Photo Credit: Rachel Deeb
CINCINNATI, OH (August 6, 2018) – Illuminating a bucket-list stage with throngs of fans singing every little word, CARLY PEARCE made her debut at Riverbend Music Center last night (8/5). The Taylor Mill, KY native who ABC News Radio deemed “Country’s ‘it’ girl” made an impressive return to her Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky hometown area on Rascal Flatts’ BACK TO US TOUR. “Last night was an absolute dream! I literally sat in those seats watching Rascal Flatts on stage for one of my first concerts,” shared Carly. “Next to the Grand Ole Opry, Riverbend has been on a pedestal ever since I was a little girl and throughout the years seeing shows with my best friend Kara, who I reminisced with all day! This area shaped me into the person I am and the music that’s made so many memories.” The full circle moment exceeded those childhood aspirations as Carly tearfully sang her No. 1 hit “Every Little Thing” to a crowd whose gratitude echoed back. Later in the night, she returned for a medley of hits alongside her tourmates during Rascal Flatts’ set. As the tour continues traversing the country, Carly will perform her full-bodied single “Hide The Wine” on ABC’s CMA Fest special, airing Wednesday (8/8) at 8:00P ET / 7:00P CT. She will take the stage at the official CMA viewing party at Ole Red in Nashville ahead of the broadcast. Fans everywhere can experience the fun via a live stream on Carly’s Facebook page, kicking off at 6:00P CT. Carly defied the odds as the highest charting solo female debut since July 2015 and one of only three to accomplish the feat in twelve years with her “Every Little Thing.” The GOLD-certified ballad steered a chart-topping trifecta on SiriusXM’s The Highway as “If My Name Was Whiskey” and “Hide The Wine” followed. But, “Carly Pearce is a lot more than the latest woman on the Country charts” (Refinery29). Engaging audiences across generations, Carly picked up the CMT Music Awards Breakthrough Video of the Yearand Radio Disney Music Award The Freshest! – Radio Disney Country Best New Artist, in addition to honoring the legendary voices before her with over 50 performances at the Grand Ole Opry. Throughout 2018 alone, she joins four major tours with Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett, Rascal Flatts and Luke Bryan (including stadium dates).
Photo Credit: Sonni Young
NASHVILLE, TN (June 14, 2018) – She may have made her CMA Fest Nissan Stadium and CMT Music Awards debuts last week, but last night, CARLY PEARCE humbly walked onto one of the most revered stages in Country Music – the Grand Ole Opry®. Marking the 50th time since she stepped into the famed circle on May 30, 2015, Opry member Jeannie Seely and 650 WSM host Bill Cody proudly introduced the budding superstar. The momentous occasion was not lost on Carly, who gleefully told the crowd she held such a special place in her heart for the Opry and would still be as just excited to sing here for the next fifty years. “I love Country music and Country music fans more than anything and the Grand Ole Opry will always be the most precious thing to me,” expressed Carly. Watch behind the scenes: https://www.instagram.com/p/BkASd6OF60V/?hl=en&taken-by=carlypearce. The Kentucky native kicked off her set with heart-crushing ballad “If My Name Was Whiskey” before launching into her history-making No. 1 “Every Little Thing” and capping the celebration off with her high-spirited single “Hide The Wine.” Filled with gratitude, Carly’s sound has always honored the legendary voices before her and those she too hopes to guide along their way. As a loyal advocate of the Opry, often asking to play on rare nights at home in Nashville, it was no surprise General Manager Sally Williams and mentor Seely were beaming side-stage. Her parents, friends, Big Machine Records family and management joined with cake, flowers and gifts in hand.
NASVILLE, TN (March 20, 2018) – Carly Pearce (ASCAP) celebrated her first No. 1 alongside co-writer/producer busbee (BMI) and co-writer Emily Shackleton (BMI) yesterday afternoon (3/19). The long-time collaborators surprised industry guests, friends and family with a performance of their history-making No. 1 hit, “Every Little Thing” (Big Machine Records). Toasting during a party hosted by ASCAP and BMI at the Country Music Association in Nashville, congratulatory remarks with overwhelming sentiment flowed as speakers recalled Carly’s long journey to breakout year. “I’ve dreamt of what it would be like to have a No. 1 song since I moved to Nashville,” shared Carly. “If I am living proof of anything it’s that one song can change everything. I have experienced that with my peers over the years and have listened to the stories behind the songs that changed other people’s lives, but I had no idea that ‘Every Little Thing’ was going to be that song for me.”“Every Little Thing” rose to the top of the Mediabase and Billboard Country Airplay charts in November 2017. The status solidified Carly as the highest charting solo female debut since July 2015, and she joins an elite group as one of only three women to accomplish this feat in the past 12 years. Her blockbuster ballad steered a trio of chart-toppers on SiriusXM’s The Highway with “If My Name Was Whiskey” and current Country radio single “Hide The Wine” following. Each is featured on her full-length album EVERY LITTLE THING, which Uproxx deemed “the best country debut of 2017.” Carly’s textured vocals and emotive songwriting prowess are emphasized across the 13 tracks – eight of which she co-wrote, including five with busbee and three with Emily. Carly has embraced the last year with unwavering determination, continuing to prove why her first ACM Awards nomination for New Female Vocalist of the Year is so well deserved. With her first arena tour under her belt on Blake Shelton’s COUNTRY MUSIC FREAKS TOUR, Carly joins Thomas Rhett’s LIFE CHANGES, Rascal Flatts’ BACK TO US and Luke Bryan’s WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY (including stadium dates) tours throughout 2018.
From PEOPLE
MARIA PASQUINI March 01, 2018 08:15 PM
Carly Pearce found out about getting her Academy of Country Music Award nomination in an unlikely way — while 35,000 feet in the air!
Documenting the happy moment on social media, the 27-year-old singer-songwriter could barely contain her excitement upon learning the news, and neither could the rest of the plane.
“Ladies and gentlemen can we have your attention for just a moment? We have country recording artist Carly Pearce onboard this morning and she just found out she received her first ACM nomination for new female vocal artist of the year,” one of the plane’s flight attendants announced over a loudspeaker in a video the country singer shared on her Facebook.
“Let’s give her a round of applause,” the flight attendant added.
Soaking up the happy moment, Peace stood up and adorably shouted, “Yes!”
The “Hide the Wine” singer also shared a photo of herself alongside the rest of the plane as she revealed she couldn’t “put into words” just how much the moment meant to her.
“WHEN YOU’RE 35,000 FT IN THE AIR & FIND OUT YOU JUST GOT YOUR FIRST #acmawards NOMINATION FOR NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR!!! 😭❤🍾 I can’t put into words how I feel— THANK YOU #acms !!!!” she excitedly wrote.
Pearce — who was named “One to Watch” by PEOPLE for 2017 — previously opened up about what it was like when her single “Every Little Thing” hit No. 1 on the country charts.
“Being in Nashville for eight years, it’s been so much work and putting everything I have into this. Now to finally start to see it pay off is mind-blowing for me,” she told PEOPLE.
Pearce left home at 16 to sing at Dollywood, where she followed a grueling schedule of performing six to seven shows a day, five days a week.
“No matter if I was sick or tired or not feeling like doing the third show of the day, I had to do it,” she explains. “I had to put on a smile and perform for the crowd because they were here to see a show.”
Although the singer added that she always “believed that I was meant to do this,” during her nearly decade-long hustle, which included a stint “cleaning Airbnbs,” she had her doubts.
“I truly don’t think I ever thought it would be like this,” Pearce added. “That I would really be sitting here, about to put out my debut album and have this opportunity.”
The 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 15 at 8 p.m. EST on CBS.
From 'Cleaning Toilets' to the No. 1 Song in America (the Inspiring Story of How This Singer Persevered and Found Success)Even if you don't think you like this kind of music, I think you're going to like this story.
By Bill Murphy Jr.
Every once in a while, I need a little reminder about my place in the world. Actually, two little reminders.
Reminder #1: The world is ultimately what you make it.
You can't control the circumstances into which you're born, but you can control the choices you make, and how determined you are to reach your goals.
Reminder #2: On the route to wherever you're going, no job is beneath you.
And if you're serious about achieving your dreams, you'll probably find yourself tested on this point.
Today's reminders came courtesy of Carly Pearce, a Kentucky-born country singer whose debut single, Every Little Thing, hit number-1 on the U.S. Country Airplay chart last year.
(She wrote the song in just 45 minutes, Pearce told country music site The Boot. It's "about a guy who really, really broke my heart a few years ago.")
I live and work in the New York City area; country just is not as big a thing up here. But this is a really good song (embedded below).
More than that, I'm drawn to a key aspect of Pearce's personal story.
The road to her current success was nine years long, she explained recently, starting at the age of 16, with when she convinced her parents to let her leave high school, move to Nashville, and take a job at Dollywood so she could pursue her dream of making music.
Along the way, she "took any odd job she could get to pay her bills," according to Fox News. And then here's the money quote:
"I think the nastiest, worst job I ever had was cleaning Airbnbs. You're cleaning toilets and cleaning bed sheets, and it's not glamorous, but I did it...so that I could still pursue music and write songs and play gigs, but it was nasty!"
"Cleaning toilets," that's what jumped out at me. There's dignity in almost all work, but a lot of people who found themselves doing that kind of work to support a dream might be very tempted to give up on the dream.
And yes, at age 27, Pearce said she'd started to hear "the clock ticking and get scared." She began to worry that she might never see her career reach the heights to which she aspired.
"But... even though I struggled so much in Nashville over the last nine years," she said, "there were always moments... that even if it wasn't exactly what I wanted, it was validation that I was walking in the right direction or that I was meant to be in Nashville."
Setting aside my, um, slightly older reaction to the idea that a 27-year-old might fear she was too getting old to have a shot at success, it's inspiring to see someone in any field achieve her dreams.
"This is genuinely everything I have ever wanted my entire life," she told Billboard in a separate recent interview. "It feels truly like I am living in a dream."
Here's the song that propelled Pearce up the charts, "Every Little Thing." (Her follow-up, Hide the Wine, is now at #42 on the country chart.)
NASHVILLE, TN (February 15, 2018) – Just a day after Valentine’s, Galentine’s and all of the saccharine-inducing sentiments, CARLY PEARCE performs her full-bodied new single “Hide The Wine” on LIVE with Kelly & Ryan. The tale of temptation and vices is a sassy juxtaposition from her GOLD-certified, No. 1 “Every Little Thing,” whose status designated her as the highest charting solo female debut since July 2015 and one of only three to accomplish the feat in twelve years. Immediately following the show, Carly boarded a flight to Tulsa for a coveted opening slot on Blake Shelton’s COUNTRY MUSIC FREAKS TOUR, kicking off tonight at the BOK Center. Upholding her title as “the future of country music” (One Country), she will spend the remainder of 2018 on the road with Thomas Rhett’s LIFE CHANGES, Rascal Flatts’ BACK TO US and Luke Bryan’s WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY (including XL stadium dates) tours. Carly spent time earlier in the week (2/12) visiting students at P.S. 169 Baychester Academy, who she, Liz Rose (“Girl Crush,” “You Belong with Me”) and Phil Barton (“A Woman Like You”) collaborated with as part of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Words & Music program. On Tuesday (2/13) evening, the troupe premiered an original track they jointly penned called “We Are The Song,” during the next All for the Hall benefit concert at PlayStation Theater. This year’s show featured an all-female lineup including Kesha, Maren Morris and Emmylou Harris alongside host Vince Gill, a Country Music Hall of Fame Member and founder of All for the Hall. Hailed “the best country debut of 2017” by UPROXX, her debut album EVERY LITTLE THING (Big Machine Records) has elicited three consecutive chart-toppers on SiriusXM’s The Highway with “Every Little Thing,” “If My Name Was Whiskey” and “Hide the Wine,” solidifying her in their all-genre “Class of 2017.” Since, praise has continue flowing both with fans and media alike.
"...a dynamic – force in country music..." – Tidal
"...the next queen of country music." – BroBible
“The new voice of Country.” – People
"Carly Pearce breaks the Country music mold." – Women’s Wear Daily
“…scored with a throwback future classic that made an impact upon first listen -- and resonated with fans all year.” – Billboard
“…proving to be an in-demand artist…” – Sounds Like Nashville
"...Every Little Thing is a sturdy, declarative debut that establishes Pearce as one of 2017's freshest young voices." – Rolling Stone Country
"...Carly Pearce is everything country music needs right now." – Whiskey Riff
“…setting herself up to make 2018 the year of Pearce.” – Nashville Country Club
*Photo Courtesy of LIVE with Kelly & Ryan
Pearce reflects on her breakout year and why it's so important to chase your dreams
By Annie Reuter | January 16, 2018
Carly Pearce had big dreams of a music career from a young age. The Kentucky native says she had aspirations to move to Nashville as early as elementary school. As she explains, she always felt her destiny was to sing country music.
