Ashland Craft

Ashland Craft, a native of South Carolina, honed her musical abilities by performing weekly at Wendell’s Dippin’ Branch in her hometown of Anderson. This period allowed her to develop her artistic identity and vocal style. Her early career also involved listening to ’90s country music and rock icons such as Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe, alongside singer-songwriters like Bonnie Raitt and John Mayer, which infused her country sound with southern rock influences. This diverse musical background contributed to the development of her unique sound, characterized as edgy country.

Craft achieved national exposure through her participation in NBC’s *The Voice* during its 13th season in 2017, where she placed in the Top 10. Following her time on the show, she relocated to Nashville in 2019 to further her career as a recording artist. In Nashville, she began collaborating with established songwriters in the industry, including Jessie Jo Dillon and Jonathan Singleton. Her approach to songwriting is direct and personal, often using her real-life experiences and emotions as lyrical content, as demonstrated in her song “Woman Like Me.”

In 2020, Craft signed with Big Loud Records, further solidifying her presence in the country music scene. She was also recognized as part of CMT’s Next Women of Country Class of 2021, an honor she noted as a full-circle moment given her early exposure to music through CMT. Her debut album, *Travelin’ Kind*, showcased her signature blend of country and rock. Craft has toured with prominent country artists such as Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, and Koe Wetzel, and her single “Two Wildflowers and a Box of Wine” garnered attention.