Keep on the Sunny Side: A Brief History and Very Brief Appearance in “Ballad”

(Revised and Expanded April 8, 2025)

One aspect of the Ballad prequel that astonished many of us is the incredible central role that music plays in the story. Of course, this is directly implied by the book’s title. Some of the numerous songs included in the prequel are original creations for Collins’ story, while others are based closely on actual historical tunes. (See this complete inventory of songs in all Hunger Games books.) One prominent example of the latter is Maude Ivory’s sing-along song, Keep on the Sunny Side. This was an actual song (almost word for word as in the book), written in 1899 by Ada Blenkhorn as a Gospel hymn, apparently inspired by her disabled nephew, who always wanted his wheelchair pushed down “the sunny side” of the street. The song became a popular hit across the country when the famous country group, the Carter Family first recorded the song in 1928. The Carters and Johnny Cash featured the song in various albums in decades thereafter. The tune became a sort-of theme song for the Family singers.

In the book as in the film, a spritely Maude Ivory is featured as lead singer on this one, serving as a snappy, crowd-pleasing sing-along. Collins modified only one verse to render it more secular. Rather than having faith in “our Savior,” we are entrusted to the more inclusive “tomorrow” instead.

In brief, the Carter family was legendary for their contributions to country and bluegrass genres (including June Carter Cash, Johnny’s wife). According to the book, Homegrown Music: Discovering Bluegrass (2004), “Husband and wife, A.P. and Sara Carter, along with Sara’s cousin, Maybelle Carter, carried music from their southwest Virginia homeplace to a new national audience. They shared the music they grew up with in their families and community, messages and themes that touched hearts and souls everywhere.” Given the rise (and some scholars argue, the birth of) country music in the southern Appalachians around District 12 territory, it makes sense that Collins is tying the history of early 20th-century country music to this region.

Also contributing to the Carters’ budding musical fame was Maybelle’s unique style of guitar playing. Hers was a technique which came to be immortalized as the “Carter scratch.” Basically, this involved her striking one string as the lead note with her thumb while brushing the other strings with her index finger. Since then, guitar players everywhere have sought to imitate her trademark technique.

Despite the challenge of comprehending the song’s words within the Ballad film, the snappy Carter Family staple can be heard in its full glory on the movie soundtrack of songs or on YouTube. Ten-year-old musician Josie Hope Hall provides the delightfully lively singing voice for Maude Ivory in the film and on the soundtrack. Though actress Vaughan Reilly plays Maude Ivory, it is Josie Hope who sings lead on the number. According to their web site, she and her two older sisters comprise the Bennett Hall Band, which performs all around the middle Tennessee region and beyond. Josie Hope is a regular, real-life Maude Ivory, competent as she is on the drums, ukelele, tambourine, and in “killer solo and sibling harmony.” It is to everyone’s benefit that Ballad producers discovered her talents for this upbeat role. (Fun Easter egg in Ballad: One Peacekeeper says to the other, “Who was that girl you were dancing with?” He responds, “I think her name was Josie.” Could this be a shout-out to the actual singer of this number?)

Did You Know? Molly Tuttle, who played the guitar for the Ballad film numbers, wrote, “Fun fact: guitar I recorded with is the same one that you see [Rachel Zegler] play in the movie.” She explains the guitar was inspired by the archtop Gibson model once played by Maybelle Carter of the famed Carter Family.

(Photo: A.P., Sara and Maybelle Carter in their early years. Credit: jean-christophe salad, Creative Commons)