In January 2017, that dream became reality when she signed a record deal with Big Machine Label Group. The following month her debut single, “Every Little Thing,” was released to radio and the song’s success would bring about many firsts for Pearce.
“Every Little Thing” became her first No. 1, making Pearce the only solo female with a charting country debut single certified Gold in 2017 and the highest charting solo female debut since July 2015. The song’s success had Pearce in a distinguished class as she joined Carrie Underwood and Kelsea Ballerini as one of only three women to achieve this feat in the past 12 years. Humbled by the success of “Every Little Thing,” Pearce tells Sounds Like Nashville over the phone that it’s hard to believe all these accomplishments have come to fruition.
“I don’t know how to put into words how much it still doesn’t feel real,” she marvels. “That song has continually amazed me. Never in a million years did I think that song would have broke the records and done what it’s done. In Nashville, it’s hard enough to break through as a female artist in general, but then with a heartbreak ballad as your debut. That’s kind of the kiss of death. To see what it’s done and maybe start to be one of the females in that line of girls that help to change the mold for new females is really, really exciting, and truly is all I’ve ever wanted to do. I’ve dreamt of singing country music on a mass level since I was a little girl.”
Pearce penned the powerful heartbreak ballad with busbee and Emily Shackelton and paints a vivid picture of a woman going through a difficult breakup. It’s a real and universal sentiment that Pearce thinks helped propel the song to the top of the charts.
“We’ve all experienced loss. And I think that no matter where you are in your life, you can identify with that emotion of true heartbreak and heartache in uncomfortable moments of trying to let someone go,” she explains.
Her favorite line in “Every Little Thing” comes in the song’s second verse, but she admits it’s a lyric that many people have misheard. She sings, “Baby, your ghost still holds me / But I don’t want to sleep with him no more.” Pearce says she’s heard many covers of the song where people sing the line, “Baby, your ghost still haunts me.”
“I always have loved that lyric and felt it was a unique way of putting how you feel in those moments. But people think it’s ‘haunts,'” she shares. “We didn’t write the song with the intent of it being a bad thing, and that’s the unique spin on the bridge of you don’t want to forget it, and that’s just the nature, the beast of a heart. But it does take on a different meaning, whether you hear ‘haunts’ or ‘holds.'”
Pearce says her biggest professional moment in 2017 was “Every Little Thing” going to No. 1 on the country charts. Her personal accomplishment, she adds, is that she released her debut album in October and that it is one-hundred percent her.
“The fact that I was able to put out an album that I can confidently say is one-hundred percent me, and I came out with a song that I wanted to as an artist and didn’t compromise any of it and it is so who I am that I was able to start my career with, is something I’m really proud of,” she admits.
Although “Every Little Thing” was the 27-year-old’s breakthrough single, she’s been performing for live audiences long before the song hit radio last year. She started a bluegrass band when she was 11 and by the time she was 16, Pearce convinced her parents to let her quit high school and move to Pigeon Forge, Tenn. where she’d perform six shows a day, five days a week at Dolly Parton’s amusement park, Dollywood.
She describes her time at Dollywood as a stepping stone for her to get to Nashville. Once she learned everything she could singing in the shows at Dollywood, she knew she couldn’t move back home. While all her friends were in their first year of college, she thought Nashville could be a way to continue her musical education, and she once again convinced her dad not to press her about college. Nine years ago this month, Pearce packed up her bags but this time she moved to Music City for good.
“I was a very good student, loved school, and never missed [a day] and cried when I was sick because I genuinely loved it. I think because of that, my parents knew that I wasn’t running away from, ‘It’s too hard,’ or, ‘I hate school,’ or, ‘I don’t want to be here anymore,'” she reasons. “They knew that it was because I had aspirations of something greater. And they trusted that. It really was awesome to see that, even at 16, my dad knew that that was truly what I wanted to do and it wasn’t gonna change.”
Nashville wasn’t easy for Pearce in the beginning and she says she’s always been honest and open about the struggles when she moved here. She confesses that she’s been told “everything in the books of why I should move home.” But, she never had a plan B as music remained her only goal.
“There was a fire in me that I can’t explain. Each day that I really thought it was the end, something would happen, even if it was so small, and make me believe that I could do it for another day,” she explains. “So I really do genuinely believe in fate and going after what moves your heart.”
During her early days in Nashville, Pearce confesses that she wishes she trusted herself more. She explains that she let the opinions of others affect who she was as a person and the way she saw her career. Once she took her blinders off and embraced that, as an artist, she could do a lot of things on her own whether it be A&R or social media, things started happening for her.
Pearce recently released “Hide the Wine,” her follow-up single to “Every Little Thing.” Penned by Ashley Gorley, Luke Laird and Hillary Lindsey, “Hide the Wine” is a fun and upbeat track that she feels was written for her. Her publisher played the song for her two years ago and she instantly loved it but there was one problem — it was being recorded by another artist.
“I was so mad at him, because I was like, ‘Why are you playing me this song that I can never have?’ From the bluegrass-y kind of swampy vibe of it, to the sentiment . . . I love wine so much. That’s not something that I’m putting on,” she exclaims. “I genuinely — that is my favorite drink.”
Lucky for Pearce, that artist didn’t wind up putting the song on their album and it became available shortly after she signed her record deal with Big Machine. She immediately went into the studio and recorded it and says it’s been a crowd favorite for a while now.
“I’m really, really excited to be happy on the radio, and show a completely different side of me,” she admits. “If you were to ask my friends or my band about me, I think they would say I’m goofy and fun, and I don’t always take myself so seriously. So I think it’s really fun to have that.”
Country fans will get the chance to see Pearce perform “Hide the Wine” live throughout much of 2018 as she’ll be joining three massive tours in the coming months including opening support for Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett and Rascal Flatts. She is proving to be an in-demand artist following her stint with Brett Young’s tour last year. Recalling her days performing at Dollywood, she says she is making sure she’s continually growing in her live show and, as a result, the audience has been receptive to her new music.
“I have a responsibility of putting on the best show that I can. It’s my responsibility and my job to make sure that people are enjoying themselves,” she says. “I think that people are starting, since the album came out, to identify me as Carly, and not just as the girl who sings ‘Every Little Thing.’ People are singing the words to my album cuts, and they just seem to have a bigger sense of who I am as an artist. And that’s been really exciting to see.”
One of the album cuts that the audience has been enjoying is “If My Name Was Whiskey,” a personal favorite of Pearce’s. She co-wrote the song with her producer, busbee, and Shane McAnally and says the vocal on it is so special.
“It’s that timeless late 90s, early 2000s country that I fell in love with so much. I think that it’s a mature sound that we haven’t heard in a while, maybe since the days of Faith and Trisha and that era of country,” she explains. “It’s definitely one that I feel like people really pay attention to live.”
Pearce wrote eight of the 13 songs on her debut, Every Little Thing, and says songwriting is important to her because she can tell her story better than anyone else. If she’s going to be true to what she’s putting out to listeners, she says she has to write the majority of her music.
“My whole thing here in Nashville has been very storyteller based. I played the Listening Room Cafe almost every weekend. I’ve played so many rounds at the Bluebird. So, the storytelling side of things is very much a part of me, and it’s fun to get to tell your story,” she adds.
Thanks to the success of “Every Little Thing” and countless tours lined up for 2018, country audiences are getting a closer look at who Carly Pearce is as a person and as an artist. And, while 2017 saw many dreams come to fruition for Pearce, she continues to set her sights high for the future.
“I hope to be remembered as a female who helped mold this era of country music. I want to be a Grand Ole Opry member, I want to hold that very precious and dear to my heart and be an ambassador of that. I want to win ACMs and CMAs and make a mark on country music, because that’s all I’ve ever genuinely wanted to do — to sing music,” she concedes.
Pearce spoke with Food & Wine about her favorite bottle of red and why she loves going grocery shopping.
Elisabeth Sherman December 04, 2017
Rising country music star Carly Pearce has never been shy about her love of wine. The newest single from her debut album, Every Little Thing, “Hide the Wine” comes out today—and it’s a perfect testament to how red wine can be both a classy party drink and the fuel we need to call our exes. Pearce calls the single “a fun play on something that so many girls can relate to, drinking just a touch too much and calling up that flame, so you better hide the thing that makes you do it. I’m huge of red wine fan, and just think is a really fun kind of confession.”
Pearce doesn’t just espouse her love of wine in her songs. She’s a true devotee. Her tour rider always includes a bottle of red wine—usually Freakshow, her “favorite go-to cheap wine” (though in her new single’s lyrics she does give a shout out to “Two Buck Chuck”). After she finished her album, her producer gifted her with a bottle of Caymus, which has become another favorite. Pearce, who is from Kentucky, but now lives in Nashville, always tries to stop at Barcelona Wine Bar and Rumours East when she’s in town in between shows.
The singer still remembers her favorite meals as a child—soup beans and cornbread—which her grandfather cooked up for her at home in Kentucky.
“He made the best cornbread I've ever had. I want it right now,” she recalls.
The “staples of southern cooking,” are her favorites: chicken and dumplings, and collard greens, for instance.
In a life packed with tour dates, it’s hard for her to find the time to indulge those types of meals anymore, or to even stop by favorite spots in Nashville. But there’s always one thing she looks forward to doing when she gets a break from touring: grocery shopping.
“Grocery shopping is my favorite activity when I get off the road,” she says. “It’s the first thing I do when I get home. I go to Publix in Nashville. It's always the best.”
Pearce loves grocery shopping so much because she thinks it keeps her normal. She’ll buy magazines throughout the week and look up recipes that she wants to make. She usually picks up Brussels sprouts, salmon, and kale. During the holidays, she and her mom bake together.
“We try something different ever year,” she explains. “That’s our thing. We pick [a recipe] out of my grandma’s book that she left us.”
Pearce calls herself a clean eater, a lifestyle she tries to stick to even when she’s baking, reducing the sugar in the recipe and replacing traditional flour with almond or coconut varieties. On tour, though, she finds that sticking to a healthy diet is tricky.
“Its difficult on tour. I’ve learned to do the best that I can, pre-packing some things, bringing snacks with me, [or] trying to go to the nearest Whole Foods,” she explains.
Now that her new single has been released, Pearce will likely soon be back on the road, with little time to cook up the meals she’s used to enjoying at home. At least she has Freakshow to look forward to backstage, and grocery shopping when she gets home.
Carly Pearce's debut album Every Little Thing, featuring the single "Hide the Wine," is available on Amazon and other music stores now.
NASHVILLE, TN (December 4, 2017) – Heartache may have taken NKD Magazine’s December cover girl CARLY PEARCE to the top of the charts but today she introduces fans at Country radio to her sassier side as “Hide The Wine” (Big Machine Records) officially impacts the airwaves. Her Bluegrass-infused vocals shine throughout the cautionary tale of temptation around an old flame and another full-bodied love (cabernet!). Award-winning songwriters Ashley Gorley, Luke Laird and Hillary Lindsey serve the chorus up in a glass of advice: Better hide the wine and get it gone / I better hide every one of them records that turn me on (Lock ‘em up, lock ‘em up) / Turn up the lights and kill the mood / Because, baby, I just don’t trust myself with you / I better hide the wine. One Country declares “…Pearce’s delivery is spot-on. It’s got enough sass to slap your hand away from the wine, enough vocal prowess to impress your mama and country goodness to convince your brother to buy it.” LISTEN NOW:https://youtu.be/bpy5Kfdhp8o.
“Everyone knows how much I love red wine, and I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it!” Carly said. “’Hide The Wine’ brings me back to my bluegrass roots with its swampy, funky vibe and a little bit of attitude so I think it’s great for people to hear from me after the sadness of ‘Every Little Thing’ and ‘If My Name Was Whiskey.’”
Glowing reviews of “Hide The Wine” already pouring in:“…a red-blooded, mountain blues melody that one could imagine being sung with a hurtling bluegrass attack. Only, she drastically relaxes her phrasing, slyly reclining against the backbeat of an insouciant hip-hop loop.”– NPR Music
“…fiery blend of beat-heavy twang and seductive tension.”– Whiskey Riff
“If Carrie Underwood and Kelsea Ballerini had a baby that created a song with Maren Morris, it’d probably be Carly Pearce’s ‘Hide the Wine.’”– One Country
“…boozy bluegrass-country-pop hybrid…”– The Boot
“…features Pearce’s gorgeous earthy vocal front and center.”– Wide Open Country
“…a fresh, Miranda Lambert-inspired, album leading performance.”– Taste of Country
The high-spirited tune follows Carly’s No. 1 GOLD-certified title track from her debut album EVERY LITTLE THING. The blockbuster ballad marks Carly as the highest charting solo female debut since July 2015, and she joins an elite group as one of only three women to accomplish this feat in the past 12 years. The Pandora “Artist to Watch” is also the only solo female with a charting Country debut single to achieve GOLD certification in 2017 with over 500,000 in consumption sales. Topping off a banner year, Country radio programmers nationwide voted in Carly as one of the esteemed 2018 CRS New Faces. She will join other hot up-and-coming stars at the official ceremony in their honor on February 7 during Country Radio Seminar in Nashville.
