A survey of the music of Iris DeMent shows measured variety: There's traditional gospel, country, folk and some political themes. But her body of work — four albums over 12 years — remains strongly tied together.

In a telephone interview from her home in southeastern Iowa, which she shares with husband and fellow singer-songwriter Greg Brown, DeMent noted a wide array of musical influences.

Artistically, she said, her work takes her in "any direction where I might find a home."

Home was originally Paragould, Ark., before she and her family — DeMent was the youngest of 14 children — moved to California when she was 3. Her family and others managed to create something of an Arkansas expatriate community in the Golden State. Even the preacher hailed from back home.

In California, she grew up singing gospel music.

"My family was so entrenched in gospel music," said DeMent, who's slated to perform Thursday, Jan. 27, at Ephrata Main Theatre.

When country music entered her sphere of musical influence years later, it wasn't too big a stretch for the emerging singer.

"In a lot of ways, gospel and country were so aligned," DeMent said. Artists such as Loretta Lynn and Johnny Cash left their mark, as did the folk sounds of Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan.

Nashville beckoned, and DeMent moved there in 1988. She didn't record until 1992, when she released her first album, "Infamous Angel," on an independent label. The album found pure word-of-mouth success.

"Infamous Angel" aches with love, loss and longing. One song, "Our Town," mourns the decline of a place where a lifetime of memories is all that remains. Fittingly, "Our Town" played on the final episode of "Northern Exposure," the acclaimed 1990s TV series about the quirky residents of a close-knit, isolated hamlet.

DeMent's follow-up album, "My Life" (1993), mined much the same vein as the first, but her third album, "The Way I Should" (1996), tackled some more overtly political themes.

"I think that was just a time for me when I … became aware, politically," DeMent said.

The album hearkens to large themes, such as religion and warfare, but remains in touch with her personal feelings. The song "Wasteland of the Free" levies a stinging critique of an America awash in corrupt televangelists, greedy CEOs, ruder and cruder pop culture, wars for oil, outsourced jobs and a generally nasty attitude: "Living in the wasteland of the free/ Where the poor have now become the enemy/ Let's blame our troubles on the weak ones/ Sounds like some kind of Hitler remedy/ Living in the wasteland of the free."

Those lyrics could have been written today.

"We put a big load on people" in America to succeed, DeMent said, and if one doesn't meet the public's definition of success, "you've failed."

Dement's last album, "Lifeline" (2004), swings back to her gospel roots, with titles including "I've Got That Old-Time Religion in My Heart" and "Near the Cross."

One selection, "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms," hooked up DeMent with a big-screen blockbuster. The song plays during the last scene and over the closing credits of the Coen Brothers' remake of the classic western "True Grit."

DeMent is flattered, if a little amazed, by the attention.

"I still can't believe it's me."

Iris DeMent will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, at Ephrata Main Theatre, 124 E. Main St. For ticket information, visit ephratamain.com or call 733-9098.