Ashley McBryde Honored in Hometown of Waldron, Arkansas with ‘Ashley McBryde Day’ and Roadside Sign
“I’ve always dreamed of making my Home State proud,” McBryde shared following the special dedication.
Ashley McBryde with Waldron Mayor David Millard; Photo Courtesy Ashley McBryde
Ashley McBryde’s hometown of Waldron, Arkansas recently honored the GRAMMY, CMA, and ACM Award-winning star with a heartfelt dedication. Mayor David Millard officially proclaimed November 24, 2024, as “Ashley McBryde Day” in the City of Waldron and unveiled a roadside sign along Highway 71 in honor of her Scott County, Arkansas roots and wildly successful career.
McBryde, fresh off her show-stopping performance at the CMA Awards, was onhand to accept the Key to the City and witness the unveiling of the sign, cementing her legacy in the Arkansas community that shaped her.
“We never thought in a million years we would be able to have her here…I said wouldn’t it be cool if we got some signs and Ashley showed up? And look at her, she’s here…We are so excited,” Lorlla Wallace, Waldron Chamber of Commerce President, shared, according to Resident News Network.
The outlet reports that the Grand Ole Opry member took time to pose for photos with family, friends, and members of the community following the ceremony.
She shared photos from the milestone moment on social media, writing, “What an incredibly special day. I’ve always dreamed of making my Home State proud. They did me one better ! Waldron, thank you for honoring me in such a special way. You’ll always be where I’m from.”
According to the outlet, McBryde was born in Waldron and was raised by her father, Dr. William McBryde, who practiced medicine and preached part time at a local Church of Christ, and her mother, Marty Wilkins, who McBryde says is one of her biggest supporters.
During an interview with People in 2018, McBryde shared, “My mom is my biggest champion. When people compliment my voice, I always tell them ‘I sound a lot like my momma.’”
McBryde has five siblings and says they are all quite musical.
Following her trip home to Arkansas, McBryde will release the highly anticipated, “Ain’t Enough Cowboy Songs,” on Friday, December 6.
The track was co-written by McBryde with Chris Harris and Patrick Savage, and is said to have “emerged from a shared feeling of loss and a desire to reconnect with timeless principles, longing for meaning and clarity in a changing world.”
“In the last several years, we’ve all been feeling like something is missing. I noticed it in myself and then noticed it in most people I came in contact with. And we don’t always know how to articulate it,” McBryde shared. “For us, this song helped us do that. We are all starving to reconnect with the things that made us who we are. Sometimes that comes as our sense of justice and duty, maybe for some of us it’s work ethic, for some of us it’s a sense of community.
“When we got together to write, the three of us realized the cowboys we looked up to growing up made us want to be the way that we are – the music associated with them and the lives they lead,” she explained. “Those things fully embodied what I am starving for. There’s no substitute for hard work, resilience, kindness, standing up for and with folks in their weaker moments. There’s no substitute for knowing when to take it on the chin and when to give it. And no matter what else we may try to fill that hole with…there ain’t enough of it to ever resemble the real thing.”
The song is available for pre-save/pre-add now.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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