Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, she left home to attend Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene on a vocal scholarship before transferring to Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos. While there she came under the influence of a local philanthropist, Marion Williamson, who owned a property in Hye, Texas called Wilory Farm. In exchange for working on the farm, Hendrix received voice and guitar lessons from Williamson and developed a friendship with her that lasted until Williamson's death from cancer in 1997. To honor her, Hendrix changed the name of her record label from Tycoon Cowgirl Records to Wilory Records and issued an album entitled Wilory Farm in 1998. Hendrix's previous album, Two Dollar Shoes, had received critical acclaim by that time, making her a local hit. Her versatile, folksy style was also featured on a 1999 live recording and 2000's Places in Between. The Ring followed in 2002, a year that also saw the artist performing at top festivals around the country, while the Dixie Chicks won a Grammy for "Lil' Jack Slade," a song she had co-written with them for their Home album. Hendrix's next album, The Art of Removing Wallpaper, arrived in the summer of 2004, with Celebrate the Difference arriving a year later. Still releasing music with her own Wilory Records, 2007's Spiritual Kind and Spiritual Kind on the Road, 2009's Left Over Alls, and 2010's Cry 'til You Laugh all demonstrated her savvy lyrics and often playful delivery.

She spent the next few years preparing what would be called "Project 5," a series of four new albums and a book, all thematically connected and scheduled for release throughout 2016. The first LP, Love You Strong, arrived in February, to be followed by Slaughterhouse Sessions, Who Is Ann?, Talk to a Human, and an autobiography that's been in the works since 2003. ~ Marcy Donelson & Stacia Proefrock