Ashley McBryde: The country girl with a killer voice
Here's everything you need to know...
Ashley McBryde is a fighter. After a high school teacher told her to give up her dream of singing and songwriting for a living, telling her it was "stupid" and she needed a good back-up plan, Ashley was determined to prove her wrong... And boy, did she!
After singing in dive bars and clubs for 10 years, her soulful country voice landed a record deal. That negative 'advice' from her teacher defined her and encouraged her to keep going — and we are so glad she did, as it even fuelled her popular track 'Girl Goin' Nowhere'.
Now with five studio albums, she has showed that dreams really do come true when you work as hard as the award-winning Ashley McBryde!
Where is Ashley McBryde from?
Ashley McBryde was raised in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas in the United States. After attending Arkansas State University, the singer moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue her country music dream.
How old is Ashley McBryde?
The country songstress was born 29th July 1983, making her 42-years-old at the time of writing.
Does Ashley McBryde write her own songs?
Ashley McBryde is a singer-songwriter and self-released EP 'Jalopies and Expensive Guitars' on 10th March 2016, after attending university. Her songs are written through emotional personal experiences and struggles, and many of her fans have expressed their deep connection to her lyrics.
Which record company is she signed to?
Country girl Ashley has been signed to Warner Music Nashville since September 2017. She is signed alongside country superstars Brett Eldredge and Blake Shelton.
How many albums has Ashley released?
So far, Ashley has released five studio albums. Following her first self-released EP, 'Jalopies and Expensive Guitars', Ashley McBryde released her first studio album two years later - with her first major label debut 'Girl Going Nowhere' on 30th March 2018. It peaked at Number 4 on the UK Country Official Chart, and at Number 7 on the US Country Chart.
She has since released four more albums - 'Never Will' (2020), 'Welcome To Lindeville' (2022), 'The Devil I Know' (2023) and 'Wild' (2026).
In 2022, Ashley McBryde gathered an ace team of writers at a cabin in Tennessee, creating a batch of songs about real-life, small town America. The outcome was, of course, the concept album ‘Welcome To Lindeville’, which featured country collaborators including Brothers Osborne (John and TJ Osborne), Caylee Hammack, Pillbox Patti, Brandy Clark and more.
Of the experience, Pillbox Patti (real name Nicolette Hayford) said: "It’s like we fell into a vortex. I've looked for it again, and I can't find it."
Latest album
Ashley's most recent album release is 'Wild', which dropped in May 2026. 'Wild' features new single 'What If We Don't' and other releases 'Rattlesnake Preacher', 'Arkansas Mud', 'Bottle Tells Me So' and 'Lines in the Carpet'.
Ahead of its release, Ashley wrote on Instagram: 'This record felt like building a tree fort from some pieces we’d been needing to put to good use and some building materials I had to go scout out and look for. And piece by piece, trusting it would all hold together in the end. I’m so ready for y’all to hear it.
'Wild is the name. That’s the spirit of the record. The fear, the chaos, the hard truths, and the little kid in me who always kept dreaming big.'
Fourth album
Ashley's fourth album is titled 'The Devil I Know' and was released on 8th September 2023. In anticipation of the album coming out, the singer released singles 'Learned To Lie', 'The Devil I Know', 'Made For This', 'Light On In The Kitchen' and 'Cool Little Bars'.
'The Devil I Know' topped the UK Country Albums Chart, with her single 'Light On In The Kitchen' bagging a 2024 CMT Awards nomination for Female Video of The Year.
Check out our very own Baylen Leonard catching up with Ashley about creating new music:
Is she going on tour this year?
She's on tour over in the US, but did pop over this side of the pond for a series of shows in early 2026, including supporting Garth Brookes at his BST Hyde Park show in June.
Ashley also put on a special one-off show at London's Hoxton Hall on Saturday 20th September 2025, before heading to headline the historic Grand Ole Opry Live In London show on the 26th.
Ashley McBryde performing for the Opry 100 at Royal Albert Hall
UK country fans rejoiced as the epic line-up was announced for the Grand Ole Opry's show at London's iconic Royal Albert Hall back in 2025. For the first time ever, as the Grand Ole Opry celebrated 100 years, the legendary show went international - with a historic show taking place right here in the UK.
Taking place on 26th September 2025, the once-in-a-lifetime show — Grand Ole Opry Live In London — saw performances from Ashley McBryde, Luke Combs, Carly Pearce, Darius Rucker and Marty Stuart, as well as UK artists too.
NOW READ: A look back at the Grand Ole Opry's 'one-night-only' London show
Check out the other country tours coming in 2026 and beyond:
The Ballad of Johnny and June - March-September 2026
A musical celebrating the life of Johnny Cash and his second wife June Carter Cash is touring the UK this year, performing hits from both artists, including 'Ring of Fire', 'I Walk the Line', 'Jackson', 'Hey Porter' and 'I've Been Everywhere'.
'The Ballad of Johnny and June' is underway now, and will continue until 19th September, visiting theatres across the country.
Buy tickets here
Luke Combs - July/August 2026
Luke Combs will bring his 'My Kinda Saturday Night Tour' to the UK in the summer of 2026, visiting London and Edinburgh for a total of five dates between 24th July and 2nd August. He'll be joined by special guests Thomas Rhett, Ty Myers and The Castellows in Wembley, and The Teskey Brothers, Ty Myers and The Castellows in Edinburgh.
