From Big Ears to a PBS documentary, Amythyst Kiah and her music represent Appalachia

Appalachia is a complex, diverse region that is more than worthy of celebration, but it doesn't always get the respect it deserves.

"I just appreciate someone trying to tell the story in a way that is beautiful instead of harping on all the negative things," said Amythyst Kiah, an Americana artist who is representing Appalachia and East Tennessee in a new PBS documentary series.

Kiah was born in Chattanooga and attended college in Johnson City at East Tennessee State University, where she studied bluegrass, old time and country music. Since graduating, Kiah has remained in Johnson City.

Kiah is a true East Tennessean, and her background as such is highlighted in the "Appalachia" episode of a new PBS documentary series, "The Express Way With Dulé Hill." The series follows Hill - the actor known for the TV shows "Psych" and "The West Wing" - as he speaks with creative changemakers in their local communities, according to a news release.

In the episode featuring Kiah, Hill visits Johnson City, where he and Kiah examine country music as a melding of West African and Scots-Irish traditions, and discuss Kiah's experience growing up in Appalachia - conversations that are informed by Kiah's background as a queer, Black musician.

The episode premieres at 9 p.m. ET April 30 on PBS.

PBS documentary explores Appalachian music

The episode leads with respect for the Appalachian region and its people, particularly because it gives the folks featured an opportunity to share their unique experiences - and there's something inspiring in other people's stories, Kiah said. "Storytelling is such an important part of what it means to be human."

Kiah and her music represent Appalachia in the episode, but what did it take for Kiah to see herself as an an Appalachian artist?

Through her experience with social anxiety, Kiah realized that music and art provided an outlet for self-expression. These passions ultimately led her to East Tennessee State University.

"Once I started to see the whole historical music connection, that’s when I started to see myself as, 'Wow, I’m an Appalachian singer-songwriter.' I’m part of a larger story. It gave me a sense of place and direction for which to pursue happiness and a life that had meaning."

From Johnson City to Knoxville

In March of this year, Kiah played at Knoxville's Big Ears festival. In addition to her primary show at Jackson Terminal, Kiah also performed through the University of Tennessee Libraries' Boundless program. Each year, Boundless offers an artist the opportunity to create an original work using source material from UT Libraries' archives, according to its website.

Big Ears 2024: 11 moments that made this year Knoxville's best music festival yet

This was the first year the program partnered with Big Ears, and Kiah's performance marked the biggest Boundless turnout yet, said Chris Durman, director of the George F. DeVine Music Library and chair of the Boundless committee.

As a fan of Kiah's, Durman was thrilled to have her as the 2024 Boundless artist.

"I knew exactly what she was capable of," he said. "She’s just doing wonderful things in music."

Durman spoke to Kiah's music and how it is shaped by her relationship with the region. "She very much is telling the stories of where she’s from," he said. "That’s when it’s gonna come across the truest, when you’re writing from what you know."

Kiah is influencing how people think about roots music, Durman said. "It’s real easy to come away, even knowing the area like I do, and think, in error, that the music of East Tennessee is a white story, and it never has been," he said. "She is very much letting it be known that Black people have been here in this area for a long time and have contributed greatly."

As her archival material for Boundless, Kiah selected oral, first-hand accounts of the 2016 Gatlinburg wildfires, about which she penned the song "From the Charred Remains." The song focuses on community resiliency, Kiah said. "It really meant a lot also to be able to write a song to pay homage to the people in the region."

While this was Kiah's first time being commissioned, she already had experience with the archival process, she said. In college, that was often her method for researching songs, although at that time, she was more often pursuing historical versions of old folk songs rather than seeking inspiration for original material, Kiah told Knox News.

Kiah is slated to perform on May 11 at Southern Skies Music Festival in Knoxville. Kiah's performance will include her version of the traditional folk song "In the Pines," which was released April 26.

Hayden Dunbar is the storyteller reporter. Email hayden.dunbar@knoxnews.com.

Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: From Big Ears to a PBS documentary, Amythyst Kiah and her music represent Appalachia