Ashley McBryde is an American country music singer-songwriter born on July 29, 1983, in Waldron, Arkansas, and raised in the small town of Saddle, Arkansas.
Growing up in a strict, music-filled household on a 400-acre cattle farm, she was exposed to a variety of musical influences from a young age, including bluegrass, gospel, Kris Kristofferson, and The Carpenters.
Her father, William McBryde, a physician and preacher, and her mother, Martha Wilkins, fostered an environment where music was a constant presence, with all family members able to sing well.
Ashley’s passion for music emerged early; at age three, she was drawn to her father’s guitars, playing them like an upright bass until her parents gifted her a guitar of her own at nine.
By twelve, she wrote her first song, a surprisingly mature piece about a torrid love affair, signaling her future as a songwriter.
After dropping out of Arkansas State University, where she studied French horn, McBryde moved to Nashville in 2007 to pursue a music career, performing in dive bars and biker joints while working day jobs, including at Guitar Center.
Siblings
Ashley is the youngest of six siblings, born to William McBryde and Martha Wilkins, whose marriage ended in divorce when Ashley was seventeen.
Her siblings include William Clayton McBryde Jr. (known as Clay), Kurt McBryde, Daniel McBryde and Aubrey McBryde.
Growing up in a musically inclined family, Ashley noted that all six siblings could sing well, often harmonizing together in church, which contributed to her early musical development.
Clay, her paternal half-brother, was a significant figure in her life.
Born on May 22, 1965, Clay served four years in the U.S. Army, including a deployment to Iraq, and worked for 25 years as a police officer in Russellville, Arkansas.
He married Tanya in November 2017 and had a son, Bradley, and a grandson, Kaden.
Tragically, Clay died by suicide in June 2018 at age 53, a loss that deeply affected Ashley, leading to anxiety attacks and inspiring her song “Stone,” co-written with Nicolette Hayford.
In his memory, Ashley encouraged donations to Mission 22, a charity supporting veterans with PTSD.
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Career
McBryde’s career began in earnest after moving to Nashville, where she honed her craft in gritty venues, playing with her band Deadhorse and competing in talent competitions like the Country Showdown, which she won in 2009 and 2010.
She self-released two demo albums, an eponymous one in 2006 and Elsebound in 2011, before her 2016 EP, Jalopies & Expensive Guitars, caught the attention of country star Eric Church.
His endorsement, including an invitation to perform “Bible and a .44” with him on tour, led to a recording contract with Warner Music Nashville.
In 2017, her debut single, “A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega,” became a breakout hit, followed by her major-label debut album, Girl Going Nowhere, in 2018.
The album, praised for its storytelling and raw honesty, established her as a rising star.
Her 2020 album, Never Will, featured the top 20 single “One Night Standards” and reached the top ten on the Country Albums chart.
In 2022, she released the concept album Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville, and in 2023, The Devil I Know, showcasing her versatility with Southern rock and heartfelt ballads.
McBryde’s career also includes opening for artists like Chris Stapleton and Willie Nelson, headlining her own tours, and releasing a studio version of “Rattlesnake Preacher” in 2025 to honor her late friend Randall Clay.
Accolades
McBryde has won one Grammy Award from six nominations, including a 2023 win for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” with Carly Pearce.
She has also secured three Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, one Country Music Association (CMA) Award, and multiple CMT Music Awards.
Her debut album, Girl Going Nowhere, garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album, reflecting her critical acclaim.
In 2023, she received the Groundbreaker Award at the Billboard Country Power Players ceremony, recognizing her as a trailblazer in the genre.
One of her crowning achievements came in 2022 when Garth Brooks invited her to join the Grand Ole Opry, and she was inducted by Terri Clark on December 10, 2022, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Her 2017 single “A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega” achieved Platinum status, and her contributions to country music have been praised by peers like Eric Church and Wynonna Judd, with whom she performed at the 2023 CMA Awards.
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