Moriah Owenby continues journey as Western musician

Owenby recalls singing from the time she could talk and has performed in church for years. At 14, she began to learn how to play the guitar and more recently has tried her hand at the fiddle. Both instruments are used during her shows with the Cowhands.

They are integral instruments to some of her favorite types of music: Western and Western swing. She has a soft spot for it, despite also dabbling in gospel and older country. With her family’s background in agriculture, Owenby feels a particular draw to the genre.

“I love Western music because it’s just such a beautiful music,” Owenby revealed, highlighting a special appreciation for its poetic history, patriotism and sense of place.

That’s part of why she pours so much of herself into performing it. Much of Owenby’s life is dedicated to pursuing the passion of music, and she credits homeschooling with allowing her the freedom to do so.

Although she lives in Fannin County, Owenby travels as necessary to attend concerts and check out musical conventions, often enjoying the company of her father on such trips.

Owenby is an upcoming high school senior and looks forward to graduating. Following that, she wants to earn a degree in music business from Middle Tennessee University, which will allow her to manage her own career or do the same for other artists.

As part of the International Western Music Association, Owenby has enjoyed taking part in an annual youth camp that teaches talented, musically inclined kids the ins and outs of producing Western music and going into the entertainment industry. Held in Texas, the 2025 session lasted from June 15 to June 19.

This year was Owenby’s second time attending, and she’s found it so enjoyable that she hopes to go back next year. After that, she’ll age out of the program but is hopeful for the possibility of acting as a helper.

Although there’s plenty of states represented among the attendees, Owenby put Georgia on the map for the camp. Western legend Jean Prescott served as one of the camp teachers alongside Judy James. The latter of the two fully expects Owenby to start putting out albums in the near future, as she was selected among three other young musicians to receive further lessons at a master class.

On the subject of albums, Owenby has given it thought. If she were to produce an album, it would likely be as a solo artist, and her focus would be on her singing rather than playing any instruments. Still, she wants to give credit where credit is due when it comes to the man with whom she performs music – and has learned much from.

“It has been such a privilege to learn from John (Cochran). If it wasn’t for John, I wouldn’t know what a key was,” Owenby noted with a smile about her fellow Western fan and mentor. “He’s taught me how to harmonize, (and) he’s more or less taught me how to play guitar.”

And Owenby’s enthusiasm, as it turns out, is infectious, as she was able to convince her father Wayne to join her and Cochran in the Cowhands. His baritone levels out her alto and Cochran’s tenor, and the group has received compliments for their complete sound before.

Along with her membership in the International Western Music Association, Owenby is an associate of the Academy of Western Artists. Hopefuls must have five years of performance experience under their belt before they can be accepted; Owenby is undergoing the trial period but still receives magazines and other promotions from the group so she can get a heads up about upcoming concerts and opportunities to play.

In the meantime, Owenby is happy to follow her heart and enjoy herself along the way at a casual pace.

“We want her to do what God wants her to do,” said her mother, McKenzie Owenby. “With this, we’re not worried about her being the next Taylor Swift. She’s using her gift and she’s honoring the Lord – that’s the most important thing to us.”

In her own words, Owenby’s goal is to “keep singing Western music, Western swing and cowboy spirituals.” She added, “I want to promote agriculture, and faith in Christ and good music, and that’s really what’s important to me.”

Owenby was born in Western North Carolina and relocated to North Georgia at the age of 6 with her family. Outside of her music, she is a fifth generation cow-calf and hay producer who enjoys riding her horse and playing with her blue heeler on the farm in her spare time.

She has had much success in the 4-H Program, participating in Livestock Judging, Poultry Judging, and Livestock Skillathon. She won First Place every year she competed in the Performing Arts Vocal Division of 4-H District Project Achievement.

And during the 2019-2020 school year, Owenby was a vocalist with GA 4-H’s touring musical group called “Clovers and Company.”

To take a listen to some of Owenby’s recent work, look up “Moriah Owenby” or “John Cochran and the Cowhands” on YouTube.