Madison Cunningham

Life and career Madison Cunningham was born in Escondido, California, and later moved to Costa Mesa, where she grew up. She is the daughter of a pastor at a local church, and she has four sisters. Influenced by her father and grandmother, Cunningham started playing guitar when she was seven years old, performing in the church. As a teenager, she met producer Tyler Chester, with whom she made the self-released studio album Authenticity (2014).

She removed Authenticity from streaming services in 2021 because she felt it was no longer relatable. Cunningham has said of her faith that "Christianity looks different to me all the time. The phrase that I use with my husband is 'I’m becoming more and more of an agnostic every day.'" Other inspirations include Radiohead, Fiona Apple, Juana Molina and Jeff Buckley.

On September 9, 2022, Cunningham released Revealer, her third studio album. Consequence'''s editorial coordinator Paolo Ragusa writes about it: "With each song on Revealer, Cunningham is proving that she can satisfy and surprise her audience all at once, and it’s one of the most delightful albums released so far in 2022."

On October 18, 2024, Cunningham and Andrew Bird released a new studio album, titled Cunningham Bird, which features covers of the entirety of Buckingham Nicks (1973), the only studio album by the duo of American rock guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and singer Stevie Nicks, both of whom later joined Fleetwood Mac.

On August 15, 2025, Cunningham released the single "My Full Name", alongside the announcement of her fourth studio album, Ace, which was released on October 10, 2025.

Discography

Studio albums Authenticity (2014) Who Are You Now (2019) Revealer (2022) Ace (2025)

Collaborative albums

Cunningham Bird (2024) with Andrew Bird

Extended plays Love, Lose, Remember (2017) For the Sake of the Rhyme (2019) Wednesday'' (2020)

Singles

Awards and nominations Year Organization Award Work Result 2020 Grammy Awards Best Folk Album Wednesday (Extended Version) 2023 Grammy Awards Revealer Best American Roots Performance "Life According to Raechel" 2024Grammy Awards "Inventing The Wheel"