Rhonda Vincent Announces 2026 ‘One Last Ride’ Farewell Tour
NASHVILLE — Rhonda Vincent, the Grammy-winning “Queen of Bluegrass,” has announced that she will embark on her final tour in 2026, bringing a remarkable four-decade career to a close. Aptly titled One Last Ride, the farewell journey promises to be both a celebration and a heartfelt goodbye to the fans who have sustained her since her earliest days performing in the Ozarks.
Vincent, 64, made the announcement this week, describing the decision as bittersweet but deeply considered. “Bluegrass has given me everything — a life, a family on the road, and a bond with fans that will never fade,” she said. “But I know it’s time for one last ride, one last chance to share these songs together.”
Born in Kirksville, Missouri, and raised in a musical family, Vincent began performing as a child with her family’s Sally Mountain Show before launching a solo career that eventually redefined the modern bluegrass landscape. Known for her virtuosic mandolin playing, crystalline soprano, and relentless touring schedule, she has long been regarded as one of the genre’s most dynamic ambassadors.
Her career has been decorated with accolades: a Grammy Award in 2017 for Best Bluegrass Album (All the Rage — In Concert, Volume One), multiple International Bluegrass Music Association honors, and induction into the Grand Ole Opry in 2021. Yet beyond the trophies, Vincent’s impact has been measured in the generations of musicians she inspired and the audiences she brought to bluegrass, often bridging traditionalists and new listeners alike.
The One Last Ride tour is expected to span major festivals, intimate theaters, and iconic venues, blending career-spanning favorites with personal stories and collaborations. Fans can anticipate renditions of her signature songs — from “Kentucky Borderline” to “I’ve Forgotten You” — alongside tributes to her influences and the musicians who traveled with her through the years.
Industry observers note that Vincent’s farewell is not only a loss for bluegrass but for country music at large. “She carried the torch for bluegrass in an era when it could have easily faded from the mainstream,” said one Nashville critic. “Her voice, her musicianship, and her tireless advocacy made sure the genre stayed alive — and even thrived.”
Vincent has also been a tireless presence on the road, often performing more than 250 dates a year at her peak. In recent years, she has balanced touring with family life, including appearances with her daughters Sally and Tensel, who are themselves performers. The farewell tour, she emphasized, will be less about endings and more about gratitude.
“This isn’t goodbye forever,” she explained. “The music will always be a part of me, and I hope to keep sharing it in smaller ways. But this tour is about closure — it’s about celebrating the journey with the people who made it possible.”
Fans have already expressed a mix of sadness and excitement, flooding social media with memories of Vincent’s concerts and anticipation for the final shows. Many describe One Last Ride as the chance to thank an artist who has been a constant presence in their lives.
Vincent’s announcement comes at a time when several country and bluegrass icons, including Alan Jackson and Willie Nelson, have scaled back their touring commitments. Together, these farewell tours signal a generational transition, with the artists who defined modern country and bluegrass now passing the torch to younger performers.
As for Vincent, she is determined to make the tour a defining chapter in her story. “I started with my family, and I’ll finish with my family — my band, my fans, and everyone who believed in me,” she said. “This last ride is for all of us.”