Alison Krauss and Union Station

As the only bluegrass artist in the known universe to tour arenas, Alison Krauss has cajones — and a track record. The same puerile purists who think she drowns some authentic sound in soda pop probably aren't too keen on her work with Alan Jackson and the Babys' John Waite either. But the Illini fiddler, singer and producer — and her band Union Station, which is maxed out with geniuses like Jerry Douglas, Ron Block and Dan "Man of Constant Sorrow" Tyminski — aren't playing to the bluegrass choir, and they aren't Phishing either. Krauss can sashay between deathless fiddle tunes and Beatles covers, and never lose the whip-crack speed and grand hooks of the bluegrass elite.