Amy Violette, M.Div., is an entrepreneur, fashion designer, executive producer, actor, author, professor, podcast host, and screenwriter. Violette is a four time winner of Belmont University’s Top 100 Alumni Entrepreneurship Award. She is founder, CEO, and creative director of AMY VIOLETTE, an American retailer of handmade luxury leather tote bags, wallets, and accessories. She is Founder, Executive Producer of 3 Horse Productions, an independent media company in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Violette is a graduate of Baylor University (M.Div. - Ministry Leadership) and Belmont University (B.A. - Religious Studies). She was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by First Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia. At Baylor University she was part of the Lilly Endowment Inc.’s $500,000 grant to strength the quality of preaching. She served as a Preaching Coach to over 25 of her peers. Violette is the youngest member in history to be asked to join the prestigious Academy of Homiletics. Cascade Press published her article, “My Day with Dr. Fred Craddock” in What’s Right With Preaching Today? The Enduring Influence of Fred B. Craddock. She credits Dr. Fred Craddock, Wendell Berry, Callie Khouri, Barbara Brown Taylor, Anne Lamott, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Reese Witherspoon, Loretta Lynn, Sara Blakely, Dolly Parton, James Cameron, Pat Head Summitt, O.Henry, and her mom as her early mentors and influences. Violette is a former NCAA Division 1 track-and-field athlete and lifelong equestrian. COWGIRL MAGAZINE featured her in the March/April 2020 issue. She is an occasional adjunct professor and chapel speaker at Belmont University. At Belmont she worked in the College of Theology and Christian Ministry teaching Understanding the Bible, Preaching, Jesus in the Gospel and Film, and Wilderness Spirituality. She was named Professor of Choice by her students.
In 2016, Violette began working in television and film on NETFLIX's Emmy award-winning western miniseries, GODLESS. She went on to work on seasons 5 and 6 of ABC/CMT's NASHVILLE as a photo and stunt double. Violette’s debut as a lead actor was when she played the gunslinging outlaw, Liz Harper, in Showdown at Shelby’s Shack for AMAZON. Violette has worked on more than 30 productions since as either an actor or crew member. A few of her favorite projects include: DARK WINDS, GODLESS, THE REALLY LOUD HOUSE, NASHVILLE, BIG SKY, and NEWS OF THE WORLD with Tom Hanks. In 2022, she made her Santa Fe Opera debut playing Manuelita in Georges Bizet's CARMEN. She played opposite Grammy award winning mezzo-soprano, Isabel Leonard. Her stage performances were seen by over 20,000 people.
Her philanthropic interests include The Española Humane, The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, The Horse Shelter, The Santa Fe Opera, Ghost Ranch, Santa Fe International Film Festival, and Monastery of Christ in the Desert. She lives on a ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico with her horses and dogs.
2024 - MFA Audition - The Juilliard School - (New York City)
2024 - Professional Writer - International Association of Professional Writers & Editors - (New York City)
2022 - The Law and Business of Film - University of New Mexico - (Fall 2022)
2022 - Writing Your TV Pilot - University of New Mexico - (Fall 2022)
2022 - ‘Top 100 Belmont University Alumni Business’ (AMY VIOLETTE) - Winner
2022 - Santa Fe Opera - CARMEN - Playing Manuelita (July - August 2022)
2021 - ‘Top 100 Belmont University Founders’ - Winner
2021 - Production Assistant Bootcamp, CNM Ingenuity, Inc. - New Mexico Film - *FCAP Eligible
2021 - Introduction to Screenwriting, University of New Mexico - (Completed 5/17/21)
2020 - ‘Top 100 Belmont University Alumni Business’ (RESOLANA FARMS) - Winner
2019 - ‘Top 100 Belmont University Alumni Business’ (AMY VIOLETTE) - Winner
2018 - Designer of the Year, Nashville Fashion Alliance - Nominee
2017 - Ordination, First Baptist Church - Decatur, Georgia
2016 - Songwriter - NSAI - (Nashville, TN)
2016 - Professor of Choice, Belmont University - Winner
2016 - Master of Divinity, Baylor University
2010 - Life Coach, Coaching-4-Clergy
2008 - Bachelor of Arts, Belmont University
2006 - Songwriter - ASCAP - (Nashville, TN)
2004 - Diploma with Honors, Central High School, Knoxville, Tennessee