In a circa 1900 one-room homestead cabin — a building on her ranch in south-central Montana — Stephanie Davis composes and records songs that reflect her life in Big Sky country. She did spend a couple of years in Nashville, writing songs for the likes of Garth Brooks, Roger Whittaker, Martina McBride and Shelby Lynn. But there's no place like her home state of Montana — where her family has lived for four generations — and Stephanie is the first to tell you, daily ranch life provides constant inspiration. Her albums include I'm Pulling Through, River of No Return, Crocus in the Snow and Home for the Holidays (Recluse Records), a collection of holiday favorites, old and new.

Stuart Duncan

As a young child, Stuart Duncan hung out in the Escondido, California, folk club where his father was the soundman. He was inspired by the music of Vassar Clements, Byron Berline, Dan Hicks and others. At age seven, he took up playing fiddle and now, more than four decades later, he has chalked up a career that includes two Grammy Awards and being named the International Bluegrass Music Association's Fiddle Player of the Year eight times, to date! He was a founding member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band and is perennially one of Nashville's most sought-after session musicians. His CD Stuart Duncan is on the Rounder label.

Peter Johnson

Peter Johnson (percussion, Guy's All-Star Shoe Band) has played Klezmer music with Doc Severinsen and jazz with Dave Brubeck. He was a drummer for The Manhattan Transfer and for Gene Pitney. He has toured the world, but he always comes back to home base: St. Paul.