06/08/2026
Hey Outlaw Fans- It's your chance to hear Joni in person! Join us for Listener Appreciation Day on Saturday June 27th from 11-3pm and enjoy country music live with Joni! You don't want to miss it! Visit outlaw.fm for details.
Now, read all about Joni.....
Joni Harms is a celebrated American country and western singer-songwriter whose music is deeply rooted in the ranching lifestyle she embodies. Born on November 5, 1959, in Canby, Oregon, Harms grew up on a ranch homesteaded by her great-great-grandfather in 1872, a place that continues to inspire her songwriting and daily life.
From a young age, Harms was drawn to music, performing at rodeos and local events by the age of four. Her early influences included country legends like Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, and George Strait. She gained national attention in 1989 with her single “I Need a Wife,” which reached No. 34 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. This success led to a contract with Capitol Records, where she released her debut album, Hometown Girl, in 1990.
Throughout her career, Harms has been dedicated to preserving traditional western music. Her 1998 album, Cowgirl Dreams, released under Warner Bros., and her 2004 album, Let’s Put the Western Back in the Country, exemplify her commitment to the genre. She has collaborated with artists like Red Steagall and David Ball, and co-written songs with Wood Newton, including “Cowboy Up” and “Oregon Trail” .
Harms has received numerous accolades, including Female Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year from the Western Music Association in 2003, and Entertainer of the Year from the Academy of Western Artists in 2002. In 2020, she was inducted into the Western Music Hall of Fame . She has performed on prestigious stages such as the Grand Ole Opry and Carnegie Hall.
In addition to her music career, Harms is a dedicated rancher, raising quarter horses and Christmas trees on her family’s Oregon ranch. She often performs with her daughter, Olivia Harms, a country artist in her own right, at events like the Art of the Cowgirl .
Joni Harms continues to tour and produce music that reflects her deep connection to the western way of life, ensuring that traditional country and western music remains vibrant and relevant.