Iris Luella DeMent (born January 5, 1961) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. DeMent's musical style includes elements of folk, country and gospel. She has been nominated for a Grammy Award twice.
DeMent was born in Paragould, Arkansas, the 14th and youngest child of Pat DeMent (1910–1992) and wife Flora Mae (1918–2011). Iris's mother had harbored dreams of going to Nashville and starting a singing career. Although she put those plans on hold to get married, her singing voice was an inspiration and influence for her youngest daughter Iris. DeMent was raised in a Pentecostal household. Her family moved from Arkansas to the Los Angeles area when she was three. While growing up, she was exposed to and influenced by country and gospel music. Singing at age five as one of "the little DeMent sisters", Iris had a bad experience when she forgot her words during her first performance, which caused her to avoid performing in public for some time.
DeMent left high school in the tenth grade to work full time at a Kmart store. Her parents required her to get a GED high school diploma. She later went with a boyfriend to Topeka, Kansas, where she attended Washburn University. There she started writing after receiving positive feedback from her English composition professor.
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Links to Peel[]
Iris DeMent - God May Forgive You
Peel only played her track, 'God May Forgive You But I Won't' on his show in 1993, but his colleague and friend, Andy Kershaw, would often play her music on his shows, as well as having her to record sessions for his shows.
Shows Played[]
- 1993
- 06 August 1993: God May Forgive You (But I Won't) (single - Our Town) W0194CD