Ashley McBryde Proves Country Music Is Alive And Well With ‘Light On In The Kitchen’ Performance
McBryde’s CMA Fest performance was a memorable one.
Ashley McBryde; Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Ashley McBryde showcased the essence of country music – three chords and the truth – during her captivating CMA Fest performance through a heartfelt rendition of her latest single, “Light On In The Kitchen.”
Strumming an acoustic guitar, the GRAMMY award-winning country star proved that the future of Country music is in good hands with her meaningful performance.
Donning a white shirt complete with silver rhinestones and jeans, McBryde effortlessly belted out the lyrics to the fan-favorite tune.
The Arkansas native, known for releasing honest songs about her life, teamed up with Connie Harrington and Jessi Alexander to write the recently released tune in honor of the strong women in their lives who are always there to offer words of comfort and advice, no matter what.
Their honest words of wisdom are expressed throughout the lyrics.
“Always check the door before you lay down/ Keep a glass of water by the bed/ A dose of local honey/ Will keep your nose from running/ Little things like that she’s always said/ Never back up farther than you have to/ And pray for those that don’t have a prayer,” McBryde sings on the first verse.
Ashley McBryde goes on to reflect on the advice she carries with her and the reassuring notion that someone is always in your corner, even at times when you may not believe in yourself.
“Honey trust yourself/ You better love yourself/ Cause ‘till you do/ You ain’t no good for anybody else/ And honey boys are dumb/ But you’re gonna find you one/ You’ll love him hard/ And bless your heart/ You’ll need someone to listen/ That’s why I leave a light on in the kitchen,” she sings.
“Light On In The Kitchen” is a track that is set to appear on McBryde’s forthcoming, highly-anticipated new album, The Devil I Know, which was produced by Jay Joyce.
Arriving on September 8 via Warner Music Nashville, The Devil I Know will feature 11 tracks, including the previously released tunes “Light On In The Kitchen,” “Learned To Lie,” “The Devil I Know,” and the newly released, “Made For This.”
“When it was time to put together The Devil I Know, my band and I did what we always do: got together in the purple building in East Nashville, played through a bunch of songs and discussed where we wanted it to go,” explained McBryde. “We decided to take all the things that people tend to give us a hard time for and turn it up.”
She continued, “‘Y’all are too country.’ We leaned into that – more country it is. ‘Y’all are awfully rock leaning for a country artist.’ Is that so? You ain’t seen nothin’ yet. ‘Last thing y’all need is another tender, finger pickin’ song.’ Oh? Tender makes you uneasy, cowboy? I hear you. Let’s see how much more tender we can be. We listened to all those opinions and said, ‘I hear you. I understand what you’re saying.’ But sadly, there’s no room on the record for your opinion. We’ll do what we want.”
Ashley McBryde is currently on the road performing headlining concerts for sold-out crowds across the United States.
Later this year, McBryde will join Jelly Roll on select dates of his Backroad Baptism Tour. The country hitmaker and Arkansas native will also serve as support for Dierks Bentley at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado before returning to Middle Tennessee for Pilgrimage Festival in Franklin on September 24.
For additional details and to purchase tickets, visit her official website at AshleyMcBryde.com.
The three-hour CMA Fest special was hosted by Dierks Bentley, Elle King, and Lainey Wilson and aired on ABC on Wednesday, July 19.
Dubbed “the music event of summer,” the special featured 30+ performances and surprise collaborations from some of Country music’s hottest stars, including Alabama, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Leon Bridges, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Jordan Davis, Vince Gill, HARDY, Tyler Hubbard, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Elle King, Miranda Lambert, Avril Lavigne, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Darius Rucker, Tanya Tucker, Keith Urban, and Lainey Wilson.
CMA Fest marked its 50th Anniversary with a record-breaking celebration in Nashville, June 8 through June 11.
The four-day event hosted an estimated daily attendance of over 90,000, a 12% increase from 2022, according to the Country Music Association. Additionally, the nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium saw 10% growth from 2022.
The festival also hosted fans from all 50 states as well as a record-breaking 51 countries.
“What a weekend! As we’ve spent the past year reflecting on this milestone celebration, one theme has persisted—the incredible connection between Country Music fans and the artists,” Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer, shared in a statement. “It’s magical because it still matters after all these years. From first-timers to legends, so many artists started as fans—some as far back as Fan Fair. Almost every artist who performs during the festival has had their own experience as a fan, so for many of them, taking the stage at CMA Fest is a full-circle moment. We only get the chance to celebrate our 50th anniversary once, and to do so in such an impactful way has meant the world to us. Thank you, Country Music!”
More than 300 acts took part in CMA Fest this year, including performances at the Chevy Riverfront Stage, Dr Pepper Amp Stage, Chevy Vibes Stage, Maui Jim Reverb Stage and the Hard Rock Stage as well at Fan Fair X inside Music City Center.
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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