Experiences in life lead to the best songwriters, because they have the stories to tell.
Ashland Craft collected hers in dive bars first.
Chris Ramos of Sons of Lions chatted with her for The Country Note, and holy schnikies — this one has some miles on the boots. Piedmont, South Carolina, outside Greenville. House-band singer at Wendell’s Dippin’ Branch at 18. McDonald’s. Salon receptionist. Bars at 17. Then Season 13 of The Voice, Team Miley, Top 10. That is the part people know. The part that matters is what she did after: Nashville. Seven years of tearing her butt off and putting out every song she could until the tide turned.
CMT Next Women of Country. Pandora Country Artists to Watch. American Songwriter called her a new country badass with star quality flying out of her boots. Big Loud for the debut, Travelin’ Kind — “Make It Past Georgia,” “Your Mama Still Does.” Then Leo33. Opry debut with Ashley McBryde waiting backstage and Cody Johnson on the invitation. Hixtape with Brothers Osborne. Tours with Cody Johnson, Ashley McBryde, Zac Brown Band, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Marcus King, Ian Munsick. Then Luke Bryan called and she opened Country Song Came On dates, which is a sentence you do not get over.
The second record is Dive Bar Beauty Queen. She had her hands in the whole thing with Lee Starr and Jess Grommet, friends from when she first got to town. “Morning Person.” “Right Damn Now.” “Hooker” on SiriusXM The Highway. “Night Owl,” co-write with Lainey Wilson. “Kick Rocks Cowboy” with Jonathan Singleton and Shane Minor. “Lie A Little.” “Yard Sale.” “Happy Drunk.” Shania, Stapleton, George Jones, Conway, Bonnie Raitt, Def Leppard — that is the stew. Country with rock in the elbows and no apology.
Saaweeet.
This is TCN Spotlight Series. A different artist every day. Pour something, watch the video, then come read the story.
Watch Chris Ramos chat with Ashland Craft for The Country Note here: https://youtu.be/7-t9Rbe6Ufg
- Website: ashlandcraft.com
- Instagram: @ashlandcraft
- Facebook: facebook.com/AshlandCraft
- TikTok: @ashlandcraftmusic
- YouTube: @AshlandCraft
- X: @ashlandcraft
- Streaming: Ashland Craft on Spotify / Apple / etc.