Ashley Dyan McBryde (born July 29, 1983)[4] is an American country music singer–songwriter. She grew up in Arkansas and she was drawn to various types of music from a young age. She also developed a passion for writing songs and later moved to Nashville to pursue a music career.
Ashley McBryde | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Ashley Dyan McBryde |
Born | Waldron, Arkansas, U.S. | July 29, 1983
Genres | |
Occupation | Singer–songwriter |
Instruments |
|
Years active | 2006–present |
Labels | Warner Music Nashville |
Website | www |
Between 2006 and 2011, McBryde released a pair of self-released albums. Her 2016 extended play (EP) titled Jalopies & Expensive Guitars drew attention from country artist Eric Church. His support helped her gain a country music recording contract with Warner Music Nashville. In 2017, the label released her debut single "A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega". The song was followed by her corresponding studio release Girl Going Nowhere (2018). Both the album and the single received critical acclaim and led to recognition from several music associations. It was followed by 2020's Never Will, which was also met with critical acclaim. Its lead single "One Night Standards" reached the top 20 of the American country songs chart and topped the Canadian country survey.
McBryde has received one Grammy Award from six nominations, one Country Music Association Award, three Academy of Country Music Awards, and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy. She earned one of country music's crowning achievements when she was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry by Garth Brooks and was subsequently inducted by Terri Clark on December 10, 2022.[5]
Early life
editMcBryde was born in Waldron, Arkansas[6] and raised in Saddle, Arkansas.[3][7][8] Her father was a farmer, doctor,[6] and preacher; she grew up in a strict household. "when I was growing up, [and] I don’t ever remember not seeing a gun or a Bible. He raised us that way--as mean as that sounds, and as sweet as that sounds, too," she told Billboard.[9] According to AY Magazine, "her mother read to her every night–a chapter from the Bible and a chapter from a Laura Ingalls Wilder book."[6] As a child she was drawn to the music she heard around her house,[7] which included songs by The Carpenters and Kris Kristofferson.[9] She often played around on her father's guitar, which prompted her family to buy McBryde her own guitar.[3] McBryde wrote her first song at age 12 and hoped to become a singer–songwriter.[7] She also traveled with her mother to bluegrass festivals which further inspired her music career.[10]
McBryde participated in the high school marching band[11] before attending Arkansas State University where she studied French horn.[10][7] At the same time she was performing regularly in clubs located in nearby Memphis, Tennessee.[7] In one class session, a college professor noticed her disinterest and suggested she drop out to pursue music full-time.[10] "So I did, that day," she recalled.[7]
Career
edit2006–2016: Beginnings in Nashville
editIn 2006, McBryde self-released an eponymous demo album.[3] In 2007, McBryde moved to Nashville to pursue a music career.[10] She started performing with the band Deadhorse and performed at any gig she could get.[7] This included biker bars and hangouts, and other eclectic venues in the Nashville area.[12] She also worked a day job at Guitar Center and played open mic nights.[13] In 2009 and 2010, she won the annual Country Showdown talent competition. McBryde's band also won Tennessee's state-wide "Battle of the Bands" contest. In 2011, she self-released her second demo album titled Elsebound. During this period, McBryde also toured frequently. She often opened concerts for country artists like Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton, and Chris Cagle.[3]
In 2016, McBryde released the extended play (EP) Jalopies & Expensive Guitars. The project was issued on Road Life Records.[14] For the disc, McBryde was told to straighten her hair and make other changes to her appearance. "We were trying to play the game," she told The New York Times.[10] The EP was discovered by Eric Church, who invited McBryde to play her song "Bible and a .44" onstage with him during one night of his "Holdin' My Own" tour. The video of her performance went viral and she was soon finding regular concert work.[13] She also signed a management deal with Q Publishing during this same period. Also around this time, McBryde recorded what would later comprise her debut studio album. The project was heard by Cris Lacy, a senior vice president for Warner Music Nashville. Lacy was drawn to her music and signed McBryde to a recording contract with the label in September 2017.[7]
