Country music singer-songwriter Ashley McBryde has come along way from Mammoth Springs, Arkansas. Learn more about this rising Country Music star below.
Ashley McBryde Bio
As a child, Ashley grew up listening to the radio. During a recent online interview with Billboard, Ashley shares, “The Internet didn’t exist until I was well within my teens, and there was no Cable or Satellite out that far growing up.” Mammoth Springs is located in the heart of the Ozarks along the border or Arkansas and Missouri. Although Ashley is considered a “new” country artist, this country gal has been around awhile.
Ashley’s Early Years
Growing up in a small town there wasn’t much big city influence shaping her younger self. Ashley loved music from a young age. She coveted her father’s guitar, but was never allowed to play it until she was much older. Ashley grew up in a large music-loving family who listened to “good” music on their radio. Kris Kristofferson was one of her father’s favorites. Her mother enjoyed listening to The Carpenters. While growing up,the radio was an important source of information and musical entertainment. In an online interview with Billboard, Ashley says, “Everything we needed came from the radio – the school lunch menu, the news, a sermon, every celebrity I wanted to listen to was all in my radio.” In fact, it was this experience that inspired her song “Radioland.”
- Birthdate: July 29, 1983
- Hometown: Saddle, Arkansas
Raised in a small, rural town, McBryde’s early exposure to music came from her father, a preacher, and her family’s love of bluegrass and gospel. - Musical Start:
Ashley began playing guitar at the age of 9 and wrote her first song at 12. Her love for music grew during her teenage years, inspired by artists like Trisha Yearwood, The Dixie Chicks, and Reba McEntire. - Education:
Ashley studied French horn at Arkansas State University but left college to pursue her dream of becoming a professional musician.
10 Years Plus
Music has always been a part of Ashley’s life. Upon moving to Nashville, Ashley worked her day job at Guitar Center and made her rounds at night. She took advantage of open mic nights, playing at various places like the Blue Bar and the Rusty Nail. She did this for over 10 years, releasing her first self-titled album in early 2006. Her second album, Elsebound was released in 2011, again releasing it on her own. Then in 2016, Ashley released an eight-song extended play titled Jalopies & Expensive Cars. It was this release that got her some attention and helped launch her to another level.
Opening Act
Ashley became the opening act for country heavy-weights such as Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr., Eric Church, and Chris Stapleton. Things really started to change when Eric Church asked her to join him on stage during his Holdin’ My Own Tour, to sing “A Bible and a .44”. Soon this “opening act” started to become in high demand. Record labels recognized her talent and competed to sign her on. During an online interview with Rolling Stones, John Esposito, CEO and President of Warner Music Nashville states, “There’s a reason why every label in town wanted to sign Ashley… It’s because she’s that good. She’s a powerful Southern vocalist and amazing songwriter where no word or phrase written is disposable.”
Biggest Thrill So Far
Despite all the new opportunities and attention, Ashley claims her biggest thrill yet was performing at the Grand Ole Opry. In June 2017, Ashley made her first appearance at the Opry. She recalls the thrill of stepping onto the wood circle on the Opry stage. The famous circle was moved from the Ryman Auditorium to the current stage in 1974. During an interview with Billboard (2018), Ashley says, “That was life changing. Growing up the Opry was my Hollywood. It was my Mt. Rushmore.”
Achievements and Awards
- Awards:
- CMA Awards: Won New Artist of the Year in 2019 and Musical Event of the Year in 2020.
- Grammy Awards: Multiple nominations, including a win for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” with Carly Pearce in 2023.
- ACM Awards: Recognized for her standout performances and contributions to country music.
Continued Progress
Ashley released her full-length album Girl Going Nowhere with Warner Music Nashville. Among many songs, the album included: “Girl Going Nowhere” (by Ashley McBryde and Jeremy Bussey); “Radioland” (by Ashley McBryde, Autumn McEntire, and Chris Roberts); and “American Scandal” (by Ashley McBryde, Randall Clay, and Terri Jo Box). Can’t wait to give it a listen! Congratulations to Ashley McBryde, wishing you great success with the release of your album Girl Going Nowhere.
Ashley McBryde Albums
Ashley has released five albums (click on the link to view the album details):
- Never Will (2020): A genre-blending album that showcased her versatility and storytelling prowess. It included hits like “One Night Standards” and “Martha Divine.”
- Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville (2022): A concept album that explored fictional small-town life with sharp humor and vivid characters.
- Girl Going Nowhere (2018)
- Jalopies and Expensive Guitars (2016)
- Elsebound (2011)
Ashley McBryde Songs
Click on a link below to see the music video and lyrics for several of Ashely McBryde’s top songs:
- Ashley McBryde Arkansas song
- Andy I Can’t Live Without You
- Girl Goin’ Nowhere
- Fat and Famous song
- Ashley McBryde with Eric Church “The Snake” song
- American Scandal Song
- The Jacket
- A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega
Fun Facts About Ashley McBryde
- Nickname: Fans affectionately call her “The Devil’s Daughter” due to her edgy persona and commanding stage presence.
- Hobbies: When she’s not performing, Ashley enjoys fishing and spending time outdoors.
- Tattoos: Her body art reflects her love for storytelling, with several tattoos representing significant milestones in her life.
- Songwriting Philosophy: She believes in “writing what you know” and staying true to her roots, which has made her a fan-favorite among country purists.
Common Questions about Ashley
- Is Ashley McBryde Married? – Ashley is currently not married and has never been married. Some have speculated that Ashley was in a relationship with long term friend and guitar player (Andy Sovine). Ashley stated in an interview, “I think people in town for a long time thought Andrew and I were together. I mean, I know they did. I joke with people: “This is why I don’t write love songs, guys, because that song is about my buddy.” Ashley keeps her personal life and relationships very private.
- How Old is Ashley McBcBryde? (Ashley McBryde age) – Ashley is 41 years old (born July 29, 1983).
- Where is Ashley McBryde from? – Ashley is from Mammoth Springs, Arkansas (born and raised). She moved to Nashville in 2007 to pursue her Country Music career.
- Where did Ashley go to college? – Ashley attended Arkansas State University.
- Is Ashley McBryde related to Martina McBride? Ashley and Martina are not related. Hence, the different spelling of their last names.
As a bonus, listen to Ashley’s “Radioland” song below!
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