The Secret Sisters

Laura Rogers and Lydia Slagle (née Rogers) are, as their name suggests, sisters. Growing up in the historical music town Muscle Shoals, they first sang together in church, fine tuning their familial harmonies.

But music only seemed like a hobby. Lydia initially pursued business at Middle State Tennessee University, but she ended up traveling to Nashville to audition for a music executive. When she was invited back, she asked to bring Laura, and shortly thereafter they were signed to Universal Republic Records.

In 2010, they released their self-titled album, and followed it with 2014's Put Your Needle Down. T Bone Burnett produced the sophomore effort. Everything seemed to be going their way, but by 2015 the duo's prospects had taken a dramatic turn. Their label dropped them and they faced bankruptcy, among other difficulties.

That fall, Brandi Carlile invited them to open for her on tour, and was wowed by their sound. She, along with longtime musical partners Tim and Phil Hanseroth, ended up producing their third album, 2017's You Don't Own Me Anymore. It went on to earn a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album.

In 2020, The Secret Sisters released their fourth album Saturn Return. Carlile and the Hanseroth twins once again produced.