2017–2019: Breakthrough with Girl Going Nowhere
editIn 2017, Warner Music released McBryde's debut single titled "A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega". The track became a popular download, taking higher positions on iTunes than that of more established acts like Paramore.[13] The song climbed to number 30 on both Billboard's Country Airplay[15] and Hot Country Songs charts.[16] It was later named one of the 54 Best Songs of 2017 by The New York Times,[17] and one of the Top 25 Best Country Songs of 2017 by Rolling Stone.[18] In March 2018, the label released her debut studio album called Girl Going Nowhere.[19] The disc reached number seven on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart[20] and number 49 on the Billboard 200.[21] Critics praised Girl Going Nowhere for going beyond country music's expectations for a record.[22][7] Other critics like Robert Ham found that McBryde pushed for quality music versus radio-friendly hits: "The needle may keep moving for female country artists, but that’s of little concern to McBryde. She’s on a journey toward career longevity and Nowhere is her confident and solid first step."[23] The album later spawned the title track as a single, which charted in the Country Airplay top 40.[15]
McBryde made her first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry in 2017 and received a nomination from the Grammy Awards around the same time.[3] Additionally, McBryde won both the Academy of Country Music's "New Female Artist of the Year" award[24] and the Country Music Association's "New Artist of the Year" award.[25] In fall 2018, McBryde embarked on the Girl Going Nowhere Tour, her first as a headlining act.[26] In 2019, she joined George Strait and Little Big Town on several concert dates.[27]
2020–present: Never Will and Lindeville
editIn September 2019, McBryde released the lead single off her next album, titled "One Night Standards".[28][29] It later became her first top 20 single on both the Billboard Country Airplay and Country Songs charts.[15][16] In Canada, the song reached the number one spot on their country chart.[30] It appeared on McBryde's second studio album in April 2020, titled Never Will. The album was her second to be produced by Jay Joyce.[31] Upon release, Never Will was McBryde's second to reach the top ten of the Country Albums chart[20] and her second to reach a charting position on the Billboard 200.[21] Critics drew similarities to that of her debut album.[32][33] "The air of defiance in the name Never Will sets expectations for Ashley McBryde's second major-label album, echoing how the title Girl Going Nowhere framed the understanding for the 11 songs on her stellar 2018 debut," wrote AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine.[32] The album and lead single led McBryde to receive more nominations from the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association.[25][24] Additionally, the charting single "Martha Divine" was spawned from her second album in late 2020.[15]
With concert dates cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McBryde instead released a live EP named Never Will: Live from a Distance.[34] In 2021, she returned to performing with her second headlining tour called This Town Talks.[35] Later in the year, she collaborated with Carly Pearce on the duet "Never Wanted to Be That Girl", which was released as a single in September 2021 and subsequently became her first number one hit on the Country Airplay chart.[36][37]
In September 2022, McBryde announced that she had completed work on two studio albums. She delayed the release of what was expected to be her third major label album in order to release the concept album Lindeville, which was produced by her longtime friend John Osborne and featured a close circle of nine key collaborators, including Brandy Clark and Caylee Hammack. The album which is named after songwriter Dennis Linde, was based on the idea of creating a fictional town for the characters in her songs to live. The album was released on September 30, 2022.[38]
In February 2023, Warner Music released McBryde's next single titled "Light On in the Kitchen". The song will serve as the lead single for her next studio album and has since debuted on the Billboard country chart.[39] McBryde officially announced her fourth album, The Devil I Know, on June 2. It was released on September 8, 2023.[40]
Musical styles and influences
