Sara Hickman

With a career spanning over three decades, Sara Hickman has built a legacy as a Grammy-nominated artist, humanitarian, educator, and creative powerhouse. Since launching her recording career in 1988, Hickman has released more than 20 albums, appeared twice on The Tonight Show, hosted programs for VH-1, and earned numerous accolades for both her songwriting and her philanthropy. A gifted pop/folk artist with a distinct voice and unshakable authenticity, Sara Hickman has used her music to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity, SAFE, SPCA, the Ugandan Fistula Fund, Hill Country Youth Ranch, and more. Her activism is baked into her art, and her performances resonate as much for their heart as for their talent. Hickman’s creative reach goes far beyond music. She’s appeared on film and stage, lent her voice to national ad campaigns (most famously singing for Popeye’s Chicken for over a decade), and runs her own music catalog. She’s also a respected teacher and speaker, giving workshops on songwriting, creativity, and the music business. Born in Houston to visual artist parents, Hickman earned a BA in painting from the University of North Texas. Her early experience volunteering in psychiatric youth units led to her work as a music and art therapist, earning her a lifetime achievement award from the National Association of Music Therapists. Beyond the stage and studio, Hickman continues to make a lasting impact through community work. She leads restoration efforts for the historic Sanford Community Center—formerly the Palacios Colored School—transforming it into a cultural and historical hub for the area. She’s also an accomplished visual artist who accepts painting and mosaic commissions and continues to direct and book the annual MossFest family music festival at Austin’s Zilker Park. In 2019, Hickman raised over $12,000 for charity from her hand-drawn Texas Musicians Coloring Book (Volume 1), a passion project that took two years to complete. Whether through music, art, or activism, Sara Hickman remains a rare voice of compassion and creativity—a true Texas original and a force for good.