- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Lexington Today
By the People, for the People
Sallie Osborne, Bluegrass Festival Co-Founder, Dies at 84
Sallie Osborne, a beloved figure in the Kentucky bluegrass music community, passed away unexpectedly on January 25, 2026.
Published on Feb. 3, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Sallie Osborne, 84, passed away on Sunday, January 25, 2026. Osborne was the mother of bluegrass performer and HCTC Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music Director, Dean Osborne, and Dr. Carmela Osborne. She was a co-founder of the family bluegrass festival that started at Woodland Park in Lexington, KY in 1990 and helped host over 65 multi-day, multi-band events over the next 35 years.
Why it matters
Sallie Osborne was a pillar of the Kentucky bluegrass music community, helping to establish and sustain numerous influential festivals over the decades. Her passing is a significant loss for the bluegrass scene in the state.
The details
Osborne had been preparing for a trip prior to a snowstorm last week when she suffered a massive aneurysm. Her passing was highly unexpected, as she remained very active and kept a schedule of someone much younger. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at Walker Funeral Home in Hyden, KY.
- Sallie Osborne passed away on Sunday, January 25, 2026.
- Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
The players
Sallie Osborne
The 84-year-old co-founder of the family bluegrass festival in Lexington, KY and mother of bluegrass performer Dean Osborne and Dr. Carmela Osborne.
Dean Osborne
A bluegrass performer and the Director of the HCTC Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music, who is Sallie Osborne's son.
Dr. Carmela Osborne
Sallie Osborne's daughter.
What they’re saying
“Thank you to everyone for their love and prayers.”
— Dean Osborne, Sallie Osborne's son (bluegrasstoday.com)
The takeaway
Sallie Osborne's death is a significant loss for the bluegrass music community in Kentucky, as she was a co-founder and driving force behind numerous influential festivals over the past 35 years. Her commitment to celebrating and preserving bluegrass music left a lasting impact on the genre in the state.
