Ashley McBryde: A Songwriter At Five Years Old

Ashley McBryde released her latest album, The Devil I Know, last week (9/8) to rave reviews. When we chatted with Ashley before the album came out, we discussed how long she has been writing her own songs. McBryde was just a child when she first realized that she was a songwriter. She said, "I think I must have been really small because I've been telling my mom that I was gonna move to Nashville, Tennesse, and become a country singer since I was really small, probably five years old."

And the song's lyrics and melodies came quickly to her. She said, "I would make things up. I would just come inside and sing what I had done. Like if I walked to the mailbox or whatever I'd seen, I'd come in and sing that to my mom."

She added, "I grew up listening to bluegrass and things like that, so playing instruments and songwriters, those were things that were very accessible things. The masters of their instruments were super accessible at bluegrass festivals. So, it never occurred to me not to be a songwriter."

McBryde talked to us last week before she released her album The Devil I Know. The triple 2023 CMA nominee (Female Vocalist, Album of The Year For Lindeville, and Video of the Year for "Light On In The Kitchen") said she's had the album done for about a year.

We talked with Ashley recently and asked if she felt pressure making the new album. She references her Grammy win for Best Country Duo for "Never Wanted To Be That Girl" with Carly Pearce. She told us that she doesn't let award nominations and wins influence her music. "We try to keep things like that, CMAs, ACMs, Grammys... We love them, appreciate them fully, and celebrate them, but when we go into creation mode, nothing gets to come into the room. Not what radio thinks and not who thinks what I should wear or what I should say. None of that gets to come into the room; we try to keep them separate. I'm so excited for this record to finally be out."

The 2023 Grammy Awards winners are already being announced in the Premiere Ceremony; three of the four country category winners are already in. A couple of country stars, Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde, got their very first Grammy win together.

Winners will be updated in real-time on the show, which will air on CBS starting at 8 PM ET. Luke Combs, Kacey Musgraves, and Chris Stapleton will be the performers on the show representing country music tonight (2/5). Shania Twain will be a presenter on the telecast.

Kelsea Ballerini – “Heartfirst”

Maren Morris – “Circles Around This Town”

Miranda Lambert – “In His Arms”

Willie Nelson – “Live Forever” – WINNER - This makes eleven total Grammy wins for the the 89 year-old country legend.  He has been nominated for 56 Grammys in his long career, which started by writing one of country music's all-time classics from the 1960s, Patsy Cline's "Crazy."

Zach Bryan – “Something in the Orange”

Brothers Osborne – “Midnight Rider’s Prayer”

Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde –  “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” – WINNER -  For Carly, this is her first Grammy nomination and for Ashley this is her 6th nomination and her very first win. Both Pearce and McBryde were at the pre-telecast ceremony and accepted their award, Carly said in part, "I have known Ashley for a long time and I just wanted to sing a song with her and it has transended my wildest dreams." Ashley said, in part, "It's been so nice for our friendship. We did it together, thank you, thank you."

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images 

Ingrid Andress & Sam Hunt – “Wishful Drinking”

Luke Combs & Miranda Lambert – “Outrunnin’ Your Memory”

Reba McEntire & Dolly Parton – “Does He Love You” (Revisited)

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - “Going Where the Lonely Go”

“Circles Around This Town” – Maren Morris (co-writer)

“Doin’ This” – Luke Combs (co-writer)

“I Bet You Think Of Me” – Taylor Swift (co-writer)

“It I Was A Cowboy” – Miranda Lambert (co-writer)

“I’ll Love You Till The Day I Die” – Chris Stapleton (co-writer) – sung by Willie Nelson

“Til You Can’t” – sung by Cody Johnson Grammy goes to the songwriter - WINNER

Ashley McBryde – Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville - 6 nominations – 1 win

Luke Combs – Growin’ Up – 6 nominations – 0 wins

Maren Morris – Humble Quest - 17 nominations – 1 win

Miranda Lambert – Palomino – 27 nominations –3 wins

Willie Nelson – A Beautiful Time – WINNER - This is Willie's 12 Grammy win and his second tonight (2/5). Shania Twain announced the award and congradulated Nelson, who was not there. After the award was announced host Trevor Noah wished him well telling the audience that he knows the country music icon was watching.  Willie has been nominated for 56 Grammys.