Currently out on Brett Young’s CALIVILLE TOUR, Carly will join the lineup for Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight: New Year’s Eve in Nashville (#NashvilleNYE) alongside Keith Urban, Maren Morris, Cheap Trick, Jonny P and the Fisk Jubilee Singers at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park.nAs part of the Country Music Hall of Fame’s All for the Hall concert series in New York City, Carly and Liz Rose will co-write an original song with PS 169/Baychester Academy students to premiere during the February 13, 2018 guitar pull with Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Maren Morris and Kesha. More details here. In early 2018, she heads out with both Blake Shelton’s COUNTRY MUSIC FREAKS and Thomas Rhett’s LIFE CHANGES TOURS.
Carly Pearce is a Breakout Star on NKD Magazine’s December Cover
https://bmlg.app.box.com/s/j7djlxqgps0jfgnu7rvcq27vildi5ket
NASHVILLE, TN (November 20, 2017) – Leading into the holiday season, CARLY PEARCE has a lot to be thankful for surrounding her momentous breakthrough year. On Friday night (11/17), her Big Machine family surprised Carly during her set on Brett Young’s sold-out CALIVILLE TOUR stop in Nashville. Celebrating recent sales and radio milestones, the special plaque commemorates Carly’s first No. 1 single, the GOLD-certified hit “Every Little Thing.” The blockbuster title track from her debut album (Big Machine Records) also earns the top spot in Canada this week on the Mediabase and Billboard Country Airplay charts, following her initial reign in the US last week. Carly has the highest charting solo female debut since July 2015, joining an elite group as one of only three women to accomplish this feat in the past twelve years. The Pandora “Artist to Watch” is also the only solo female with a charting Country debut single to achieve GOLD certification in 2017 with over 500,000 in consumption sales.
Fans throughout the tour have been treated to live performances of more album tracks, including Carly’s next single. “Hide the Wine” officially impacts Country radio December 4, listen now.
Carly will join the lineup for Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight: New Year’s Eve in Nashville (#NashvilleNYE) alongside Keith Urban, Maren Morris, Cheap Trick, Jonny P and the Fisk Jubilee Singers at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. In early 2018, she heads out with both Blake Shelton’s COUNTRY MUSIC FREAKS and Thomas Rhett’s LIFE CHANGES TOURS.
NASHVILLE, TN (November 13, 2017) – Defying the odds, CARLY PEARCE earns the No. 1 spot this week on both the Mediabase/Country Aircheck and Billboard Country airplay charts with her blockbuster ballad “Every Little Thing.” The milestone designates Carly as the highest charting solo female debut since July 2015, and she joins an elite group as one of only four women to accomplish this feat in the past fifteen years. Since inception of the Billboard Country Airplay Chart, she is the 12th woman to do so. Carly is also the only solo female with a charting Country debut single to achieve GOLD certification in 2017 with over 500,000 in consumption sales.
“There was a time not long ago I thought my heartbreak was my own,” expressed Carly. ”I’ve worked and prayed for this moment. To anyone who has embraced ‘Every Little Thing,’ you’ve changed my life so much more than I could have imagined. I am so grateful for my first-ever No. 1 and the sometimes-rough journey to this dream I’ve had since I was a little girl.”
Carly penned “Every Little Thing” with frequent collaborators and friends – Emily Shackelton and producer busbee.
Never one to settle, People’s “new voice of Country” joined a Bluegrass band at age 11 and by 16 left high school to perform in the Country show at Dollywood. Since then, the Kentucky native has not only learned the value of hard work, but shared with the New York Post, “I worked at a mall, I cleaned Airbnbs. I learned humility — and that you’re never guaranteed anything.”
Fans and critics have embraced her gripping vocals and lyrics framed around sheer emotion throughout EVERY LITTLE THING (Big Machine Records), which Uproxx deemed “the best country debut of 2017.” The title track previously scored a three-week No. 1 on SiriusXM’s The Highway and another second chart-topper on the platform with “If My Name Was Whiskey.” Multiple outlets have named her One to Watch, she’s been perched atop Billboard’s all-genre Emerging Artists chart, selected for iHeart On The Verge and became Cox Media’s first Plugged In artist.
Currently out on Brett Young’s CALIVILLE TOUR, Carly will join the lineup for Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight: New Year’s Eve in Nashville (#NashvilleNYE) alongside Keith Urban, Maren Morris, Cheap Trick, Jonny P and the Fisk Jubilee Singers at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. In early 2018, she heads out with both Blake Shelton’s COUNTRY MUSIC FREAKS and Thomas Rhett’s LIFE CHANGES TOURS.
NASHVILLE, TN (November 6, 2017) – As a newborn, only Country music would calm her down and CARLY PEARCE has never veered from that destined path. Today she proves her staying power as “Every Little Thing” is certified GOLD with over 500,000 in consumption sales. Carly is the only solo female with a charting Country debut single to achieve this milestone in 2017.
“Country music is all I’ve ever known,” shared Carly. “I’ve spent years working towards moments like this, and I can’t begin to describe how ‘Every Little Thing’ has truly changed my life from the initial heartache to now ‘thank you.’ I’m so grateful to all of the fans and radio who have given me this GOLD-certified, Top 5 single! You’ve had more of an impact on me than you’ll ever know.”
People’s “new voice of Country” previously scored a three-week No. 1 on SiriusXM’s The Highway with “Every Little Thing” and another second chart-topper on the platform with “If My Name Was Whiskey.” The No.3-and-rising title track from “the best country debut of 2017” (Uproxx), also solidifies Carly as one of only four women to crack the Top 10 in the format this year. EVERY LITTLE THING (Big Machine Records) launched at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Albums chart while Carly takes No. 1 on Billboard’s all-genre Emerging Artists chart. Additionally, she was previously selected for iHeart On The Verge and as Cox Media’s first Plugged In artist.
From touring with vocal a Bluegrass band at age 11, leaving high school at 16 to perform six shows a day at Dollywood and the last eight years struggling – and growing – in Nashville, the Kentucky native enjoys the landmarks but remains grounded. Carly shared with the New York Post, “I worked at a mall, I cleaned Airbnbs. I learned humility — and that you’re never guaranteed anything.”
Fans, critics and even her peers are taking notice of Carly’s raw talents and sincere drive. She has been tapped for Country Rising: Downtown Jam benefit concert (#CountryRising) at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater on November 12 and Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight: New Year’s Eve in Nashville(#NashvilleNYE) alongside Keith Urban, Maren Morris, Cheap Trick, Jonny P and the Fisk Jubilee Singers at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Currently providing direct support on the Brett Young’s CALIVILLE TOUR, early 2018 will find her out with both Blake Shelton’s COUNTRY MUSIC FREAKS and Thomas Rhett’s LIFE CHANGES TOURS.
NASHVILLE, TN (October 23, 2017) – When SiriusXM’s The Highway gave “Every Little Thing” its first spin in December 2016, CARLY PEARCE was cautiously optimistic after several career false starts. Now, the song she co-penned alongside producer busbee and songwriter Emily Shackleton is validating the dream Carly has been working towards since she was just five years old. Carly is the only solo female currently in the Top 5 at Country radio as the haunting lead single soars on the Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart this week while she moves up to No. 3 on Billboard’s all-genre Emerging Artists chart. Dubbed “the best country debut of 2017” (Uproxx), EVERY LITTLE THING (Big Machine Records) launched at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Albums chart while the title track reigns as the No. 1 selling Country song for the past last week, according to Nielsen.
Last week People’s Ones To Watch “new voice of Country” spent a packed 72 hours in NYC that included, performing the blockbuster ballad on NBC’s TODAY show, chatting with The Bachelorette (Season 11) for Podcast One’s Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe, going live on The Morning Breath with hosts Jackie (@jakieoproblems) and Claudia Oshry (@girlwithnojob) before jetting off to Toronto to continue promoting her widely-acclaimed new tunes. A mere 24 hours later she was back in Nashville singing for her 45th time at the Grand Ole Opry.
Taking the newfound success in stride, Carly reflected on her journey telling the New York Post, “I worked at a mall, I cleaned Airbnbs. I learned humility — and that you’re never guaranteed anything.” The Kentucky native honed her traditional vocal stylings touring with Bluegrass band at age 11, leaving high school at 16 to perform six shows a day in the Country show at Dollywood and has spent the last eight years in Nashville making ends meet between writers’ rounds and recording.
Already scoring a three-week No. 1 on SiriusXM’s The Highway with “Every Little Thing,” Carly recently earned her second chart-topper on the platform with “If My Name Was Whiskey.” Her present standing at terrestrial radio solidifies Carly as one of only four women to crack the Top 10 in the format this year. Additionally, she was previously selected for iHeart On The Verge and as Cox Media’s first Plugged In artist. The momentum has resulted in over 10,000 downloads each week and excess of 30 million on-demand streams to date.
Carly is on the road providing direct support for Brett Young’s CALIVILLE TOUR with dates already sold-out throughout the fall. Announced today, she has also been tapped for Country Rising: Downtown Jam benefit concert (#CountryRising) at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater on November 12 as well as Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight: New Year’s Eve in Nashville (#NashvilleNYE) alongside Keith Urban, Maren Morris, Cheap Trick, Jonny P and the Fisk Jubilee Singers at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. For a full list of tour dates and more, visit CarlyPearce.com.
It’s only country singer Carly Pearce’s third time in New York City. “What I want to do is go to Central Park,” the 27-year-old Kentucky native tells The Post. “I would love to be able to do that, but I’m not sure it’s gonna happen.”
That’s because Pearce is too busy to sightsee. She kicked off this week performing her hit ballad “Every Little Thing” on the “Today” show, and made the rounds on entertainment shows and radio stations to promote her album of the same name, which dropped Oct. 13.
“I’ve actually been surprised at the country fans up here and their awareness of my songs,” she says. “I had girls singing every word to my album cuts. That was really, really cool.”
Her schedule isn’t going to slow down any time soon: “Every Little Thing” is now No. 7 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, and she’s the only solo female artist in the top 10.
Everyone’s expecting big things. When Pearce was signed in January by Big Machine Label Group, which handles such talents as Tim McGraw, Steven Tyler and Taylor Swift, president Scott Borchetta was quoted as saying she could be “the most important female artist we’ve signed since Taylor.”
Pearce’s response is measured. “I have not met Taylor,” she says. “I, of course, think that she is another person from my generation who will go down in history [as] influencing and changing the world of music and being an icon.”
It’s that cool, confident nature, along with single-minded grit, that’s earned Pearce her current success.
She describes herself as “stubborn” and says she “never dreamt of the wedding dress, the house and the family.” Rather, “I dreamt of stages and the Opry and touring and making an album.”
The daughter of a cosmetologist mom and father in sales, she started performing early, singing in talent shows at 8 and fronting a bluegrass band at 11. In high school, she quit cheerleading to focus on music, and even that wasn’t enough: At 16, she persuaded her family to let her quit school and move closer to the theme park Dollywood, in Tennessee. There, she performed in as many as six variety shows each day and met Dolly Parton herself. “She’s such a positive, happy, friendly, sweet person,” Pearce says. “Every day I went to work and was living in a fairy land. It was so not real life.”
She got a reality check at 19, when she moved to Nashville, Tenn., on her own, hoping to make it big. To make ends meet, she held a series of odd jobs. “I worked at a mall, I cleaned Airbnbs,” she says. “I learned humility — and that you’re never guaranteed anything.”
Working as a cleaner was particularly humbling. “People are nasty,” she says. “I’m not a big fan of people’s hair, and I had to clean sheets with hair on them, toilets, you name it. Nashville’s a very big hub of bachelor and bachelorette parties, so you do the math on that one.”
“I had people in the industry pass on ‘Every Little Thing’ months before it came out and say that very thing,” she says. “I had people telling me I was ‘too country.’ And I was like, ‘But I moved to Nashville to play country music.’”Sticking to her guns has paid off. After hustling eight years to have her voice heard, she’s fully committed to her signature soulful sound and doesn’t feel that her success is arriving a minute too late.
“The women I idolize — Trisha Yearwood, Faith Hill, Shania Twain — all had their first singles at my age or a little older than me,” she says. “I think that women need to embrace their age, and why I’m really connecting and standing out is because I’m not 21, I’m not 22. I have had my heart broken, I have lived some life, I have messed up, I have drank too much.”