The Long Road Festival 2026 - August
August Bank Holiday 2026 will see the return of the three-day The Long Road Festival — celebrating the music, lifestyle and influences of Country! From Friday 28th-Sunday 30th August 2026, the festival returns to Stanford Hall estate in Leicestershire with a range of incredible artists across the five stages. The first headliner has been announced as Bailey Zimmerman, who will be taking to the stage on the Saturday night, with Josh Ross and Kezia Gill later added to the bill.
Buy tickets here!
Bailey Zimmerman - August-September 2026
Bailey Zimmerman has announced four UK dates for his 'Different Night, Same Rodeo' tour coming up in August and September. The singer's second album 'Different Night Same Rodeo' was released in 2025 and featured his hits 'Holy Smokes', 'Backup Plan' featuring Luke Combs and 'Chevy Silverado'.
Home Free - September 2026
Home Free will bring their 'Highways & High Seas Tour' to Manchester, London and Birmingham this autumn. From 21st-23rd September, the acapella country stars will put on an evening of stunning vocals and 'Nashville flair', in support of their latest album 'Challenge The Sea'.
Buy tickets here
Megan Moroney - September-October 2026
Megan Moroney is set to tour later in 2026, in support of her third album 'Cloud 9'. The 'Am I Okay?' singer will wrap up her international tour with a stint here in the UK and Ireland, visiting Manchester, Belfast and Glasgow. It'll take place from 26th September-1st October.
Buy tickets here
Brandi Carlile - October
Brandi will be bringing 'The Human Tour - 2026' to the UK, starting in Manchester on 18th October, before travelling to Glasgow and London, finishing on 21st October. She will be supported by KT Tunstall at her UK shows.
Cody Johnson - October-November 2026
Cody Johnson will be heading to the UK as part of his 2026 tour, in October. He'll perform in Manchester, London, Birmingham and Glasgow from 24th October to the 2nd November. He'll be supported by Parker McCollum and Emily Ann Roberts.
Buy tickets here
Noah Kahan - November 2026
Noah Kahan will bring his 'The Great Divide' Tour to the UK and Ireland this autumn. The 'Stick Season' singer who shot to fame in 2022 will visit Glasgow, Manchester, London and Dublin from 5th-22nd November in support of his upcoming album 'The Great Divide'.
Buy tickets here
The Shires - November 2026
The Shires will head on tour in November 2026, in support of their sixth studio album 'Bonfire' — releasing in July. The shows, which will run from 3rd-20th November, will be their first as a full band in four years. They'll be visiting Glasgow, Gateshead, York, Manchester, London, Brighton, Ipswich, Poole, Swansea, Liverpool, Bedford and Bristol.
Buy tickets here
Brothers Osborne - December 2026
Brothers Osborne will support The Darkness on their December 2026 UK tour, visiting seven arenas. From Tuesday 8th, they'll head to Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Brighton and London, concluding on 16th.
Buy tickets here
Kacey Musgraves - February 2027
Kacey Musgraves will bring her 'Middle of Nowhere' tour to the UK, performing three dates over here in February 2027 in Glasgow, Manchester and London to support her second album 'Middle of Nowhere'.
Buy tickets here.
C2C Country To Country - March 2027
Following another hugely successful year in 2026, C2C Country To Country will return in 2027, over the weekend of 12th-14th March.
C2C will take place at London The O2, Glasgow OVO Hydro and Manchester AO Arena.
Buy tickets here!
Ward Thomas - September 2026
British country act Ward Thomas will head on a UK tour in September, in celebration of their 2016 album 'Cartwheels' — which was the first UK country album to bag the Number 1 spot. The twin sisters will be joined by special guests The Wandering Hearts as they visit Glasgow, York, Guildford, Truro, Bath, Manchester, Cambridge, London, Coventry and Gateshead from 13th to 25th September.
Buy tickets here
What is Ashley McBryde's biggest hit?
Ashley McBryde did particularly well with emotional 'A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega', describing the pain of a really bad day. It's amassed over 10 million streams, has over 15 million views on YouTube and is currently certified Gold in the US.
Also successful was 'American Scandal', and nod to the haters title track 'Girl Goin' Nowhere'.
Of course, she also saw great success with cover of The Everly Brothers' 'When Will I Be Loved', alongside country icons Brandy Clark, Caylee Hammack and Pillbox Patti.
Watch Ashley McBryde, Brandy Clark, Caylee Hammack and Pillbox Patti perform 'When Will I Be Loved':
Has Ashley McBryde won any major awards?
She sure has! Having been nominated for a total of six Grammy Awards, Ashley bagged the win at the 2023 ceremony. Picking up the 2023 Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance alongside Carly Pearce, the win made history as the first female pairing to win the award.
Ashley's previous Grammy nominations include: Best Country Album (2019), for her debut studio album 'Girl Going Nowhere', Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance (2020), for her track 'Girl Goin' Nowhere, Best Country Album (2021), for 'Never Will', and Best Country Album (2023) for 'Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville'.
In addition, Ashley has also won three American Country Music Awards, of her 10 nominations - New Female Artist of the Year (2019), Musical Event of the Year (2020, 2022).
Is Ashley McBryde on social media?
She sure is — and it's fair to say Ashley McBryde's infectious humour radiates through her socials! You can follow the talented country singer on her Instagram, X, and her Facebook.