A country-folk singer who mysteriously disappeared in 1973 after a performance at the Grand Ole Opry. Before her disappearance, she was a fiercely talented musician known for her raspy voice and deep connection to her Appalachian roots. In 1991, she steps out of seclusion, drawing Marijohn into the mystery of her past and attempting to reclaim the musical legacy she left behind.

An 18-year-old musician living in Lenora, Pennsylvania. Abandoned as an infant at a gas station pump with a broken mandolin, she has grown up surrounded by the myth of Elle Harlow. She is a talented but hesitant songwriter who struggles with fears of abandonment and stage fright.

Marijohn's best friend and musical collaborator. Growing up as a preacher's son, he feels stifled by his predictable life and uses music as an outlet for his independence. After a video of him protecting Marijohn during a meteor strike goes viral, he receives unexpected national attention and a recording opportunity.

An ambitious secretary at Weston Studios who comes from a wealthy, privileged family. A classically trained pianist who dreams of a career in country music, she befriends Elle and helps her acclimate to the Nashville music scene.

The powerful head of Weston Studios in Nashville. He is a pragmatic and commercially driven music producer who recognizes talent but is more interested in crafting profitable, marketable personas for his artists.

A mute mountain healer in West Virginia who communicates through her actions and her music. She plays a meticulously restored rosewood mandolin and serves as an essential, if mysterious, figure in the Appalachian community.

A reclusive luthier living in an isolated cabin in the woods of Pennsylvania. He is a skilled craftsman who repairs and builds stringed instruments, and he possesses a hauntingly beautiful singing voice.

Marijohn's devoted adoptive father. He runs a local gas station that doubles as a museum dedicated to Elle Harlow. Obsessed with the singer's 1973 disappearance, he collects questionable memorabilia and fiercely believes Elle is Marijohn's biological mother.

Elle's younger brother. He misses the playful sister Elle used to be before their father left for war and the family fell into financial hardship.

Elle's mother. She is a resilient but struggling woman trying to keep her family alive in the Appalachian mountains while her husband is away at war.

Elle's father, who returns from war a changed and emotionally distant man. Missing a finger, he is no longer able to play his banjo, leaving him angry and disconnected from his family.

Josie Starling's twin sister. Kept largely isolated in the family's wealthy mansion, she suffers from severe emotional distress.

A Black studio banjo player in Nashville. He offers Elle kindness and practical advice on surviving in the music industry, sharing his own frustrations with a system that excludes him.

A young boy traumatized by the loss of his father in the Vietnam War. His profound grief makes him unreachable until Elle sings to him.