So saying, her album may surprise country fans looking for a sugary Southern sweetheart.
In the jaunty track “Doin’ it Right,” Pearce compares the way a guy sees love to “a s - - tty little motel.” “You don’t hear very many women in country — until Maren [Morris]— cuss,” she says.
But even her swearing is strategic: “If there are lots of little girls in the audience, I say ‘cheap little’ because I get too scared,” she admits. “Every time I say ‘s - - tty’ [people are] kind of like, ‘Ooh!’ But that’s genuine to who I am. I’m from Kentucky, and there’s a little bit of that fiery redneck in me!”
NASHVILLE, TN (October 17, 2017) – Breakthrough vocalist CARLY PEARCE dived in with The Bachelorette (Season 11) for the latest episode of Podcast One’s Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe. The pair enjoyed a candid chat at Blackbird studio in Nashville, discussing taboo topics and dishing out unfiltered advice with a lot of laughs and of course, wine. Carly also opens up about her songwriting process and stories fueling her debut album EVERY LITTLE THING, available now on Big Machine Records. LISTEN NOW:www.podcastone.com/off-the-vine-with-kaitlyn-bristowe.
Upon releasing “the best country debut of 2017” (Uproxx), Carly performed the title track on NBC’s TODAY show yesterday (10/16). Watch Here. The blockbuster ballad currently reigns atop the iTunes Top Country Songs chart while scoring the all-genre No. 7 spot. Carly will chat with social influencer hosts Jackie (@jakieoproblems) and Claudia Oshry (@girlwithnojob) tomorrow morning (10/18) on The Morning Breath, airing live on Facebook and Instagram at 10:30A ET/9:30A CT.
Already scoring a three-week No. 1 on SiriusXM’s The Highway with “Every Little Thing,” Carly earned her second chart-topper on the platform this week with “If My Name Was Whiskey.” She remains the only solo female currently in the Top 10 at Country radio – making her one of only four women to crack the Top 10 in the format this year – in addition to previously being selected for iHeart On The Verge and as Cox Media’s first Plugged in artist. The breakthrough momentum has resulted in over 10,000 downloads each week and excess of 30 million on-demand streams to date.
Deemed “the new voice of Country” on People’s Ones To Watch list, Carly joins Brett Young’s CALIVILLE TOUR throughout the fall. Opening weekend in Charlottesville, VA already played to a sold-out crowd, the run resumes this weekend in Kansas City, MO (10/21).
NEW YORK, NY (October 16, 2017) – Hot on the heels of releasing “the best country debut of 2017” (Uproxx), CARLY PEARCE reveled in every little thing with her first appearance on NBC’s TODAY this morning. Hosts Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford introduced the breakout vocalist before she launched into the aching title track from her debut album EVERY LITTLE THING, available now on Big Machine Records. Following her own segment, RITA WILSON stayed in the studio to catch Carly’s performance.Watch here: https://www.today.com/video/carly-pearce-performs-every-little-thing-live-on-today-1074227267835. Marking a serendipitous moment, Carly was reunited with her idol and one-time employer DOLLY PARTON. At just 16 years old, she convinced her parents to quit high school to perform in the Country show at Dollywood. The full circle moment validates Carly’s tenacity and passion that has long fueled her childhood dreams. Already scoring a three-week No. 1 on SiriusXM’s The Highway with “Every Little Thing,” Carly earned her second chart-topper on the platform this week with “If My Name Was Whiskey.” She remains the only solo female currently in the Top 10 at Country radio – making her one of only four women to crack the Top 10 in the format this year – in addition to previously being selected for iHeart On The Verge and as Cox Media’s first Plugged in artist. The breakthrough momentum has resulted in over 10,000 downloads each week and excess of 30 million on-demand streams to date. Early praise with profiles in The Washington Post and Billboard, People magazine recently honored Carly as “the new voice of Country” on their annual Ones To Watch. Throughout the fall, she joins Brett Young’s CALIVILLE TOUR, which kicked off Saturday (10/14) with a sold-out show in Charlottesville, VA and returns this weekend in Kansas City, MO (10/21).
NASHVILLE, TN (October 13, 2017) – CARLY PEARCE is solid to the core and that sheer determination in heartache, love and nostalgia are all ever-present throughout her debut album, EVERY LITTLE THING, available now on Big Machine Records. Penning 8 of the 13 songs – including the powerful title track – Carly collaborated in the studio with producer busbee. On Monday (10/16) she will perform “Every Little Thing” on the TODAY show, airing on NBC during the 10:00A hour in all time zones (check local listings).Already scoring a No. 1 for three weeks on SiriusXM’s The Highway with “Every Little Thing,” Carly is currently the only solo female in the Top 10 at Country radio, in addition to previously being selected for iHeart On The Verge and as Cox Media’s first Plugged in artist. The breakthrough momentum has resulted in 10,000 downloads each week and excess of 28 million on-demand streams to date.
Carly has found early praise with profiles in The Washington Post and Billboard most recently as music reviews enthuse:
“the new voice of Country”People Ones To Watch
“If Carrie Underwood and Kelsea Ballerini had a baby that created a song with Maren Morris, it’d probably be Carly Pearce’s ‘Hide the Wine.’”One Country
“…the record is easily the most exciting debut in country this year.”Uproxx
“Pearce is in the process of making a name for herself in country music with the title track…”USA TODAY
“Carly Pearce’s success continues to defy longstanding country music axioms: don’t lead with a ballad, give them something to dance to and no one wants to hear another sad song.”Rolling Stone Country
“Pearce conceived of the sturdy melodrama of ‘If My Name Was Whiskey,’ with its yearning for mutual, stable romance, as an echo of dignified, womanly expression with which Trisha Yearwood made her mark in the 1990s”NPR Music
“It’s no small feat that she is credited on more than half the songs here, proving she can roll with the best songsmiths in country: Natalie Hemby, Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, Luke Laird, Barry Dean and Ashley Gorley are among those who helped with the writing.”Uproxx
“…the brilliant storytelling lyrics showcase Carly Pearce’s immense songwriting talents to the world.”“’Every Little Thing’ she does is magic”ABC News Radio
“Carly Pearce’s debut album is a fresh breath of country air that makes a bold statement for the rising singer on the male-dominated landscape of the genre.”Sounds Like Nashville
“…Carly Pearce is everything country music needs right now.”Whiskey Riff
“…Pearce has a commanding resonance and songs that lend themselves to thick, immersive harmonies.”Billboard
“The rising star is well on her way to carving her own unique lane in country music […”Every Little Thing”] embodies a sense of honesty and poignancy that makes for a timeless country song.”Taste of Country
Fans have two opportunities to celebrate today (10/13) as the first 50 people to purchase EVERY LITTLE THING at the Big Machine Store (122 3rd Avenue South, Nashville) will receive an autographed copy and meet Carly (click here for more details). She will then head to Margaritaville (322 Broadway, Nashville) for an interview and performance live broadcast from 3:00-4:30P CT on SirusXM’s The Highway for the Music Row Happy Hour with Buzz Brainard. Stop by or tune in to The Highway (Ch. 56).
As direct support, Carly will amp up fan engagement on Brett Young’ CALIVILLE TOUR with the kickoff this Saturday (10/14) in Charlottesville, VA. For a full list of tour dates and more, visit CarlyPearce.com.
EVERY LITTLE THING TRACK LIST1. “Hide The Wine” | Ashley Gorley, Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey2. “Careless” | Carly Pearce, Emily Shackelton3. “Every Little Thing” | Carly Pearce, busbee, Emily Shackelton4. “Everybody Gonna Talk” | Carly Pearce, busbee, Emily Weisband5. “Catch Fire” | busbee, Natalie Hemby6. “If My Name Was Whiskey” | Carly Pearce, busbee, Shane McAnally7. “Color” | Carly Pearce, busbee, Laura Veltz8. “I Need A Ride Home” | Ashley Gorley, Matt Jenkins, Hillary Lindsey9. “Doin’ It Right” | Carly Pearce, Oscar Charles, Allison Veltz10. “Feel Somethin’” | busbee, Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally11. “You Know Where To Find Me” | Carly Pearce, busbee, Emily Shackelton12. “Honeysuckle” | busbee, Barry Dean, Hillary Lindsey13. “Dare Ya” | Carly Pearce, Joe Ginsberg, Allison Veltz
The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
Carly Pearce’s first album arrives Friday, but this country singer has already triumphed: Lead single “Every Little Thing” sits at No. 9 on the latest Country Airplay chart, making Pearce one of only four women to crack the top ten on the country airwaves in the entirety of 2017. Apparently systemic opposition to female country singers is as strong as ever. Planning accordingly, Pearce stacked her energizing, well-made new album, also titled Every Little Thing, with potential hits, and the record is easily the most exciting debut in country this year.
This has been a long time coming for Pearce, who has a big-screen-ready story of musical perseverance. She dropped out of high school to work as a singer at Dollywood, the Dolly Parton-themed park in Tennessee, where she fine-tuned her singing with thirty shows a week. Then she made the inevitable — for an aspiring country singer, at least — move to Nashville and ran headlong into a wall of music industry indifference. In interviews, she has said that every major label decided against signing her, some more than once. Several labels also passed on “Every Little Thing,” the marooned-on-breakup-island ballad which was heard by just under 30 million radio listeners last week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Pearce put out the track independently before it was scooped up by Big Machine, the same label that once signed a young Taylor Swift.
“Every Little Thing” stands out at radio, and not only because it’s sung by a woman: It’s bleak and totally devastated, all the more so when compared with the songs near it on the airplay chart — “More Girls Like You,” a rousing number from Kip Moore, or “Fix A Drink,” a sozzled ode to escapism from Chris Janson. In contrast, the muted, monochrome drum beat in “Every Little Thing” stinks of defeat.
But the single is really a bait and switch; even though one out of three songs on Every Little Thing is a ballad, those aren’t the songs that linger. Instead, Pearce’s definitive statements are sub-three-minute blasts. Again and again, a pretty line on banjo or mandolin serves as cover for a close-to-perfect pop song. These high riffs ornament “Everybody Gonna Talk,” “Doin’ It Right,” “Color” and “Careless;” when they’re not present, the distance between Los Angeles writing rooms and Music Row dissolves — “Feel Somethin'” could be a highlight from a P!nk album.
Every Little Thing is produced by busbee — who has quietly become a go-to guy in country in the last two years (Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum) and the one labels turn to when they sign a young female singer (Maren Morris, Lauren Alaina) — who is just one of the important Music Row name you’ll find in Every Little Thing‘s credits. But it’s the lesser-known writers who contribute to the album’s strongest cuts. Emily Shackleton (Sara Evans, Cassadee Pope) helped with “Careless,” a fizzy dismissal of a callous ex that revolves, in grand country tradition, around the small difference between “careless” and “care less.”
Laura Veltz (Eli Young Band, Chris Young) contributed to “Color,” which rises to the country-pop heights of Shania Twain circa 1997. And Allison Veltz (Laura’s sister) has a credit on “Doin’ It Right,” a shrewd reverse-psychology number where Pearce ticks off her partner’s less-than-desirable qualities. Another relatively unknown writer making a big impact, of course, is Pearce herself. It’s no small feat that she is credited on more than half the songs here, proving she can roll with the best songsmiths in country: Natalie Hemby, Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, Luke Laird, Barry Dean and Ashley Gorley are among those who helped with the writing.
All the compositional verve is matched and then elevated, by busbee’s effervescent production, which merges pop brilliance and impressive attention to detail. In “Doin’ It Right,” after Pearce sings, “I ain’t your old guitar that you leave out in the back of your car that you never play,” a charged electric riff rises to answer her with amusing indignation. The backing vocals keep shifting textures here, too, in the manner of old Fleetwood Mac arrangements. This effect is even more pronounced in “Color,” where a male singer shadows Pearce like a lost Garfunkel while “ooh-whoa’s” skipping through the background are voiced by a woman. The ingredients vary; the results remain rich.
Every Little Thing is a formidable collection of songs, but it’s also notable for another reason — following Kelsea Ballerini’s The First Time in 2015 and Maren Morris’ Hero in 2016, this marks the third straight year that a female artist’s debut album has been the most important record in country music. If only more singers were allowed to join them.
Every Little Thing is out 10/13 via Big Machine Records. Get it here.
Show: TODAY
Date: Monday, October 16
Time: 10:00A Hour | All time zones
Network: NBC | Check local listings
NASHVILLE, TN (October 9, 2017) – Deemed “the new voice of Country” on People magazine’s Ones To Watch list, CARLY PEARCE will perform her blockbuster ballad “Every Little Thing” on TODAY next Monday (10/16), airing on NBC during the 10:00A hour in all time zones (check local listings). The appearance – her first on the national morning show – marks a celebratory occasion on the heels of her debut album release this Friday (10/13) on Big Machine Records.
