On February 28, the Grand Ole Opry hosted one of the most special evenings Nashville has seen in years: a sold-out concert celebrating the 25th anniversary of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. Artists gathered around a single microphone in the classic style, honoring a record widely credited with sparking a 21st-century roots-music revival, reintroducing bluegrass, gospel, folk, and traditional country to a mainstream audience. Among the legendary performers on that stage, one moment stood out as something truly unexpected and unforgettable: the Alaskan Sunnyside Sisters stepping up to perform “In the Highways.”
What makes this moment so remarkable starts with the song itself and the history behind it. After decades away from the spotlight, the Peasall Sisters returned to the stage to introduce “In the Highways,” the song they had originally recorded as children for the Coen Brothers’ 2000 film starring George Clooney. It was a beautifully poetic passing of the torch, and the group chosen to receive it could not have been more fitting.
The Alaskan Sunnyside Sisters consist of Akulina (14) on guitar and lead vocals, Salima (13) on banjo, Cherylann (11) on upright bass, and Alaniya (10) on mandolin and harmony. Originally from Alaska and now based in Florida, their videos of tight sibling harmonies and virtuosic picking have gone viral worldwide, earning them a following of nearly 300,000 fans. And yet, for all the attention their online presence has brought them, nothing quite prepares you for seeing them perform live on one of the most storied stages in American music.
Remarkably, they are the first generation in their family to play music, as their parents have no musical background, making their accomplishments even more extraordinary. Their musical journey began with classical piano lessons around age five, but everything changed during the pandemic, when a visit to Florida introduced them to the world of bluegrass and a whole new passion was born. In just a few short years, they have gone from picking up acoustic instruments for the first time to standing on the Grand Ole Opry stage alongside legends like Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, and Billy Strings.
Their performance of “In the Highways” was a testament to everything that makes this group so special. The song is a jubilant, gospel-drenched number, full of the kind of bright, interlocking harmonies that feel both ancient and alive. In the hands of four young sisters who have spent the last few years absorbing and honoring bluegrass tradition from the ground up, it rang out with a sincerity and joy that was impossible to ignore.
The Opry crowd was witnessing something rare: a group of children not performing as a novelty, but as genuine musicians worthy of the occasion. Their ease onstage signals confidence without arrogance, a rare balance. That ease was on full display that night.
The O Brother soundtrack has always been about the timeless power of American roots music to connect people across generations. What the Alaskan Sunnyside Sisters brought to that stage on February 28th was living proof that this music is not a relic. It is being carried forward, joyfully and skillfully, by the next generation. Watch the video below and see for yourself.
