Music

Local Boy Makes Good as Carrie Underwood's Fiddle Player

Emily Anderson |

Jimmy Herman
 
Jimmy Herman

Pleasantville is a small town with an unknown population in Trempealeau County. However, for being such a small town, Pleasantville is home to a rising star. Jimmy Herman has been making a name for himself as the fiddler for 2005 American Idol winner and award-winning country/pop artist Carrie Underwood. The 26 year-old Herman has been playing the violin since he was four years old. In addition, he taught himself to play the guitar, banjo, and mandolin in elementary school. When he was 17, he played with the Chippewa Valley’s own Marshall Star band. After six years with them and a brief stint in Milwaukee, Herman moved to Nashville in hopes of getting his big break. In 2007, he began playing with the country group Ricochet and then for Danielle Peck, another country artist. By September of that year he had landed a spot in Underwood’s band as the fiddler. With Underwood he has been able to perform at the 2007 CMA Awards, David Letterman’s Late Show, and on ABC’s Good Morning America. And now we get the rare opportunity to see him back on his home turf at Country Fest on June 25.