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The Erwin parents started each of the girls on string instruments at the age of five. Emily began playing violin at age 7. While at a bluegrass festival at age 10, Emily spotted a banjo and was hooked. She decided to drop the violin and take banjo lessons instead. She also plays the dobro, mandolin and other acoustic instruments. In school, Emily played in the orchestra where she and Martie were known as "Orch Dork". Emily and Martie toured the country together in a teen's bluegrass group for six years before helping to found Dixie Chicks. Emily once tried out for "Hee Haw" so she can play her banjo, but she didn't get the part. When you're out on the road, you try to stay in shape in any way you can and Emily heads out in nature and runs, making sure no one sees her.

Emily learned to play the banjo by teaching herself the chord progessions by reading the books. A bunch of years later, look at her now! :)

As the Chick famed for picking tunes on banjo and Dobro, Emily says, "If I'm working out a new part on an instrument to play onstage that day, I always practice one time or three - never twice. I think it's bad luck."

Emily's 11th grade teacher:
"She was an excellent student," said Ms. Eagles. "She was truly gifted as a reader and writer. In class she was reflective; when she said something you could tell that she had thought carefully about it."

"She wanted to go the Air Force Academy," said Ms. Eagles, "But it was impossible to do both so she applied to Davidson (a college in North Carolina.) She had to turn in her final paper on Hamlet late because she was traveling; however, it was excellent. She wanted it to be good."

Did you know?

Emily is a regular Michael Jackson wannabe and can moonwalk forwards and backwards with a turn.. Emily wanted to be in The Air Force Academy and even filled out applications until she realized her math and science grades weren't good enough... She's good at steering so she drove the pink RV... Her teeth were on the cover of The New York Times... Emily fought over a crab puff at a party with Johnny Cash... Emily wrote the majority of You Were Mine, Martie wrote the bridge... Emily co-wrote "Please Be San Antone" on Jim Lauderdale's "Onward Through It All" album ... Emily's senior page says she was the "Queen Procrastinator." Former students recognized her as "famous"... Emily & Natalie won 2nd place in a karoake contest at a bar in Roanoke, VA back in June 1998... Emily once sang Country Roads when she was 12 as a lead singer and said the experience was so awful that she'll never do anything but sing harmony... In high school, Emily failed typing 3 times... Emily is the most ticklish - everything tickles her feet... When she goes bowling, she bowls Fred Flintstone style..