Rolling Stone Country charges of the title track, “…continues to climb the chart in spite of breaking all the rules.” Carly remains the only solo female currently in the Top 10 at Country radio and has one of the most Shazamed Country tracks in the US. The Kentucky native’s strong will and natural talent initially caught the attention of SiriusXM as a “Highway Find” topping the chart for three weeks, earning “Future Five for 2017” status and prompting them to add a second song, “If My Name Was Whiskey,” into rotation. Since, the CMT Next Women of Country alum has also been named an all-genre iHeart On The Verge artist and as Cox Media’s first Plugged In artist. Additionally, she has been featured across multiple platforms as an Artist to Watch while also garnering critical praise from outlets such as The Washington Post, Billboard and USA Today.
Exclusively previewing EVERY LITTLE THING now as a FIRST LISTEN, NPR Music noted, “Pearce has a Krauss-like ability to find elegant sensuality in emotional suffering…” Carly penned 8 of the 13 songs and recorded the full project with long-time collaborator and sought-after producer busbee with contributions from some of Music City’s most prolific songwriters – Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, Natalie Hemby, Ashley Gorley, Luke Laird, Laura Veltz and more.
Yesterday afternoon, Carly performed the national anthem prior to the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the NBC broadcast. She hits the road as direct support for Brett Young’s CALIVILLE TOUR this weekend (10/14) in Charlottesville, VA following select dates with Eric Church in September.
Photo Shoot Behind-the-Scenes Video Content: http://bit.ly/2xoqW13www.carlypearce.com
BY KATIE KAUSS
“Every Little Thing” has changed for Carly Pearce over the past few years. Gone are the days of cleaning Airbnbs to make ends meet, of music executives saying, “You sound dated,” of being told “no.” It’s a comeuppance Pearce long dreamed about that has finally arrived.
With her hit song sitting inside the top 10 on the country charts, the singer-songwriter — named “One to Watch” by PEOPLE for 2017 — will release her debut album, Every Little Thing, Oct. 13 on Big Machine Records.
“I feel the energy around the album,” Pearce, 27, tells PEOPLE. “Being in Nashville for eight years, it’s been so much work and putting everything I have into this. Now to finally start to see it pay off is mind-blowing for me.”
In addition to garnering massive fan support, a certain red-headed country music legend has taken notice of Pearce’s talents.
“Reba [McEntire] tweeted me about my song and that was pretty awesome. She just invited me to have wine — I think I’m gonna get a Cabernet because it’s strong,” she jokes. “I’m going to need it to calm my nerves!”
The invitation is a fitting cherry on top and validation of a nearly decade-long hustle that at times brought the singer doubts.
“I always in my core believed that I was meant to do this, but in those moments — cleaning Airbnbs and figuring out what I was going to do for my next dollar and wondering, ‘Am I wasting my time?’ — I truly don’t think I ever thought it would be like this,” Pearce says. “That I would really be sitting here, about to put out my debut album and have this opportunity.”
For more on Pearce and PEOPLE’s Ones to Watch, pick up the latest issue of the magazine, on newsstands now.
In country music, the pendulum has always swung between the extremes of pop-friendly silkenness and raw-boned twang, a dialectic that the late Richard Peterson codified in his influential, two-decade-old text Creating Country Music: Fabrication Authenticity. There's a perception that the tension between the two has intensified in an era when some of the millennial acts releasing music through country channels come off less as pop-country crossover candidates than pop natives. Every Little Thing, the debut album from Carly Pearce is a reminder that nimble young music-makers can have it both ways.
The 27-year-old singer and songwriter from tiny Taylor Mill, Ky., found an instructive model in Alison Krauss, who parlayed bluegrass sensibilities into Adult Contemporary sophistication — or as I put it earlier this year, staked out a position "between mastering a well-mapped musical lineage and embracing a broad-minded, pop-attuned versatility." Pearce likewise entered her adolescence singing bluegrass, and was serious enough about showbiz even then to switch to homeschooling so that she could take a performing gig at Dollywood. Eventually she moved to Nashville, and after a failed development deal with a major label, found a fitting partner in busbee, a writer-producer who evenly straddles pop and country currents and the L.A. and Nashville scenes.
Pearce first turned heads with her ballad "Every Little Thing." Its naked arrangement stood out amidst the dense, driving production relied on by many of her contemporaries, summoning a slow-burning impact not unlike Cam's "Burning House" and Little Big Town's "Girl Crush" have in recent years. Pearce's song, one of eight on the album that she co-wrote, deploys distinctive textures: a muffled, minimalistic drum pattern and a bruised, lilting melody traced by piano and dobro.
Pearce was drawn to the empathetic, voice-like potential of the latter instrument, she noted in a promo video, because of "the relationship between [Krauss's singing] and Jerry Douglas's dobro playing." She told axs.com, "busbee really let me drive that to be a sparse track that still feels progressive, yet the harmonies and the melody feel very familiar to my bluegrass background. Obviously, he allowed the dobro to be the only other thing in the track that's shiny."
That's a pleasing template that Pearce and busbee tinker with throughout the album, layering the contributions of studio pros — some of whom, including dobro player Josh Matheny and guitarists Carl Miner and Ilya Toshinskiy, have string band backgrounds — over loose-fitting programmed beats.
As a vocalist, Pearce has a Krauss-like ability to find elegant sensuality in emotional suffering, but Pearce's approach to singing isn't nearly as ethereal. "Baby, your ghost still holds me, but I don't wanna sleep with him no more," she moans, with subtle, R&B-style shifts in tonality.
"Hide the Wine" and "Catch Fire" bring Pearce's hybrid into even clearer view. The former has a red-blooded, mountain blues melody that one could imagine being sung with a hurtling bluegrass attack. Only, she drastically relaxes her phrasing, slyly reclining against the backbeat of an insouciant hip-hop loop. "Catch Fire" is a study in funky, down-home forwardness, her syncopated figures snaking around a lumbering groove. "Don't waste your time on sweet formalities," she dares. "Just show me your originality." She milks "time" and "your," her bluesy note-bending stretching them into two-syllable words.
Pearce conceived of the sturdy melodrama of "If My Name Was Whiskey," with its yearning for mutual, stable romance, as an echo of dignified, womanly expression with which Trisha Yearwood made her mark in the 1990s. But owing to Pearce's clipped delivery of the soaring chorus melody, her performance betrays contemporary pop fluency. The same can be said of "Doin' It Right," a clever confrontation during which she deftly balances suppleness with a stuttering vocal pattern, and of the propulsive number "Feel Somethin'." She skids through the verses, stringing together lines in slick, rhythmic bursts, then applies more direct force to belting the hook.
If any one song on the album captures Pearce's angle on bridging brisk cosmopolitanism and rural sentimentality, it's the wistful "Need a Ride Home." "It ain't 3 AM and I ain't been drinkin'," she sings, situating herself against the backdrop of the late-night club scene. Then she plunges into nostalgia: "But I need a ride home to that little town where I'll always be 16 years old." She makes us feel what it's like to maintain meaningful connections to both worlds.
NASHVILLE, TN (October 3, 2017) – CARLY PEARCE united family, friends and fans at The Listening Room Café in Nashville last night (10/2). The evening offered a special round with songwriters Hillary Lindsey (“Hide The Wine” and “I Need A Ride Home”), Shane McAnally (“Feel Somethin’” and “If My Name Was Whiskey”), Emily Shackleton (“Careless” and “I Need A Ride Home”), Allison Veltz (“Doin’ It Right”) and Laura Veltz (“Color”), who joined Carly in support of the music community during this unimaginable time following the horrific tragedy in Las Vegas.
“Today has been an extremely heavy day and I think that all of us and so many of you in the Nashville community feel that this hit close to home,” stated Carly. “What is so beautiful about music is that music heals. I hope tonight we honor those who lost their lives and were affected and are just reminded why we love music so much, especially Country music.”
Carly opened with a poignant performance of “Every Little Thing,” before her collaborators traded verses on selections from her forthcoming album EVERY LITTLE THING (Big Machine Records), out October 13. The performances highlighted the songs and stories guiding the 13-track project.
If you haven’t heard the name Carly Pearce, get ready, you will. The Kentucky native is poised to be the next big thing: Her Top 10 single “Every Little Thing” has earned more than a million streams online, and now she’s gearing up to release her first solo album of the same name October 13.
The autobiographical album includes the track “Color,” which paints a picture of a girl afraid to rush into love, but who finds herself unable not to surrender to her feelings. Pearce explains she wrote the song from a very personal place.
“I’m a Taurus, which means I’m stubborn and a little wild,” she says. “I never was the girl who dreamt of the white dress and picket fence, so I’ve never been one to jump into love. This song is all about the one that you just simply try to not fall in love with, but dang it, you just do.”
You can pre-order Pearce’s album, Every Little Thing here, and listen to “Color” below.
CONCORD, N.C. (Aug. 24, 2017) - The Bank of America 500 on Sunday, Oct. 8, brings race teams back for NASCAR's homecoming at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but the iconic fall classic will also bring fans to their feet when breakthrough singer/songwriter Carly Pearce performs the national anthem.
Lighting up the crowd with a spectacular rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," Pearce's appearance builds anticipation around her long-awaited debut album on Big Machine Records. EVERY LITTLE THING is slated for release Oct. 13 while the title track has already solidified Pearce as the only solo female currently in the top 15 of Country radio. She was also chosen as an esteemed all-genre iHeartRadio ON THE VERGE artist earlier this year, in addition to being the first artist tapped for Cox Media's Plugged In program.
The title track from the Kentucky native's album has reached No. 17 on the Billboard Hot Country charts. In addition to her impressive musical exploits, Pearce is currently on the road with Bobby Bones' "Funny & Alone Comedy Tour" and will join Brett Young's "Caliville" dates this fall.
"Experiencing the roar of the engines and the adrenaline rush felt around the track during a NASCAR race is pretty exciting," shared Pearce. "I'm so honored to be invited to sing the national anthem at the legendary Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Bank of America 500."
Additionally, fans who buy two adult tickets to this year's Bank of America 500 - Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s final Charlotte Motor Speedway start as a full-time driver - will receive a commemorative Earnhardt bobblehead while supplies last.
Kids 13 and under can get into the Bank of America 500 for just $10. As a salute to Earnhardt's final race, adult tickets are available as a two-pack for $88. For tickets, camping and upgrades, fans can call the ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or shop online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.
NASHVILLE, TN (September 5, 2017) – Billboard declared CARLY PEARCE as one of “13 Ladies We’d Like To See Crash the Male Dominated Charts” and this week, she does just that with “Every Little Thing.” Her breakthrough single enters the Top 10 this week on Mediabase as Carly remains the only solo female currently in the Top 15 across both Country radio airplay charts. The outlet also chose Carly for their all-genre Chartbreaker series, which celebrates artists making waves on their first Billboard chart appearance. Read here or in the September 2 print issue.
She penned the unguarded ballad that bristles with the agony of being left alongside notable producer busbee and Emily Shackelton. Stark in a time of massive productions, the hollow beat throbs like a pulse and the melody drags with the ache of one who can’t let go. But what really stands out is Carly’s voice: slightly powdery in places, silvery in others, it has a raw muscular twist like a knife being turned.
The Kentucky native’s enduring tenacity proves its worth as headlines command, ‘Radio tour is not for the weak’: Inside the first step to country music stardom (The Washington Post), ‘Every Little Thing’ Falls Into Place for Carly Pearce: How She Went from Being Told She Sounds ‘Dated’ to Having a Hit (PEOPLE) and How ‘Every Little Thing’ Singer Carly Pearce Defied Odds With Risky Song (Rolling Stone Country).
The breadth of her life is further chronicled throughout Carly’s 13-track debut album on Big Machine Records. Leading into the October 13 release, EVERY LITTLE THING is available for pre-order now: http://smarturl.it/EveryLittleThingD2C. “I’m not trying to hide anything in these songs, And I think by sharing my struggles, no matter what your age or circumstances, chance are you’re either going to experience it, are going through it or already have.”
Having left high school to pursue music, working the shows at Dollywood at a mere 16 years old, chasing bluegrass festivals and watching her first label deal fall apart, Carly understands being left on the verge in more ways than love. Now, her resilient nature finds Carly joining Eric Church for shows September 21-22 in Gilford, NH and September 23 in Bangor, ME in addition to direct support for Brett Young on his CALIVILLE TOUR this fall.
by Elias Leight
Nashville singer-songwriter Carly Pearce finally breaks big with the hit no one believed in.
