“This Isn’t Battle Of The Bands” – Ashley McBryde On The Animosity That Some Country Artists Are Feeling Towards Those Who Don’t Have To “Tough It Out” To Be Discovered

Country music star Ashley McBryde had to cut her teeth for a while in Nashville… so why shouldn’t everyone else have to do the same?

The great Ashley McBryde joined the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast to talk about coming to Nashville and grinding as a young artist before getting a record deal at 30 years old, growing up in Arkansas with a father who was a doctor and a preacher, how Eric Church played a roll in her success, concept albums, getting sober, her new music and when fans might expect a new album and much more.

One area of the conversation that we really settled into was McBryde’s non-linear journey to becoming a well-known artist in the country music world. It’s very well documented that the “One Night Standards” singer put in the work and burnt up the road on her way to becoming a country music star.

Nashville is often called a “10 year town,” and Ashley is a testament to that. She moved to Music City in 2006, and didn’t break through until around 2016, when she signed her first record deal with Warner Nashville. That’s a long time to stick with a dream, but Ashley McBryde never doubted herself.

And now it’s hard to imagine the country music world without her in it.

Often times, it takes that kind of dedication to finally break through as an entertainer. But in today’s modern world of social media and things “going viral,” sometimes Nashville becomes a “10 minute town.” We asked if there is any animosity towards artists that are discovered and become big in the industry seemingly overnight, and McBryde gave us this very transparent answer:

“Tons. Tons. Every room in Nashville right now. (People are like), ‘That cracker jack just popped onto the scene.’ And I’m sorry. I don’t know what to tell you… happy birthday or maybe punch her in the mouth. I don’t know what to tell you. That’s just how it is.

And I’ve had my moments with it too. You have to grow enough to self check, and remember things like ‘This isn’t a battle of the bands.’ Even if it was, any note you sing doesn’t change a note I sing. I know women that can sing circles around me, and I know some that can’t. And we’re all welcome here.”

@whiskeyriff In Ashely McBryde we trust. #whiskeyriff #whiskeyriffraff #ashleymcbryde @Ashley McBryde ♬ original sound – Whiskey Riff

Great way of looking at it, and I expect nothing less from Ashley McBryde. Respectful as ever.

In the same vein of some artists “making it” overnight, we also asked how McBryde felt about Post Malone hopping over to the country music genre. She once again gave a very thoughtful answer, saying that the “scars on his knuckles” look a little different than hers, but they are still scars:

“Maybe you are a theater kid. Maybe you got to country music and you started out in professional theater. The scars on your knuckles are different than mine. It doesn’t mean you didn’t fight.”

Amen, Ashley McBryde.

If you want to hear more from the country music star, make sure to download the podcast on Apple Podcasts by searching “Whiskey Riff Raff” or click here.

We’re also available on Spotify and wherever else you can listen to podcasts.

Cheers, y’all.

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