and lore of the community.
- Name listed in the book as a Launch Circle Supporter
- Six (6) signed First Edition hardcovers (one for each guest).
- Special recognition at all major book events.
Host a Private Book Signing & Ballad Swap
Bring the music home. We are offering a limited number of private gatherings featuring:
- A live performance by select members of Sheila Kay Adams’ Nest of Singing Birds
- 50 copies of the book included
- A private book signing
- A custom evening of stories and ballads at a venue of your choosing
Conditions vary — we want to design these creatively and collaboratively with you.