Ashley McBryde is a country music singer-songwriter who has been nominated for four Grammy Awards and won the CMA Award for New Artist of the Year in 2019. She is known for her authentic and gritty style of music that reflects her life experiences and challenges. One of the challenges she faced was the pressure to lose weight and conform to the standards of the country music industry.
The Struggle With Body Image
McBryde grew up in Arkansas and was drawn to various types of music from a young age. She also developed a passion for writing songs and later moved to Nashville to pursue a music career. Between 2006 and 2011, she released a pair of self-released albums, but she struggled to get the attention of record labels.
When she finally did, she was told her hair was “too curly” and to lose weight. And she tried. She lost 35 pounds and wrote songs a certain kind of way. But it wouldn’t stick—McBryde couldn’t be who the glossy, 30-pounds-skinnier artist industry executives wanted her to be¹.
She decided to go back to being herself: “a not-so-skinny woman with tattoos and wild curly hair fronting a tight, muscular country-rock band”¹. She released her third album, Jalopies & Expensive Guitars, independently in 2016, and caught the eye of producer Jay Joyce, who signed her to his label, Atlantic Records.
The Breakthrough With Girl Going Nowhere
In 2018, McBryde released her major-label debut album, Girl Going Nowhere, which was inspired by a high school teacher who told her that her dream of becoming a singer was unrealistic. The album received critical acclaim and commercial success, earning her a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album and spawning the hit singles “A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega” and “Girl Goin’ Nowhere”.
The album also showcased McBryde’s confidence and acceptance of herself as an artist and as a person. She did not let the industry’s expectations or opinions define her or her music. She sang about her real-life stories, emotions, and struggles with honesty and vulnerability. She also embraced her body image and did not shy away from showing it off in her music videos and live performances.
The Continued Success With Never Will
In 2020, McBryde released her second major-label album, Never Will, which was also produced by Joyce. The album continued the themes of self-empowerment, resilience, and authenticity that McBryde established in her previous work. It also featured more diverse musical influences, such as rock, blues, and soul.
The album received rave reviews from critics and fans alike, earning McBryde three more Grammy nominations for Best Country Album, Best Country Song (“One Night Standards”), and Best Country Solo Performance (“I Hope You’re Happy Now”). It also debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number five on the Billboard 200 chart.
McBryde has proven herself as one of the most talented and original voices in country music today. She has also shown that she does not need to conform to anyone’s standards or expectations to be successful. She has achieved her dreams by being true to herself and her music.
Ashley McBryde weight loss is not the reason for her success. It is her talent, passion, and courage that have made her a star..
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