Alison Maria Krauss was born on July 23, 1971, in Decatur, Illinois. Her musical journey began early, with classical violin lessons at age five, later transitioning to country and bluegrass. By age ten, she had already formed her first band. Krauss's talent as a fiddler was recognized early, earning her several awards during her teenage years. At sixteen, she released her debut album, Too Late to Cry (1987).

Krauss's career quickly gained momentum. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her debut album, Too Late to Cry (1987), and the same year she joined the band Union Station, releasing her first album with them in 1989. This dual path, solo work and collaborations with Union Station, defined much of her early career. Her 1990 solo album, I've Got That Old Feeling, brought her significant chart success and a Grammy Award for the song "Steel Rails," marking her entry into the mainstream spotlight.

Throughout the 1990s, Krauss continued to release successful albums, with both solo endeavors and works with Union Station. She gained critical acclaim for her work in the film soundtracks O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Cold Mountain., receiving an Academy Award nomination for "You Will Be My Ain True Love".

Krauss's distinctive voice can be heard in numerous film soundtracks, including Twister, Eight Crazy Nights, and The Prince of Egypt. She is perhaps best known for her contributions to the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, where her performances, including "Down to the River to Pray" and "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" (for which Dan Tyminski provided the vocals for the George Clooney character), earned her a Grammy Award and helped revive interest in bluegrass music.

Notably, Krauss has collaborated with a number of artists, including Robert Plant, with whom she released the platinum-selling album Raising Sand (2007). This collaboration earned them five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.

In fact, Alison has won 27 Grammy Awards as of 2024, and has been nominated 44 times, ranking her top 5 of most GRAMMY awards won by a particular artist.

Krauss's success continues to this day. Her most recent solo album, Windy City (2017), features country and bluegrass classics. With twenty-seven Grammy Awards, Krauss is among the most awarded living recipients. A testament to her longevity, Krauss was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2019 and inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2021. In January 2025, Union Station announced that they would be releasing their first album in almost fourteen years, which would be followed by an extensive tour.