Ashley McBryde Opens Up About Rivalry in Country Music and the Guidance She’s Received from Miranda Lambert
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“It gets messy and petty when you realize there’s only room for one of us at the bar,” McBryde said.
Ashley McBryde knows what it’s like to arrive in Nashville feeling like the new artist in town. Early on, she experienced the city as a supportive community of musicians, but as her career began to gain traction, she noticed the competitive side of the industry emerge.
During a recent interview with Bobby Bones on Bobby Bones Presents: The BobbyCast, McBryde spoke candidly about the realities of navigating the music business, particularly as a woman in country music.
Reflecting on her early days in Nashville, she described the grind of meeting new people and finding opportunities. “You’re running into others doing the same thing you are, trying to get their footing. There’s a feeling of ‘we get farther together,’” McBryde explained. She recalled attending writer’s nights at local venues, connecting with other songwriters, sharing tips about open mics, and learning about different performance opportunities.
She found that when everyone is working to chase their dreams and make a living, a real sense of community forms. Musicians willingly shared advice, swapped stage times, and supported one another without feeling competitive. “If I played eight to midnight and you played four to eight, we weren’t in competition,” she said. “We were the same animal, both playing songs we love to keep the lights on.”
However, McBryde noted that as soon as her career began to gain momentum, the competitive nature of the industry became more apparent. “Immediately, as soon as you get any traction at all,” she said, the pressure intensified.
Being a woman in country music adds another layer of challenge, with limited space in the spotlight. “We all know the climate,” she said. “In country music, there’s only room to celebrate one at a time, even if there are ten of us. We know only one of these girls is getting the stool at the bar—and that’s when it gets messy and catty.”
McBryde believes that artists who focus on building genuine relationships early on often earn respect and are less likely to get caught up in negativity. She credits Miranda Lambert as a mentor who encouraged her to push herself and rise to challenges. “Miranda used to say, ‘I want you to challenge me. I want you to make me a better performer. I want to make you a better performer. That’s how we sharpen our edges. We show up for each other. This is how it should be,’” McBryde recalled.