editMcBryde's musical style combines country with the genres of rock,[3] bluegrass,[1] country pop[2] and country rock.[1] Writer Mark Deming characterized McBryde as "a vocalist and songwriter with a touch of rock & roll swagger, a honky tonk heart, and a lyrical voice that puts a modern-day spin on classic country themes".[3] Rolling Stone's Jonathan Bernstein called her "a whiskey-swilling high priestess of dive bars whose radically lyrics-driven, rock-leaning approach to mainstream country commands instant attention".[2] In regards to influencing her musical style, McBryde credits Mary Chapin Carpenter,[41] Charlie Daniels,[42] Patty Loveless,[41] Dolly Parton,[43] and Hank Williams.[41]
Personal life
editIn 2018, McBryde's brother, Clay McBryde, died at the age of 53. Details concerning his death were not initially revealed.[44] McBryde has publicly spoken about having a difficult relationship with her father due to her decision to pursue a music career.[45][46] "My favorite song I've ever written being 'A Bible and a .44'... it's about my father, who does not approve of any of his children making a living in any kind of entertainment industry. It's unacceptable for anyone to make their living in the entertainment business," she told Taste of Country.[46]
In September 2021, McBryde was forced to postpone a few concerts, in the midst of her headlining This Town Talks Tour, after falling off a horse and landing on her head. The accident resulted in a concussion and required stitches on her scalp.[47]
In her YouTube series, "Made For This", in episode 7 of season 1, Ashley details her experience and recovery from the horseback riding accident. In addition, those that were with her that day and witnessed and provided first-aid to her on the scene go into great detail of just how serious the accident was. It was later discovered that she had also fractured her pelvis in the accident. This injury took her about 12 weeks to recover.[5]
In a February 2024 interview with TV's "CBS Sunday Morning", she revealed her past struggles with alcohol.
Discography
editStudio albums
- Girl Going Nowhere (2018)
- Never Will (2020)
- Lindeville (2022)
- The Devil I Know (2023)
Awards and nominations
editYear | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | 54th Academy of Country Music Awards | New Female Artist of the Year | Won | [24] |
Female Artist of the Year | Nominated | |||
61st Annual Grammy Awards | Best Country Album – Girl Going Nowhere | Nominated | [48] | |
18th CMT Music Awards | Breakthrough Video of the Year – "Girl Goin' Nowhere (At Marathon Music Works)" | Nominated | align="center" | |
46th Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program – CBS This Morning Saturday | Nominated | [49] | |
52nd Annual Country Music Association Awards | New Artist of the Year | Won | [25] | |
2020 | 55th Academy of Country Music Awards | Song of the Year – "Girl Goin' Nowhere" | Nominated | [24] |
Musical Event of the Year – "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" | Won | |||
62nd Annual Grammy Awards | Best Country Song – "Girl Goin' Nowhere" | Nominated | [48] | |
Best Country Solo Performance – "Girl Goin' Nowhere" | Nominated | |||
19th CMT Music Awards | CMT Performance of the Year – "One Night Standards" (from 2019 CMT Artists of the Year) | Nominated | ||
Female Video of the Year - "One Night Standards" | Nominated | |||
53rd Annual Country Music Association Awards | Album of the Year – Never Will | Nominated | [25] | |
Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | |||
Musical Event of the Year – "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" | Nominated | |||
2021 | 56th Academy of Country Music Awards | Album of the Year – Never Will | Nominated | [24] |
Female Artist of the Year | Nominated | |||
Song of the Year – "One Night Standards" | Nominated | |||
63rd Annual Grammy Awards | Best Country Album – Never Will | Nominated | [48] | |
54th Annual Country Music Association Awards | Female Artist of the Year | Nominated | [25] | |
Single of the Year – "One Night Standards" | Nominated | |||
Song of the Year – "One Night Standards" | Nominated | |||
2022 | 57th Academy of Country Music Awards | Female Artist of the Year | Nominated | [24] |
Video of the Year – "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" (with Carly Pearce) | Nominated | |||
Music Event of the Year – "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" (with Carly Pearce) | Won | |||
21st CMT Music Awards | Collaborative Video of the Year – "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" (with Carly Pearce) | Nominated | [50] | |
56th Annual Country Music Association Awards | Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | [51] | |
Single of the Year -"Never Wanted to Be That Girl" (with Carly Pearce) | Nominated | |||
