Noah Kahan Turned Family Trauma Into Music That Heals—Here's His Story
Performing at Boston’s Fenway Park for two sold-out concerts—in front of 70,000 people—would have sounded unimaginable for Noah Kahan a few years ago. But the anxious, 30-year-old folk singer with rural roots and a history of self-doubt is now being hailed as the “King of New England.” Who is Noah Kahan? And why has the world responded to his emotionally raw lyrics about family and mental health? Keep reading to get to know his private life outside music, including his decade-long love story with his wife, Brenna Nolan.
Where is Noah Kahan from?
If you’ve ever listened to Noah’s heartfelt folk-pop songs, you know Vermont isn’t just where he’s from—it’s woven into every lyric. He grew up right on the border between Hanover, New Hampshire and Strafford, Vermont in a beautiful area known as The Upper Valley.
Some people know the area for being home to the Ivy League’s Dartmouth College, where Noah’s mother works in communications. But for Noah, it’s simply home—the place that shaped his heart and his music.
This northern landscape and its cold weather also play a big part in Noah’s music. In one song, he talks about the long, bleak, bare winters by singing: “And I love Vermont, but it’s the season of the sticks.” Another lyric says, “Forgive my northern attitude. Oh, I was raised out in the cold.”
How did Noah Kahan become famous?
How did Noah transition from Vermont roots to sold-out stadiums? Music runs in his family. His dad plays the guitar. So Noah grew up singing and songwriting, performing at his school talent show. In a new documentary on Netflix called Noah Kahan: Out of Body, he’s playing alongside his dad again in his backyard. He says, “I miss being able to jam with you, Dad. We used to jam all the time.”
After high school, Noah moved to New York to pursue his musical dreams. But during the pandemic he moved back to Vermont. That’s where he tapped into his creativity and found his musical voice. Surrounded by the landscapes and memories that shaped him, Noah created his breakout album Stick Season in 2022—proof that sometimes detours lead us to our dreams.
He toured the album for two years straight, including his career-defining Fenway Park shows in July 2024. Talking about his rise to fame, he shared, “It’s really magical that you get to live out a dream you had when you were walking through the woods when you were a little kid.”
Who are Noah Kahan’s parents and siblings?
New England isn’t just Noah’s home—it’s his family’s heart and soul. His mom attended Boston College and his dad went to MIT. So when Noah performed at Fenway Park, it felt like a homecoming of sorts. Noah called from the stage: “Boston, thank you so much for the greatest night of my young life.”
Noah’s mom Lauri Berkenkamp is a writer and deeply influenced her son’s gift for storytelling through song. For his Madison Square Garden tour stops, Noah even decorated the stage like his mom’s house. He said from the stage, “Mom, I love you so much.”
Noah’s dad Josh Kahan was an Ironman World champion, an incredible athlete whose determination for achieving dreams clearly runs in the family.
Noah has three siblings: two brothers named Richard (a firefighter) and Simon (a consultant), as well as a sister, Sasha (a doctor). They are all close and support each other.
Who is Noah Kahan’s wife Brenna Nolan?
Talk about an enduring love story. Noah has been with the same woman for more than 10 years. Her name is Brenna Nolan and she’s also from The Upper Valley. The couple has been fairly private throughout their relationship, but we do know some milestone moments: They got engaged in Cabo, Mexico in 2023. Noah describes the scene where he dropped down on one knee on the sandy beach and held out a ring box as “the best day of my life.” The couple married in a ceremony in Vermont in August 2025.
And while we’re not sure if Brenna works, she may have been a teacher since she mentioned wanting to teach in the documentary. Through the years Noah has struggled with self-doubt, but Brenna always believed in his talents.
The couple has two dogs named Penny and Junebug (June). And in Noah’s new album, “The Great Divide,” he hints at wanting kids. Lyrics explain that Noah is working hard, “So my children get spoiled.”
His incredible music success
From those humble Vermont beginnings, Noah has become a powerhouse in the music industry, bringing folk music back to the mainstream in the most beautiful way. The numbers are staggering: His songs have been streamed more than 11.6 billion times on Spotify. His album “Stick Season” soared to No. 1 on the charts, with the title track also hitting No. 1. He’s collaborated with big names in the music industry including Brandi Carlile, Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini and Gracie Abrams. And so far, he’s been nominated for two Grammys.
His latest album was released in April 2026 and immediately claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart. Noah hints at his meteoric rise to fame singing, “You got tired of the New Hampshire space, left us for the New York Times”—a nod to how far he’s come from those quiet woods.
How Noah Kahan turns family heartache into healing music
Noah’s music explores emotional family dynamics, including trauma. And much of it is inspired by his real life. When Noah was in eighth grade, his dad was in a biking accident and ended up in a coma with a traumatic brain injury. Through resilience, he recovered but his personality was altered. The accident changed the family forever. Noah’s parents eventually got divorced in 2020, but they still live down the road from each other.
In the documentary, his mother shared, “Accidents, divorce, financial ruin, we’ve got it.” But what resonates with fans is the honesty. Again his mom explained, “Noah makes our family’s dirty laundry just seem like being human.”
In the song “Haircut,” Noah captures what it’s like to process pain through music to create beautiful art: “Now you stumble around like a ghost, telling people how you died.” It’s his way of saying that sharing our stories—even the painful ones—is how we heal and connect.
How Noah Kahan is helping others with mental health
Mental health is not just a theme that pops up in Noah’s songs. It’s deeply personal. He’s bravely spoken openly about his struggles with depression, anxiety and body dysmorphia. He feels he’s making progress with the help of therapy and medication.
And now with his career success, Noah is giving back in the most meaningful way. He started The Busyhead Project, a nonprofit organization to support Vermonters struggling with mental health. It helps bring access to therapy to people living in rural areas across the state.
Where does Noah Kahan live now?
Noah’s career took him to Nashville, but Vermont never left his heart. He even hangs a Vermont license plate on the wall in his Tennessee home. He shared, “When I was in Hanover, Strafford, I felt suffocated by it. And then when I left, I yearned for its simplicity.”
The documentary hints at Noah and Brenna looking to buy property back in Vermont so they can have a home there too. As one of his new songs says, “I hope you’re bored and headed north.”
If you’re looking for beautifully written songs that are relatable to the human condition, enjoy listening to Noah Kahan’s music. He stresses that healing and joy are possible. In his song “Call Your Mom,” he sings, “Don’t let this darkness fool you. All lights turned off can be turned on.” And we’re so grateful for the bright light his music has become for so many people.
Copyright 2026 A360 Media
This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 7:00 PM.