At first, bluegrass was her thing
Kentucky, where Pearce grew up, is an epicenter for bluegrass as well as country, so she became fluent in both at a young age. “I got asked to join a bluegrass group at [age] 11,” says Pearce, 27. “Bluegrass musicians are unbelievable, so that’s how I learnt to sing harmony. I played an all-boys prison, every tent revival you could think of, churches, bars -- they would sneak me in.”
She earned her stripes working at Dollywood
Pearce traded high school for home schooling when she was 16 so she could work at the Dolly Parton-owned theme park. “I did six shows a day, five days a week,” she recalls. “We did everything from June Carter and The Carter Family to Patsy Cline to Taylor Swift. It was an intense crash course on what was to come in Nashville.”
Labels passed on her hit single “Every Little Thing”
“I really didn't think it would be the song that helped to break me in the industry -- especially not in the summer,” she says of her debut smash. “I had plenty of people pass on ‘Every Little Thing.’” The one that didn't was Big Machine, Swift’s label, which signed Pearce in January. Seven months later, the song cracked the Hot 100.
NASHVILLE, TN (August 22, 2017) – CARLY PEARCE returned to SiriusXM The Highway in Nashville this morning to share big news with host Storme Warren – her highly-anticipated debut album. EVERY LITTLE THING, out October 13 on Big Machine Records, offers insight into her songwriting muses from the feisty “Careless” and evocative “Dare Ya” to the breakthrough title track. From the first spin of "Every Little Thing", SiriusXM has been a strong advocate marking the song a “Highway Find” before it topped the chart for three weeks, earned her “Future Five for 2017” status and prompted “If My Name Was Whiskey” to be added into rotation as “Every Little Thing” continues to rise at terrestrial radio. Carly is currently the only solo female charging into the Top 15 on the Country radio airplay charts with her soul-bearing title track and was chosen as an esteemed all-genre iHeart ON THE VERGE artist earlier this year, in addition to being the first artist tapped for Cox Media’s Plugged In program.
“Music is all I’ve ever known, all I’ve dreamed of, and now more than I could have imagined growing up in Taylor Mill, Kentucky,” explained Carly. “My journey has been long but so worth it each time I hear ‘Every Little Thing’ on the radio or sung back to me from a crowd. I’m so grateful and excited to share more of the songs I wrote alongside some of my biggest inspirations and those where others penned the words of my story. I hope this album will be worth the wait … I know it has been for me!”
Collaborating in both writing and recording with sought-after producer busbee (Katy Perry, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Maren Morris, Kelly Clarkson), the 13-track album reflects Carly’s textured vocals and emotive songwriting sensibilities across eight of the tracks. From the regional Bluegrass band she joined at age 11 to being homeschooled at 16 so she could take a job singing hours away, her passion has grown over the last nine years in Nashville. Her tenacity has shaped not only her character but come alive throughout her lyrics and performances, earning coveted spots on the road with Kelsea Ballerini, Kip Moore and Hunter Hayes. Carly is currently a special guest on Bobby Bones: FUNNY & ALONE STAND UP COMEDY TOUR and will join Brett Young on his CALIVILLE TOUR this fall.
EVERY LITTLE THING TRACK LIST1. “Hide The Wine” | Ashley Gorley, Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey2. “Careless” | Carly Pearce, Emily Shackelton3. “Every Little Thing” | Carly Pearce, busbee, Emily Shackelton4. “Everybody Gonna Talk” | Carly Pearce, busbee, Emily Weisband5. “Catch Fire” | busbee, Natalie Hemby6. “If My Name Was Whiskey” | Carly Pearce, busbee, Shane McAnally7. “Color” | Carly Pearce, busbee, Laura Veltz8. “I Need A Ride Home” | Ashley Gorley, Matt Jenkins, Hillary Lindsey9. “Doin’ It Right” | Carly Pearce, Oscar Charles, Allison Veltz10. “Feel Somethin’” | busbee, Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally11. “You Know Where To Find Me” | Carly Pearce, busbee, Emily Shackelton12. “Honeysuckle” | busbee, Barry Dean, Hillary Lindsey13. “Dare Ya” | Carly Pearce, Joe Ginsberg, Allison Veltz
BY KATIE KAUSS
There’s a saying around Nashville that “it’s a 10 year town.” As a singer-songwriter, it often takes 10 years (and at least one or two failed record deals) to get your big break. Based off of this theory, Carly Pearce is right on track.
Eight years after moving to Nashville, where she was once told, “I could throw a rock and hit six different girls that just sing pretty and look good,” Pearce, 27, is finally getting her chance.
As the only solo female artist currently on the Top 20 Billboard country airplay chart with her hit “Every Little Thing” (Maren Morris shares a spot with Thomas Rhett on their hit “Craving You“), she will be releasing her long-awaited debut album this fall. It’s a dream she’s been fighting for most her life.
“I’ve never known a day where I didn’t want to be a musician,” she tells PEOPLE, which is debuting the video for the hit single above. “I’m 27 and I would say 22 of my years of my life have been focused on what my career could be like — and if this would ever happen.”
At the age of 16, Pearce convinced her father to let her quit school and move to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee to sing at Dollywood.
“I sang in the country show called Country Crossroads,” she explains. “We did six shows a day, five days a week — I really did work ‘9 to 5’ for her.” The gig afforded her the opportunity to meet her idol, Dolly Parton. “I couldn’t breathe when I met her, so I need a redo of that because I was so freaked out. She’s an artist, she’s a songwriter and she’s a killer business woman — that’s awesome!”
After cutting her teeth performing at the amusement park, Pearce moved to Nashville at 19 and hit the ground running. “I just started playing writers’ rounds and trying to write songs and meet people,” she says.
In 2012 she signed her first record deal, and lost her first record deal, and started looking at apartments back home in northern Kentucky. “I was trying to figure out why the stars weren’t aligning — I was literally told to move home,” she admits.
But that was before she received a call to be in a music video for Lucy Hale, who was kicking off her own country career. Determined, Pearce quickly talked her way into a backup singing gig for the Pretty Little Liars star, despite being told it would be “the kiss of death” for her own career.
“Lucy’s so real,” Pearce tells PEOPLE. “I’d never worked with someone or known someone that famous, but she’s become a great friend — she’s really down to earth and normal.”
It was her experience with Hale that led to her meeting producer busbee and publisher Daniel Lee, who gave her a second chance in Nashville and subsequently, a new record deal with Big Machine Records.
“They really wanted to break my thought process and get the truth in my head,” Pearce tells PEOPLE, grateful for their guidance. “Whatever lie I was telling myself, that I wasn’t good enough anymore, and that I’d already had my shot because people told me I was old news … [they got it out].”
Paired with being picked as “the right girl” to duet with Josh Abbott on his band’s “Wasn’t That Drunk,” which climbed to No. 46 on the country charts, Pearce gained the confidence she needed.
Now, with fans all over the country enjoying her voice, Pearce is proud to say that in the end, she didn’t let the naysayers get her down. “I’ve been really transparent, vulnerable and honest about what people have said to me in Nashville over the years,” she admits.
Reflecting on how someone once told her her sound was “dated,” Pearce points out it’s that same “dated” sound that currently has “Every Little Thing” climbing the charts.
Breakthrough singer-songwriter Carly Pearce will perform the national anthem before the start of the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 on Sunday, July 23 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Fueled with passionate vocals and effortless drive, Kentucky native Pearce is on the rise as her Big Machine Records' debut single "Every Little Thing" ascends at Country radio. The feat solidifies her as the only solo female currently ranking into the Top 20 for airplay. Upon release, Pearce was named a "Highway Find" with the ballad charting at No. 1 on SiriusXM's "The Highway" for three weeks as listeners gravitated toward her raw and emotional tone. Since, she has been touted as an Artist to Watch by Rolling Stone Country, The Huffington Post, Country Living, Sounds Like Nashville, The Boot, Whiskey Riff and One Country, in addition to being selected as a CMT Listen Up "17 for 2017" Artist.
"Carly Pearce is one of the most exciting new talents in country music, and our fans will enjoy her rendition of 'The Star-Spangled Banner,'" said J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president. "We want to thank Big Machine for bringing Carly to IMS, as her performance is another example of how our unique partnership benefits fans of music and racing."
Persistence paid off for Pearce, who began touring with a bluegrass band at age 11 and by age 16 was performing six times per day, five days per week at Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Over the last eight years in Nashville she has created with songwriters and continued to hone her craft at clubs around Nashville, while working odd jobs to pursue her dream.
That hard work helped Pearce receive more than 30 invitations to play the Grand Ole Opry and join bills alongside Kip Moore, Eli Young Band, Hunter Hayes and Lucy Hale of "Pretty Little Liars." In 2016, she earned a coveted opening slot on Kelsea Ballerini's THE FIRST TIME TOUR and also celebrated her first Top 40 hit, "Wasn't That Drunk," a collaboration with Josh Abbott Band.
Working with hit producer and songwriter busbee (Maren Morris, Katy Perry, Keith Urban, Kelly Clarkson), Pearce is set to release her debut album on Big Machine Records this fall.
The Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 starts at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 23, featuring all of the stars of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Visit IMS.com to purchase tickets for all 2017 IMS events, including the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 and Lilly Diabetes 250 on July 21-23, and for more information on all events.
Patrick Crowley July 14, 2017, 10:55am EDT
On the Billboard Hot 100 dated July 8, Rihanna ended a 12-week run of women being absent from the top five -- the longest lady drought since 1972. The song with which she returned women to top-tier territory, DJ Khaled’s “Wild Thoughts,” finds her as a featured act, alongside Bryson Tiller.
Two weeks later, on the current July 22-dated Hot 100, Rihanna is the sole woman repping the top 10 -- compared to 15 male or male-fronted acts (three of which appear twice: DJ Khaled, Justin Bieber and Quavo). In fact, the highest-charting lead female this week is Halsey, with “Now or Never” at No. 18, followed by Julia Michaelswith "Issues" at No. 19. And while The Chainsmokers' “Closer,” on which Halsey is featured, held the No. 1 spot for 12 weeks in 2016, the last woman billed as the lead act in the top spot was Sia, with “Cheap Thrills” last August. Even with that song, a male is featured: Sean Paul. The last unaccompanied female artist to hold her own at No. 1? Adele with “Hello” on the chart dated Jan. 16, 2016.
It wasn’t too long ago that ladies ruled the charts. In late 2014, solo female artists occupied the top five positions on the Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks. Thanks to features, as many as eight women occupied the top five at once, with Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off”; Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass”; Iggy Azalea’s “Black Widow,” featuring Rita Ora; Tove Lo’s “Habits (Stay High)”; and “Bang Bang” by the triple threat of Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj.
With just-released tracks from Kesha, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez, perhaps the pendulum could swing back toward women residing in the Hot 100's upper reaches. And while it’s impossible to predict, here are 13 ladies we’d like to see crash the Hot 100 sausage party.
SZA
Few artists are as buzzworthy as the St. Louis-born SZA. Her debut studio album Ctrl snagged the No. 3 spot on the Billboard 200 (July 1 chart) upon its arrival, and her video for “Drew Barrymore” has drawn viral attention thanks to a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo from the song’s namesake. If there’s any justice in this world, the raspy R&B singer-songwriter will be boxing chart heavyweights like Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars in no time.
Dua Lipa
With 18 million monthly Spotify listeners, it’s shocking that Dua Lipa’s highest Hot 100 notch is No. 72, with “Blow Your Mind (Mwah).” That peak could perhaps be bested soon: her latest music video, “New Rules,” premiered July 7 and has already logged over 13 million views globally on YouTube. While the visual -- which features an expertly choreographed routine -- is fantastic, it’s Dua’s low alto voice that’s most exciting. Not since P!nk have we heard a rising pop star with such a neat, smoky tone.
Pvris
Paramore. No Doubt. Evanescence. Female-fronted bands are a rarity on the Hot 100 -- but when they do chart, they often make an impact. Alt-rock may not be a strong force in today’s musical climate, but Imagine Dragons and twenty one pilots have proven that the genre isn't dead. With a cool blend of dark, synth-heavy rock and lead singer Lynn Gunn’s soaring voice, Pvris could be the next big alt act.
DeJ Loaf
Since Iggy Azalea topped the Hot 100 with “Fancy” in 2014, only one other female rapper has reached the top 10: Nicki Minaj. Given that there are nine male rappers in the top 10 this week alone, this is absurd. While there are several lady emcees who can spit bars as hard as their male counterparts, few may be poised for future chart domination as DeJ Loaf. With co-signs from Drake and Kylie Jenner and three Hot 100 entries under her belt, we’re ready for her summery bop “No Fear” to charge the charts.
Cardi B
Another emcee who could find her way to the upper reaches of the charts is Love & Hip-Hop: New York star Cardi B. Her first major-label single “Bodak Yellow” just debuted on the Hot 100 at No. 85 (July 22) and has been bouncing around Spotify’s Viral 50 charts. Given her Instagram notoriety (she has 7.6 million followers) and her cred in the hip-hop community (she’s shared the stage with Lil' Kim and Remy Ma), we’re anticipating big things for this Bronx native.
