Ashley McBryde

Ashley Dyan McBryde (born July 29, 1983) 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.

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.

Early life McBryde was born in Waldron, Arkansas and raised in Saddle, Arkansas. Her father was a farmer, doctor, 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."

McBryde participated in the high school marching band before attending Arkansas State University where she studied French horn. She also worked a day job at Guitar Center and played open mic nights. 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. For the album cover, McBryde straightened her hair. "We were trying to play the game," she told The New York Times. She was also instructed to lose 20 pounds. and Hot Country Songs charts. It was later named one of the 54 Best Songs of 2017 by The New York Times, and one of the Top 25 Best Country Songs of 2017 by Rolling Stone. In March 2018, the label released her debut studio album called Girl Going Nowhere. The disc reached number seven on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 49 on the Billboard 200. Critics praised Girl Going Nowhere for going beyond country music's expectations for a record. The album later spawned the title track as a single, which charted in the Country Airplay top 40. and the Country Music Association's "New Artist of the Year" award. In fall 2018, McBryde embarked on the Girl Going Nowhere Tour, her first as a headlining act. In 2019, she joined George Strait and Little Big Town on several concert dates.

2020–present: Never Will, Lindeville, The Devil I Know, and Wild In September 2019, McBryde released the lead single off her next album, titled "One Night Standards". It later became her first top 20 single on both the Billboard Country Airplay and Country Songs charts. 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. Upon release, Never Will was McBryde's second to reach the top ten of the Country Albums chart "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. In 2021, she returned to performing with her second headlining tour called This Town Talks. 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.

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.

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. McBryde officially announced her fourth album, The Devil I Know, on June 2. It was released on September 8, 2023.

On March 19, 2026, McBryde announced her fifth studio album, Wild, which was released on May 8.

Musical styles and influences McBryde's musical style combines country with the genres of rock, Charlie Daniels, Patty Loveless, and Hank Williams. McBryde has publicly spoken about having a difficult relationship with her father due to her decision to pursue a music career. "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.

In season 1, episode 7 of her YouTube series Made for This, McBryde details her experience and recovery from the horseback riding accident. In addition, those who 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.

Discography

Studio albums Girl Going Nowhere (2018) Never Will (2020) Lindeville (2022) The Devil I Know (2023) Wild (2026)

Awards and nominations

New Female Artist of the Year

18th CMT Music Awards Breakthrough Video of the Year – "Girl Goin' Nowhere (At Marathon Music Works)"

46th Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program – CBS This Morning Saturday

52nd Annual Country Music Association Awards New Artist of the Year

Female Vocalist of the Year

Single of the Year -"Never Wanted to Be That Girl" Song of the Year – "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" Musical Event of the Year – "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" Video of the Year – "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" International Artist Achievement Award

Best Country Duo/Group Performance – "Never Wanted to Be That Girl"

Best Country Album - Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville 22nd CMT Music Awards CMT Performance of the Year – "One Way Ticket" (from CMT Crossroads: Leann Rimes & Friends)

Female Artist of the Year

Album of the Year - Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville Music Video of the Year – "Light On in the Kitchen"

Video of the Year – "Light On in the Kitchen"

Female Video of the Year - "Light On in the Kitchen" 59th Academy of Country Music Awards Female Artist of the Year