Country Next: Abbie Callahan

From finding her spark at a county fair contest in her hometown of Iowa City to performing on some of the biggest stages in the country, Abbie Callahan’s musical journey has been anything but ordinary.

She started out writing songs as a teen that centered around real-life moments, and her heightened emotions of love and heartbreak. Eventually, she was inspired by another artist to fully commit to music. This led her to Nashville, where she studied songwriting at Belmont University and paid her way with late-night performance gigs on Broadway. Performing ’90s rock and grunge, learning new songs on the fly, and experimenting with different genres helped her develop her own sound, which has evolved into a vibrant, genre-blending style she calls “kaleidoscope country.”

On July 25, fans got their first taste of Callahan’s eclectic sound with her debut EP, Grossly Aware, via Twelve6 Entertainment. Across seven tracks, the project blends Americana, indie pop, bluegrass, and folk into a raw, reflective collection that showcases her talent and versatility. In putting together the EP, Callahan selected songs she feels resonates with overthinkers and underdogs as she embraces authenticity and explores her most unfiltered emotions.

After recently signing with WME, Callahan continued her momentum with her empowering new song “Simon Says” and now sets her sights on dropping her first collaboration this January, promising even more music on the horizon.

Keep reading to learn more about the stories that built Grossly Aware, Abbie Callahan’s rise in country music and what’s next.

Looking back to your upbringing in Iowa City, what do you remember about that county fair contest and how it inspired you to pick up a guitar?

Growing up in Iowa, the fairs were everything. I won first place at my county fair when I was 10 and went on to perform at the state fair. The next year, I placed second, and the girl who beat me sang and played guitar. I realized that if I wanted to keep improving, I needed to learn to play too. By the following year, I was back with a guitar in hand, and I won first place again. So, honestly, I picked up the guitar out of a mix of jealousy and my competitive spirit.

Do you remember the first song you wrote? What was it about?

I don’t remember a lot of my first songs because I mostly tried putting melodies behind the poetry I was writing. But when I was 16 and just starting to date, songwriting became an outlet. One of the first songs I really remember writing was called “Make Love Suck!” The hook was “guys make love suck,” so I was definitely leaning into my angsty era.

What were those late-night gigs on Broadway like when you first moved to town? How did that experience shape who you are as an artist today?

I played from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Broadway, mostly doing ’90s rock and grunge covers. At the time, I was just trying to help pay for Belmont, but I ended up learning so much more than I expected. I had never played with a full band before, and I didn’t know even a fraction of the songs I know now. It was a crash course in music – what people respond to, how to hold a stage, even how I present myself. I truly believe every artist should experience Broadway at least for a little while.

Who were some of your biggest musical influences growing up?

When I was younger, I mostly listened to whatever was on pop radio and what my mom played like Billy Joel, Elton John, Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton, and whatever was charting at the time. I didn’t really start forming my own musical identity until I moved away and started exploring music on my own.

Talk about what it means to describe your sound as “kaleidoscope country.”

To me, “kaleidoscope country” means something colorful, a little psychedelic, and always evolving. It gives me room to experiment creatively while still staying rooted in the folky, earthy elements that feel true to me.

Diving into your debut EP, Grossly Aware, can you share what inspired the title and how it represents where you are in life right now?

We recorded the project over three days earlier this year. Afterward, I combed through the lyrics and song titles and wrote down about 30 potential project names. “Grossly Aware” immediately stood out. Each song on the EP is incredibly honest, sometimes uncomfortably so, like in “Yo-Yo.” The phrase comes from the second verse of the final track, “I’ll Bring Flowers,” and it just felt like the perfect description of where I am in life: hyper-aware, introspective, and trying to make sense of it all.

Which song on the EP feels the most personal to you, and why?

They’re all personal, but “Cold” and “I’ll Bring Flowers” mean the most to me. I wrote “Cold” when I was really homesick. My publisher challenged me to write fewer love songs that week, and it pushed me to tap into a different kind of vulnerability. “I’ll Bring Flowers” was a solo write, and it’s the most “me” on the project. I’m a lover girl at heart, and that song shows it. It’s stream-of-consciousness, dramatic, and honesty. It’s also difficult for me to perform live because it brings me right back to who I wrote it about and the place I was in.

You’ve said the EP is a soundtrack for overthinkers and underdogs — why do those themes resonate so strongly with you?

Probably because I’m an overthinker to my core, but not about practical things like finances or the future. I overthink jokes that didn’t land or decisions I made years ago. And I resonate with the underdog story because I am one: coming from Iowa, working nights on Broadway, and figuring everything out on my own since I was 18. But that’s the story people root for and it motivates me.

You’ve had such a big year between releasing your debut EP and making your CMA Fest, Bonnaroo, and AMERICANAFEST debuts. How has it felt to accomplish so much in the past few months?

It’s been an incredible year, and I’m just overwhelmingly grateful. So many people have taken a chance on me, and I don’t take that lightly. I know how rare it is, and it makes me want to keep pushing myself to make music that proves everyone right for believing in me.

What’s next for you career-wise? Is there anything you can share about new music that might be in the works?

I have my first collaboration coming out this January, and I’m so excited. I’d love to explore as many collaborations as possible throughout my career. To me, that’s what music is all about – creating with your friends and with artists you admire. I can’t wait for this one to come out and hopefully open the door for many more.

Fans can keep up with Abbie Callahan on Instagram.