Shelley Morningsong (Scandinavian/Northern Cheyenne) is an award-winning singer, songwriter, flutist, storyteller, and visual artist whose music carries the spirit of memory, resilience, and connection. A 2019 Native American Music Awards “Artist of the Year” recipient, Grammy voting member, and ASCAP member, Shelley has become one of the Southwest’s most respected and recognizable Native contemporary artists.
Since the release of her debut album Out of the Ashes in 2006 — which earned “Debut Artist of the Year” — Shelley has gone on to record seven acclaimed albums and receive numerous honors throughout her career, including multiple Native American Music Awards such as:
Artist of the Year for Love Medicine
Record of the Year for Full Circle
Best Blues Recording for Simple Truth
With an earthy alto voice rich in emotion and honesty, Shelley’s songs blend Native contemporary music, blues, folk, storytelling, and spiritual reflection. Her music has often been compared to artists such as Buffy Sainte-Marie and Bonnie Raitt, yet her artistic voice remains uniquely her own — deeply rooted in lived experience, culture, healing, and heart.
A musician since childhood, Shelley began playing guitar at a young age and later studied classical flute before mastering the Native flute, which has become one of the signature voices woven throughout her music and performances.
Beyond the stage, Shelley is also known for creating music with purpose and meaning. She has written original theme songs for organizations devoted to humanitarian and environmental causes, including One Nation Walking Together, a respected nonprofit serving Native families across the United States, as well as projects focused on environmental and electromagnetic health awareness.
Shelley frequently performs alongside her husband and longtime creative partner, Fabian Fontenelle (Zuni/Omaha), whose powerful presence brings traditional Northern Plains dance, storytelling, drumming, and cultural education into their performances. Fabian comes from a lifelong family tradition of dance through the historic Zuni Rainbow Dancers, founded by his grandparents in the early 1900s. He is also an original member of the American Indian Dance Theater and has worked extensively as a cultural educator, choreographer, actor, and historical consultant for museums, documentaries, and film productions including Into the West and Comanche Moon.
Shelley and Fabian first met in 2001 while touring with Robert Mirabal’s celebrated PBS production Music From a Painted Cave. Together, they continue to create immersive performances that blend music, movement, storytelling, and cultural expression.
From their home in Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico, Shelley and Fabian share a vision of bringing healing, beauty, education, unity, and cultural understanding to audiences around the world through music, story, and dance.
