Billy Strings Honored with Key to Asheville

Bluegrass star receives city's highest honor after sold-out four-night residency

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Acclaimed bluegrass musician Billy Strings was presented with the Key to the City of Asheville, North Carolina, following his sold-out four-night residency at the ExploreAsheville.com Arena last week. Strings, who has cited the late Doc Watson as a major influence, expressed his gratitude to the city and its residents for the honor.

Why it matters

Billy Strings' residency in Asheville, a hub of bluegrass and Americana music, underscores his status as one of the genre's rising stars. The Key to the City honor further cements his connection to the region and recognizes his contributions to preserving and promoting the musical legacy of North Carolina artists like Doc Watson.

The details

Photographer Corey Johnson-Erday of Tune Ridge Media captured Strings' Friday night performance during the four-day residency. The following evening, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer surprised Strings on stage and presented him with the Key to the City, the municipality's highest honor. In his remarks to the crowd, Strings expressed his deep admiration for the late Doc Watson, a fellow North Carolina native who was a major influence on Strings' guitar playing and musical style.

  • Billy Strings played a sold-out, four-day residency at the ExploreAsheville.com Arena from February 23-26, 2026.
  • On February 24, 2026, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer presented Billy Strings with the Key to the City during his concert.

The players

Billy Strings

An acclaimed American bluegrass musician known for his virtuosic guitar playing and fusion of bluegrass, rock, and psychedelia.

Esther Manheimer

The Mayor of Asheville, North Carolina, who presented Billy Strings with the Key to the City.

Corey Johnson-Erday

A photographer with Tune Ridge Media who captured images of Billy Strings' concert in Asheville.

Doc Watson

A legendary American folk and bluegrass musician from North Carolina who was a major influence on Billy Strings.

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What they’re saying

“Wow, what an honor. It's not lost on me to come here and play in the beautiful state of North Carolina and in this beautiful town. For all you folks, as you know, Doc Watson is one of my favorites. Pretty much my very favorite musician to ever live. So coming here to play music and guitar, I learned how to play guitar by listening to him. And he's a North Carolinian. So every time I come here it kind of feels like home, you know? So I thank y'all so much for everything. Let's boogie.”

— Billy Strings (Whiskey Riff)

What’s next

Billy Strings is expected to continue touring throughout 2026, with additional festival appearances and headlining shows scheduled across the United States.

The takeaway

Billy Strings' residency in Asheville and the city's presentation of the Key to the City honor highlight the deep connections between the bluegrass artist and the musical heritage of North Carolina, reinforcing his status as a leading figure in preserving and evolving the genre.