Joni Harms has a warm sincerity and a lightness to her voice… a voice that shines through the stories and melodies of a country/Western lifestyle, making you feel like you are a part of the whole experience she is singing about – as if she is singing just for you. In many ways, Joni is a pioneer and a torchbearer, with an understanding that country life is made up of a blend of musical expressions. This has given her a unique style that draws audiences – literally – from all over the world.

“Growing up, I learned to sing and write songs by listening to Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard and George Strait,” says Harms. “I remember seeing Emmylou Harris, and after playing for a while with the legendary Hot Band, she came back on stage with just her black Gibson guitar and showed that if you can really sing, write a song and play your guitar, then you can entertain an audience all by yourself.”

While it's always special to perform with a great band, Joni stuck to the challenging lesson and enjoys performing for radio stations and at various events with just her guitar. It's when she gets to show off the pure country voice she's been praised for since signing her first record deal with renowned music producer Jimmy Bowen at Capitol Records in the early 1990s. Any singer will tell you that not everyone can entertain like that – but Joni does it.

Joni Harms' musical journey continues around the world with the release of her thirteenth studio album, Lucky 13 , to rave reviews. Country Music People Magazine says… "this is some of the very best country songs in recent years and proves that Joni Harms is one of country music's most underrated songwriters."

There's no doubt that Joni is a Merle Haggard fan - she even wrote a tribute to him on her latest album Lucky 13 , simply called Merle . Joni Harms has built her career on two-stepping, toe-tapping shuffle beats and swing songs on her albums. She loves writing about rodeos, cowboys and ranch life, but says her favorite songs to write are ballads or story songs. That's why Merle is one of her own favorites. "I love it when someone tells me that a song of mine has touched them or helped them through a difficult time. That makes me even more confident that I'm doing what I was put on this earth to do," Harms shares.

Joni's signature hat and boots are definitely more than just fashion. She lives on a century-old farm in Oregon, which was cleared by her great-great-grandfather Harms in 1872. Joni says, "This place has inspired a lot of my songs, and I think they really represent who I am and what's important to me."

And there's no doubt who Joni Harms is. She's a tough, hard-working rancher who's also a mother with strong values ​​and a gift for writing and performing music. She admits that juggling all of this is sometimes demanding, but it's important to her—and she wouldn't change a thing.

Joni Harms has received numerous awards from organizations such as the Western Music Association and the Academy of Western Artists. She has also performed on some of the most famous stages, including the Grand Ole Opry and Carnegie Hall in New York.

Joni Harms continues to tour and do what she loves, and says her journey so far has been absolutely amazing. With God's help, she'll be around for a long time – and has many more songs to write and sing!

Joni Harms last visited us in 2000, and it is very nice to be able to present her on Norsk Countrytreff again in 2026 - and together with Joni we find daughter Olivia!