Cruse Edwards never expected a casual jam session in a friend’s living room to launch him into the national spotlight, but that’s exactly what happened when the 14-year-old Daviess County High School freshman posted a TikTok video of himself on guitar and bandmate Parker Malone on fiddle performing “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” The post has since gone viral, racking up more than 10.4 million views and 2.4 million likes.
“It was just a practice at Levi’s (Hausner) house,” Edwards said. “I threw my phone on the table, and we played. Didn’t think anything of it, and then it blew up.”
The viral video helped push Edwards’ TikTok following to more than 65,700, with his content earning over 2.8 million likes in total. It also opened the door to a string of new opportunities, including a performance at the Grand Ole Opry and an interview with producers from a major television network.
From mandolin to the main stage
Edwards picked up his first instrument around age 9, when his father brought home a mandolin he had as a child. Initially more interested in ’90s country artists like Alabama and George Strait, Edwards didn’t realize the mandolin was typically used in bluegrass.
“I started taking lessons with Randy Lanham, and he’s the one who introduced me to bluegrass,” he said. “From there, it just kicked off.”
Edwards co-founded a band called the Blue Bridge Boys with his best friend, Noah Mason, in the fourth grade. They later added Malone and Levi Hausner. All four are from Owensboro and regularly perform together at community events, including the Lanham Brothers Jamboree and programs at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum.
“The Bluegrass Museum has been such a great resource for us,” Edwards said. “They’ve given us so many opportunities.”
Going viral and staying consistent
Although the band’s TikTok success started slowly — with early videos getting a few thousand views — a video from the Jamboree featuring the group dressed as musical legends picked up steam with more than 800,000 views. That momentum set the stage for their breakout video featuring a fiery fiddle and guitar duet.
“I love high-energy stuff like that,” Edwards said. “But I also love singing and songwriting. That’s probably my favorite part.”
Edwards credits mentors, including Lanham, Chris Armstrong, and Chris Joslin, for guiding his journey. He also draws inspiration from artists such as Billy Strings, Alan Jackson, and Johnny Cash, whom he says he’s distantly related to through the Carter family.
“It’s crazy to think this is how a lot of artists make it now,” he said. “At my age, social media is really the only way. You just have to stay consistent.”
He now posts four to five times a week, often including his bandmates. Most of the videos are simple: a phone on a tripod, no microphones or added tech — just raw, acoustic music.
Big goals and a grounded heart
Despite his age, Edwards has clear ambitions to pursue music professionally. He hopes to continue evolving, mixing bluegrass with other genres and keeping his performances high-energy.
“Today’s bluegrass has so many layers,” he said. “Some of it is folky, some is more upbeat. I love it all.”
Edwards and Malone will share the stage at the Grand Ole Opry in April. Each won separate competitions that earned them a spot, and rather than perform individually, they decided to team up for a medley that blends “Hallelujah I’m Ready to Go” with “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”
“They wanted us to include that one,” Edwards said. “So we figured we’d go all in.”
While Edwards can’t yet collect money through TikTok because of age restrictions, he and his family are exploring ways to navigate that process. In the meantime, they’re simply enjoying the opportunities that come with sharing music.
“We’ve had some interest from some producers of television shows,” he said. “There’s nothing official yet, but we’re hopeful.”
Even with all the buzz, Edwards still values playing for local audiences, especially performing at churches and nursing homes — something Lanham encouraged early on.
“Schedules have gotten tougher, but we still try to do as many as we can during the summer,” he said.
Whether it’s online or on stage, Edwards is focused on school, songwriting, and sharing his love for music with as many people as possible.