Dagny
It's no surprise that Sir Elton John handpicked this Norwegian import to open a few of his gigs: she's the epitome of pure joy. Dagny’s visual for her latest single “Wearing Nothing” is a jubilant depiction of #relationshipgoals. Between the playful choreography and the sunny beat, it's impossible to finish this clip without containing the inevitable, obnoxiously stupid grin. Add it to your poolside playlist immediately.
Carly Pearce
Country is another boys' club: of the July 22-dated Hot Country Songs chart’s 50 spots, only four are held by unaccompanied solo female artists: Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert and Carly Pearce. Even if charting collaborations that feature Carrie Underwood, Lauren Alaina and Faith Hill are taken into consideration -- as well an entry by co-ed Lady Antebellum -- the male-to-female ratio is still embarrassingly unbalanced. Still, given that all of her aforementioned Nashville sisters have tallied entries in the Hot 100’s top 40, it's Carly’s turn to shine. Her heartbreaking ballad “Every Little Thing” is drenched in crossover appeal. Given a proper push, other formats would be wise to consider it.
Vérité
Brooklyn-based Vérité grew up listening to '90s alt-rock acts like The Cranberries, Green Day and Nirvana, and the influence is apparent in her grungy, dark pop records. With songs like her haunting take on The 1975’s “Somebody Else” and a sound that sits somewhere between hitmakers like Tove Lo and Lorde, we’re excited for her future prospects.
Jessie Reyez
Calvin Harris’ latest album, Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1, is brimming with A-list collaborators: Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, Future, Nicki Minaj and Snoop Dogg are just a sampling of the all-star lineup. It's telling, then, that he chose to close the set with a feature from this easily lesser-known Canadian singer-songwriter. A quick sampling of her discography makes it immediately apparent that the powerhouse DJ is onto something: Jessie Reyez’s laid-back delivery is immediately captivating. Give “Figures,” the lead single from her debut EP Kiddo, a spin and try not to hit repeat.
Alma
With highlighter-green hair, this big-voiced Finn could be on the verge of breaking big stateside. Her first EP, Dye My Hair, generated more than 100 million combined Spotify streams -- and that just might be the beginning. With heavy hitters like MNEK, Charli XCX, Rudimental and Gorgon City helping craft her international full-length debut, Alma is poised to make a serious impression.
CupcakKe
CupcakKe’s lyrics make Khia’s “My Neck, My Back” seem tailor-made for Kidz Bop. With song titles like “Cumshot,” “Deepthroat” “Juicy Coochie” and “Spider-Man Dick,” it's obvious CupcakKe wears that parental advisory sticker as a badge of honor. In fact, in the video for "CPR," an ode to oral sex, the always-grinning rapper simulates fellatio on a corncob. But buried in all the sexual innuendos (okay, they’re hardly innuendos) is a woman with a necessary point of view: She tackles social issues like eating disorders (“Biggie Smalls”) and poverty (“Scraps”) with the same conviction demonstrated in her raunchier tracks.
K.Flay
K.Flay is the female answer to twenty one pilots. Boasting two entries on the Alternative Songs chart (“Blood in the Cut,” which peaked at No. 4, and “High Enough,” at its No. 20 high on the July 22 list), her songs wouldn’t be out of place during the opening sequence of a dark action flick. In fact, if her team hasn’t secured an appearance on the Suicide Squad sequel soundtrack, what are they even doing?
Astrid S
Not many singers can say that they’ve worked on records with Shawn Mendes, Avicii and Katy Perry, but rising star Astrid S has those bragging rights. And she’s just as bright a star on her own: Her tracks like “Hurts So Good” and “Breathe” have seen chart success overseas. If her latest single, the breezy “Such a Boy,” is any indication, we could be seeing her on the Hot 100 sooner than later.
NASHVILLE, TN (June 30, 2017) – Just before bus call this morning, CARLY PEARCE stopped at The Bobby Bones Show to chat with the iHeartMedia host as they head out on the road together. While on-air she spoke about convincing her parents to be homeschooled for a job at Dollywood at just 16 years old, prompting a rendition of “9 to 5.” Paying homage to one of Carly’s biggest inspirations was fitting not only for workday commuters, but listeners nationwide who have shown support for the #FemaleFriday movement. Listen here: https://instagram.com/p/BV9w6Rtn6PI/.
On the cusp of Top 20, “Every Little Thing” lands Carly in a rare spot as one of two female artists currently in the Top 25 on the Country radio airplay charts. The Washington Post has also taken note of the took note iHeart ON THE VERGE artist in a feature entitled ‘Radio tour is not for the weak’: Inside the first step to country music stardom. “Radio tour is the most exciting, exhausting, unique, hilarious thing I’ve ever done,” the Kentucky native reflects. “This is all I’ve ever wanted.” Read the full article here.
As the first Nashville-based artist to sign a publishing deal with busbee (Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Maren Morris, Keith Urban), Carly continues to collaborate – both writing and recording – with the sought-after producer on her Big Machine Records’ debut album due later this year.
Bobby’s FUNNY & ALONE STAND UP COMEDY TOUR begins tonight in Fort Wayne, IN with Carly joining as a special guest throughout the run. The CMT Next Women of Country alum has previously been on the road with Kelsea Ballerini, Kip Moore and Lucy Hale of Pretty Little Liars, among others.
ATLANTA — The minutes tick by in a chilly conference room on a sunny day in March as country singer Carly Pearce stands on a small stage. Her fingers brush over her blue and white beaded bracelets, wrapped around a tattoo on the inside of her left wrist that reads, “She believed she could so she did.” She got the tattoo years ago, after she lost her first record deal, so when she played guitar, she would look down and see the words and believe her career wasn’t over before it ever really started.
Now, Pearce, 27, has another record deal. The day she signed with Big Machine Label Group in January, president Scott Borchetta popped a bottle of champagne from the year Taylor Swift joined the label. Pearce, he said, could be “the most important female artist we’ve signed since Taylor.”
So the pressure is on, because a record deal is only the beginning. Now, Pearce has to impress three people in this conference room at the Bull (94.9 FM), one of Atlanta’s country stations.
The assistant program director arrives. So does the music director. They sit and wait for the program director, the boss. Except he never shows up. He is pulled into another meeting.
If program directors like you, they could add your music to their stations. It could move from light to medium to heavy rotation. If enough stations follow suit, your song could climb to No. 1 on the charts, so your label could finally release your debut album. Then, you could move from afternoon act on a side stage to opener on the main stage. You could get nominated for awards and earn gold records. You could launch your own club tour, then an arena tour, and eventually become a bona fide country star.
It’s a long, regimented road for the lucky ones who make it, one that is deeply ingrained in the very traditional Nashville system. With the exception of a few artists, radio airplay is critical to mainstream country success. Even in 2017 — an era of YouTube, Spotify and curated playlists — radio is the gatekeeper. And it all starts with a radio tour.
For months, singers such as Pearce travel thousands of miles across America to personally introduce themselves and play music for radio programmers. They focus on the approximately 172 country stations whose ratings make up the Billboard and Mediabase charts (out of about 1,850 total in the country).
This Nashville rite of passage is the modern day version of door-to-door sales. Each one can cost a label hundreds of thousands of dollars. And there’s absolutely no guarantee it will work.
Country music is the third-largest radio format in the nation, behind Top 40 and adult contemporary, reaching 68 million listeners a week, according to Nielsen. While pop stars tend to visit the big markets and hip-hop artists also frequent smaller stations, the relationship between country radio and the genre’s singers has always been uniquely close.
In a format that puts a premium on authenticity and connecting with everyday listeners, access is not only appreciated, but it’s also expected. A solid bond with radio can go a long way for career longevity. At the Country Radio Seminar conference in Nashville in February, Vince Gill called a group of programmers “a room full of people who are responsible for all of our dreams, in a way. . . . We’re beholden to you.”
Those relationships start with radio tours, which can be traced back to the 1960s, when Loretta Lynn drove around to ask stations to play “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl.” The tours are an advantage to programmers, who have limited space to play new songs on their stations. They say the chance to meet new acts early on (Can they really sing? Are they personable? Will they go the distance?) is invaluable. Radio is in the advertising business — if stations make an investment in an artist, it has to pay off.
Singers describe radio tour as an exciting way to tour the country while meeting new people, but it’s often grueling. You’re essentially on multiple job interviews every day for months, and under pressure to charm people who you’re repeatedly told hold the keys to your future. As newcomer Chris Lane, 32, put it, “Radio tour is not for the weak.”
It involves endless hours in a rental car or bus or an airplane, traveling with a regional radio representative. You might start at the crack of dawn with vocal warm-ups before a visit to one station in the morning, another meeting or two in the afternoon, and maybe dinner with a station that runs late into the night. Then you have to be up in a few hours to travel again.
Performances vary; sometimes, you play for a handful of people. Some stations have stages and invite listeners, or they stream your performance on Facebook Live. Sometimes, if they have partnerships with other businesses — such as a restaurant, a home goods expo or a mattress store — they’ll ask you to play there, too.
“The thing that you can’t really be prepared for is the lack of sleep,” said Brett Young, 36, a breakout star whose quick success meant a tour beyond a more typical 12-week span. “I have some great friendships with program directors and music directors. But you do get to the end of a nine-month stretch like that, and your body starts falling apart.”
Pearce takes it in stride when the Atlanta program director, Brian Michel, misses her performance. (Later, Michel says he wishes he could have been there, but he trusts his colleagues to report back to him.) Still, even after she sings for the other radio employees — who burst into enthusiastic applause — and sits for a station interview in which the assistant program director, Angie Ward, dubs her a singer with “a beautiful smile and a beautiful voice,” an uneasy silence falls over Pearce’s team as they walk out of the building. That was not how the visit, scheduled long ago, was supposed to play out.
But they shake it off. Because they have to immediately head to the next Atlanta station.
Pearce offers the story of fellow singer on radio tour who performed a deeply emotional track, only to have the program director leave in the middle to get a candy bar from the vending machine. So when it comes to radio tours, Pearce has learned to “expect the unexpected.”
It’s how the Kentucky native has approached her whole career. She landed a publishing deal as a writer after she moved to Nashville at age 19, and then a developmental record deal that fell through. The buzz around her disappeared, and she babysat and cleaned Airbnb rental units while she figured out her next move.
In 2015, her publisher put her in contact with busbee, a hit pop producer looking to work with country singers. They clicked immediately and, with Emily Shackelton, wrote “Every Little Thing,” a haunting ballad about a failed relationship. When SiriusXM’s country station, the Highway, put it in rotation late last year, the song began selling 6,000 copies a week. Soon, Borchetta was in touch, and Pearce’s career has been full-speed ahead.
A slow song from a new singer is risky in the generally up-tempo world of country radio — and women already have a tough time getting airplay. But in the middle of her radio tour, “Every Little Thing” landed the coveted “On the Verge” distinction from iHeartMedia radio group, so all of the company’s country stations are required to play it a certain number of times. Currently in the Top 25, it’s picking up steam.
“I was just eight years into town, sometimes laying down at night going, ‘Is it going to happen?’ ” Pearce said. “I think I needed to be reminded to just stay authentic and not chase approval from Music Row. Because at the end of the day, they can see through it, and so can the listener.”
Jon Loba, executive vice president of BBR Music Group, has a rule: “It’ll probably be a cold day in hell before I don’t send a new act on a radio tour.”
Loba has learned this lesson every time he wondered if the model was outdated. When he signed the band Parmalee, he didn’t send the group on a full tour, but only to stations in cities where it was already playing a concert. Parmalee’s debut single didn’t take off in 2012, and Loba’s promotional team told him: “Radio wonders what we’re hiding. Or if Parmalee’s too good to visit them.”
Same with Justin Moore in 2008, who launched his first single with just a video. When it got a lukewarm reception, Loba was told: “Radio doesn’t know who he is; they feel like they’ve got no relationship. So they’re not going to give him the benefit of the doubt.”
In the end, Loba sent Parmalee and Moore on traditional tours for their second singles. They both went to No. 1.
“I’m sure it was partly music-based,” Loba said. “But it was also absolutely that programmers could now say: ‘I get it. I believe in this act.’ ”
Program directors reiterate that it all comes down to the quality of the music; although if they meet an artist who really shines in person, it could give that act an edge.
“If you’re respectful and treat people with kindness no matter what, you’re always viewed in a favorable light,” said MoJoe Roberts, program director for the Bull (98.7 FM) in Portland, Ore. “[That’s] any artist, or any person in any line of work.”
However, said Kris Daniels, program director for the Coyote (102.7 FM) in Las Vegas, “If the song . . . doesn’t test well, it doesn’t matter how good their personality is.”