Song of the Year – "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" (with Shane McAnally and Carly Pearce) | Nominated | |||
Musical Event of the Year – "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" (with Carly Pearce) | Won | |||
Video of the Year – "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" (with Carly Pearce) | Nominated | |||
International Artist Achievement Award | Won | [52] | ||
2023 | 65th Annual Grammy Awards | Best Country Duo/Group Performance – "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" (with Ashley McBryde) | Won | [53] |
Best Country Album - Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville | Nominated | |||
22nd CMT Music Awards | CMT Performance of the Year – "One Way Ticket" (with Carly Pearce and Leann Rimes) (from CMT Crossroads: Leann Rimes & Friends) | Nominated | align="center" | |
58th Academy of Country Music Awards | Female Artist of the Year | Nominated | [24] | |
Album of the Year – Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville | Nominated | |||
Single of the Year – "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" (with Carly Pearce) | Nominated | |||
56th Annual Country Music Association Awards | Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | [54] | |
Album of the Year - Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville | Nominated | |||
Music Video of the Year – "Light On in the Kitchen" | Nominated | |||
2024 | 23rd CMT Music Awards | Video of the Year – "Light On in the Kitchen" | Nominated | |
Female Video of the Year - "Light On in the Kitchen" | Nominated | |||
59th Academy of Country Music Awards | Female Artist of the Year | Nominated | [24] | |
International Bluegrass Music Awards | Song of the Year - "Willow" | Nominated | [55] |
References
edit- ^ a b c d Thompson, Gayle. "Ashley McBryde Combines Country, Rock and White Trash on New Album, 'Never Will' (Exclusive)". popculture. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ a b c Bernstein, Jonathan (March 28, 2018). "Ashley McBryde on New Album: 'Country Fans Have Been Spoon-Fed Music for Years'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Ashley McBryde biography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ "Ashley McBryde on World Cafe". NPR. September 7, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
- ^ a b @opry (October 6, 2022). "BREAKING: @garthbrooks has just invited @AshleyMcBryde to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry on @CBSMornings live from the circle!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c Cantrell, Marla (2019-05-29). "Ashley McBryde Comes Home". AY Magazine. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Thanki, Juli (March 15, 2018). "Ashley McBryde is a girl going somewhere". The Tennessean. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ^ Dukes, Billy (16 March 2018). "Is Ashley McBryde's 'A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega' a Hit?". Taste of Country. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ^ a b Dauphin, Chuck (February 5, 2018). "Ashley McBryde Discusses the Influences & True Stories Behind Her Upcoming Album 'Girl Going Nowhere'". Billboard. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Caramanica, Jon (March 28, 2018). "Ashley McBryde Takes Nashville, No Gimmicks Required". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ^ Hyman, Dan (8 February 2021). "Ashley McBryde Fulfills Lifelong Band Director Dream as Inaugural CMA Foundation Unified Voices for Music Education Artist Ambassador". CMA Foundation. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ^ Hammershaug, Bjørn (March 27, 2018). "Coming Up: Ashley McBryde". Tidal. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ^ a b c Moss, Marissa M. (December 29, 2017). "How Ashley McBryde Made a Fan of Eric Church, Became Country's Rawest Writer". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ^ "Jalopies & Expensive Guitars by Ashley McBryde". Apple Music. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Ashley McBryde chart history (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Ashley McBryde chart history (Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ Pareles, Jon. "The 54 Best Songs of 2017". The New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
- ^ Chris Parton, Marissa R. Moss, Dan Hyman, Brittney McKenna, Jeff Gage (December 14, 2017). "25 Best Country Songs of 2017". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
{{cite magazine}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ McBryde, Ashley (March 30, 2018). "Girl Going Nowhere (CD Liner Notes and Album Information)". Warner Music Nashville. 9362490772.
- ^ a b "Ashley McBryde chart history (Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Ashley McBryde chart history (Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Girl Going Nowhere: Ashley McBryde: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ^ Ham, Robert (April 3, 2018). "Ashley McBryde: Girl Going Nowhere Review". Paste. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Academy of Country Music: Search winners: Ashley McBryde". Academy of Country Music. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "CMA Past Winners & Nominees: Ashley McBryde". Country Music Association. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ^ Levenson, Luke (May 21, 2018). "Ashley McBryde Plots Fall 2018 Girl Going Nowhere Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ Stefano, Angela (21 December 2018). "Ashley McBryde Is Ready for an 'Even Crazier' 2019". Taste of Country. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ Moore, Bobby (August 30, 2019). "Hear Ashley McBryde's New Single, 'One Night Standards'". The Boot. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Betts, Stephen (January 17, 2020). "Ashley McBryde Announces New Album 'Never Will'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- ^ "Ashley McBryde chart history (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ McBryde, Ashley (April 3, 2020). "Never Will (CD Liner Notes and Album Information)". Warner Music Nashville. 625135.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Never Will: Ashley McBryde: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ Bernstein, Jonathan (April 3, 2020). "Review: Ashley McBryde's Never Will". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ Dowling, Marcus K. (May 28, 2021). "Ashley McBryde Releases Her Long-Awaited 'Live from a Distance' EP". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on May 29, 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ Stefano, Angela (17 May 2021). "Ashley McBryde Will Headline Theaters on 2021-2022 This Town Talks Tour". Taste of Country. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ Freeman, Jon. "Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde's 'Never Wanted to Be That Girl' Is a Top-Flight Cheating Song". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ^ "Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde's 'Never Wanted to be That Girl' Tops Country Radio Chart". 9 May 2022.
- ^ "Interview: Ashley McBryde takes us on a tour of 'Lindeville' as she brings her new album to life". 26 September 2022.
- ^ Roland, Tom. "Ashley McBryde Stocks Her 'Kitchen' With Life Lessons and Independent Aspirations on New Single". Billboard. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ "Ashley McBryde Reveals Family Secrets on New Song 'Learned to Lie'". Rolling Stone. 2 June 2023.
- ^ a b c Bennie, Brian Jr. (5 October 2019). "Ashley McBryde Interview : Your Questions Answered!". Six Shooter Country. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ Stefano, Angela (11 November 2020). "Ashley McBryde: Charlie Daniels Was One of Our First Rock Stars". Taste of Country. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ Quine, Katie. "A lot of talent has come out of the women of the Opry these past 95 years, and there's no telling how many future Opry members in these next 95 years they will have inspired". Grand Ole Opry. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ Stefano, Angela (26 June 2018). "Ashley McrByde's Brother Clay Has Died". The Boot. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ Betts, Stephen L. (April 1, 2019). "Ashley McBryde Talks Hard Relationship With Her Father in Teary Interview". Yahoo!. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ a b Krol, Jaclyn (6 April 2019). "Ashley McBryde Opens Up About Her Dad's Reaction to ACM Nods". Taste of Country. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ Iasimone, Ashley (September 25, 2021). "Ashley McBryde Recovering After Horseback Riding Accident That Left Her With a Concussion and Unable to Walk 'Without Assistance'". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Ashley McBryde: Artist". Grammy Awards. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Ashley McBryde is nominated for Daytime Emmy for CBS This Morning". Eu.tennessean.com. 2019-03-20. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
- ^ "CMT Music Awards 2022: Complete list of winners and nominees". CBS News. April 11, 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ^ Hall, Kristin M. (2022-09-07). "Lainey Wilson leads CMA Awards nominations in her 1st year". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Associated Press. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
- ^ "Ashley McBryde & Brothers Osborne Among 2022 CMA International Awards Nominees". Billboard.
- ^ Adams, Kirby (November 16, 2022). "Kentucky's Jack Harlow, Chris Stapleton, Carly Pearce nominated for Grammy Awards". Yahoo!. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ^ Hall, Kristin M. (2022-09-07). "Lainey Wilson leads CMA Awards nominations in her 1st year". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Associated Press. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
- ^ "IBMA Unveils Bluegrass Music Award Nominees & Hall Of Fame Inductees". MusicRow. July 17, 2024.