While singers hesitate to publicly say anything negative about radio for fear of the consequences, behind closed doors there is talk of radio tour “horror stories” — including dismissive radio staffers and offensive comments, particularly toward young female singers.
Programmers have anecdotes of singers who come through the station who aren’t ready for prime time, or who behave inappropriately.
Some artists are afraid of doing anything — even accidentally — that could offend radio. Ryan Hurd, a new artist whose debut single is “Love in a Bar,” recalls when he had to cancel a visit because he needed to return home to Nashville for personal reasons. He and his manager were genuinely worried to tell the station about it.
“We were really nervous because the perception is that if you scorn radio — ever — that’s your shot, you blew it,” Hurd said.
But when his manager called the station, the staffers understood the situation and agreed to reschedule. It was a valuable lesson.
Radio tour “has gotten such a reputation for being difficult and for being so much harsher than it actually is, that you forget these are real people who still love music,” Hurd said. “There’s a human element to this that people often overlook.”
Another artist talked about a trip to the doctor in a strange city, where he found out that his pain was a symptom of extreme exhaustion.
Although singers receive an advance when they sign a record deal, they don’t receive a daily rate during radio tour. While the label initially foots the bill for the costs (it varies, but they can run $7,000 to $10,000 a week) for things including travel and taking station staffers out for meals or drinks, the label can usually recoup that money from the artist’s future earnings.
“Radio tour was the hardest time in my life,” Kelsea Ballerini, 23, recently told radio host Bobby Bones on his podcast. “I was exhausted. You don’t get paid, and everyone around you does. . . . I remember there was one time where I couldn’t pay my rent when I got home. And it was actually during my [Grand Ole] Opry debut, and all my family and friends were there, and I was like: ‘Do I ask my parents to pay my rent? What do I do?’”
Ballerini’s 22-week radio tour was worth it. Last year, she became the first woman in country music history to have her first three singles go to No. 1, which fueled her debut album, “The First Time,” to gold-certified status. In February, she was nominated for best new artist at the Grammy Awards.
That’s the light at the end of the tunnel that artists hope for — as many emphasize, the alternative is sitting at home, not playing your music.
“Everyone warned us, ‘This will be one of the most strenuous things you’ve ever done,’ ” said Johnny McGuire. He’s member of the duo Walker McGuire with Jordan Walker; they recently embarked on a radio tour to promote their first single, “Til Tomorrow.” “But at the end of the day, Jordan and I . . . we’re doing what we’ve always wanted to do. I think it’s just all relative. For us, it’s not bad. We love it.”
Walker agreed. “That seems so far-fetched five years ago when I moved to town,” he said. “Thinking to myself, ‘My song is going to be on country radio.’ That would’ve been crazy to think about. I’m getting choked up thinking about it.”
For Pearce, the afternoon stop in Atlanta is at the Cumulus Media headquarters, which brings her to another conference room. About a dozen people sit in swivel chairs, listening expectantly.
It’s a quick visit — after her label’s radio representative introduces her, she has only a few seconds to introduce each song.
“If you’ve known me for five minutes, which y’all have, it’s time for me to tell you I have a true obsession with red wine,” she said, introducing “Hide the Wine.” The people in the room murmur appreciatively. “And sometimes you make decisions that are questionable while under the influence of red wine.”
To close the performance, she tells the backstory of “Every Little Thing”: “I wrote this song about a guy who broke my heart a few years ago, and wanted to take you on a journey of my personal story.” She belts out the ballad, accompanied by her backup musicians:
Guess you forgot what you told me, because you left my heart on the floor
Baby, your ghost still haunts me, but I don’t want to sleep with him no more
The small crowd claps loudly. Some exit the room quickly to go back to their offices, but others linger, making small talk and asking Pearce if she’ll take a photo.
She can’t stay long, because she has to fly to Florida. Then South Carolina, then Colorado, then back to Florida, then Nevada, and on and on, while her team works the phones back in Nashville, calling stations and urging them to play Carly Pearce. And so it will continue, because ultimately, hopefully, it will lead to her dream.
“Radio tour is the most exciting, exhausting, unique, hilarious thing I’ve ever done,” she said. “This is all I’ve ever wanted.”
Opportunities, heartbreak, second chances—Carly Pearce is thankful for every little thing. The 26-yearold singer/songwriter grew up as a musical marvel in the one-stoplight town of Taylor Mill, Kentucky. She was fronting a bluegrass band at age 11 and by 16 had shipped off to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for a full-time job at the iconic Dollywood theme park after convincing her parents to homeschool. She performed six shows a day, five days a week for one year at Dollywood before spending the next year at Country Tonite performing everyday with one day off each month.
Eager to launch her career as a solo artist, she moved to Nashville and began meeting songwriters and producers; within a few years, she scored a developmental contract with a major label. Eight months later, the deal fell through. “I remember that being a really dark moment for me,” she says. “But I knew that I didn’t want to move home or quit. I knew that this was just a trying time.”
In 2014, she was cast in a music video for Pretty Little Liars actress Lucy Hale, who was breaking out as a Country artist. Pearce’s proven tenacity from an early age once again gave her the courage to ask about joining the tour, ultimately landing a spot as a backup vocalist.
Reinvigorated, she teamed up with busbee and Emily Shackelton on a song that’s uncomfortable, almost, in its vulnerability: the haunting ballad “Every Little Thing.” Through snapshots, Pearce relives a soul-shattering breakup, wondering how to move on, how to let go, and how to remember—all at once.
“I’m a testament of the underdog who spun her wheels in town for eight years but never gave up,” she says. “I’m so thankful that I’ve had to claw and cry and kick and scream and lay down at night sometimes going, ‘What did I do wrong? Where did I go wrong?’ It’s making everything so much sweeter.”
Country music newcomer Carly Pearce admits she feels a little bit of Alice In Wonderland lately. Her debut single, "Every Little Thing," is garnering rave reviews from critics and fans alike, and many publications have named the Kentucky native as 'one to watch' for 2017. The year could not have gotten off to a better start for the latest signee to the Big Machine Label Group.
"I really don't know if I can put it into words," she tells Billboard. "I have always dreamed of pursuing a career in country music. I've never known a day that I didn't want to do this, and I've always dreamt of having a record deal. But the older I got… I think I've been here for eight years, but I am so blessed to have gotten the right record deal, and the right team. They are so excited and passionate about who I am as an artist, and the music that I want to make. I don't feel that I could be in a better scenario than Scott and the Big Machine team.
"I'm spending a lot of my time in an airplane, which is new for me. I think my band is probably getting tired of me," she says with a laugh. "I am doing the radio tour with a couple of my musician friends that have been with me for about six years. They've been all over the country with me, so that makes it so much sweeter, fun, and authentic to who I am and the music that I make. I have these friends with me, that keeps me sane. It's all been a blast for all of us. I feel that we have talked about these moments for so long," she says with a glow about her.
Pearce penned the single with Emily Shackelton and busbee, who has gained notoriety for his recent work with Maren Morris and Keith Urban. She has known both for quite a while. "I met Emily during my first year here. I fell in love with not only her voice, but everything about her. She is so amazing. We have shared a lot of similar stories of struggling in this town, and finding our way. With busbee, it seems that everything he puts his stamp on turns into country music royalty, but a lot of people don't know that he actually signed me about two years ago, I was the first artist he signed from a development standpoint, from the ground up. So, we've been working together for about two years. Both of them are like family to me. I think that speaks to why I felt so comfortable sharing my story of this heartbreak."
Pearce hails from the tiny town of Taylor Mill, Kentucky – pop. 6,604. She says it probably wouldn't be a stretch to say most of the town's citizens knew of her career ambitions from the start. "I come from a really small town. We have one stoplight. I feel that anyone there who knew me knew that country music was what I wanted to do. If I was cheerleading, I was leaving to go to band rehearsals or skipping prom to sing at Dollywood. I was always the music girl." Though she has made the move to Music City, she says you can't take the Wildcat out of the girl. "I'm thankful to where I come from, and I have the state of Kentucky tattooed on my wrist because I will never forget where I come from. I hope that I make them proud."
Pearce got an early start on her dreams, thanks to her father. "I convinced my dad to let me audition for Dollywood at age sixteen. I asked him to let me quit high school, and he let me. He let me find a home schooling program that let me get into a university." She said that making the trek to East Tennessee was beneficial. "In the way that Nashville has a songwriter and artist community, Pigeon Forge has a performers' community of all of the theaters, That was the first time that I felt like I was surrounding myself with people who shared the same love of performing music as me. I learned a lot from that experience. Nobody thought I was completely crazy because of how much I loved performing. There were people from all over the country who shared that same love that I do."
Above, Billboard is excited to bring you this exclusive video clip of Pearce performing her new single on the hallowed stage of the Grand Ole Opry. The respect she has for the WSM Radio show's tradition is as natural to her as breathing. "I just played my 33rd show….but who's counting? If you were to ask me at five years old, what I wanted to do, the first thing out of my mouth would be to sing at the Grand Ole Opry. That was my dream since I was a little girl, to step in that circle. When you hear the record that I am making, you will hear that my identity is in country music. That's what I want to make. I don't care if it ever goes past that. That is where my heart lies. The Opry, to me, is the definition of country music. Any artist who I ever studied or wanted to pattern my career after, they all talked about stepping into that circle. I will never take that for granted, and hope to carry on the Opry the way that Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood have. They understand the importance and the sacredness of it. I am so blown away every time I get to step on the stage. I keep waiting on them to adopt me," she says.
As an artist who has played the show many times, what part gets her the most nervous? "For me, it's probably the pre-jitters," she admits freely. "If you've ever been backstage at the Opry, it's such a special place where everybody leaves their dressing rooms open, and the rooms are all themed with something to do with country music history. You walk through the halls, and every single person you have ever idolized is on that stage. I'm just standing off to the side right before you step out to the stage. You see the audience, and you see the circle. It flashes in my head just how many of my heroes have stepped onto that stage. Then, you get out there – and it's over. It happens so fast."
But somehow, we imagine, she is still savoring the moment. She will take to the show's stage the next time on April 15.
Ain’t no party like an ACM party ‘cause the ACM party don’t stop…well, as long as Carly Pearce is hosting the red carpet pre-game!
The 52nd Annual ACM Awards brought out some of the biggest country stars to Las Vegas to press their luck on the big prizes for the night and use their luck to score a perfect performance or two. Before heading into the show, many of the artists graced the gray and pink carpet dressed their best to get the shindig started right.
Pearce, who was Sounds Like Nashville’s ACM red carpet correspondent for the night, asked everyone who they anxiously awaited to see perform live on the T-Mobile Arena stage with plenty of powerful performances to choose from. While Big & Rich opted for a duet from Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Chris Lane couldn’t keep his Backstreet Boys love to himself as he predicted their collaboration with Florida Georgia Line to be “one of the coolest of the night.”
Making things really interesting, Pearce then got a few of her fellow country friends to participate in a game of ‘Who Is Most Likely: Dierks or Luke.’ Giving the artists paddles with the faces of Dierks Bentley or Luke Bryan on the front and back respectively, each made their final decisions about some of the crazy antics the ACM hosts would get up to during their time in the nocturnal city. Pearce asked a few about who would break their ACM trophy in a drunken state and according to Frankie Ballard, Bentley takes the cake thanks to his partying ways.
“I’ve partied a couple times with Dierks and I’m not saying he would break it. I’m just saying, he throws a good party,” admitted Ballard to SLN.
Even Big & Rich joked about who would be the one to skinny dip in the middle of the hotel pool by claiming Bryan would be the victim as long as he moved his hips while he waded around.
“Yeah, shake it for me, Luke, while I’m naked skinny-dipping in a hotel pool. Shake it for me,” Big Kenny sang with John Rich harmonizing along.
Check out what other zany answers some of your favorite stars gave before the ACM Awards in the video above.
From a local bluegrass band to Dollywood and the Grand Ole Opry, Carly Pearce can truly say she’s had a steady rise to the new light on her now. After being featured on Josh Abbott Band’s single “Wasn’t That Drunk” in early 2016, Pearce was already in a reset; a new publishing deal, new label, new writing partners, and new experiences. She was ready to make an official debut in the country music scene. According to Wide Open Country, with a batch of new material in hand, and contemporary writing partner in busbee, Pearce took a chance with Sirius XM. There, J.R. Schumann felt tied to her well-received single, “Every Little Thing.” According to Pearce, out of all the songs she dropped off, the success of “Every Little Thing” confused her at first, but ended up making perfect sense: “I think country fans love the truth. This song is the truth and they feel that.” After its release on Sirius XM’s hit country station, “The Highway,” it went number one in a matter of weeks and sold over 4K in sales.
So how does a musician celebrate a personal story of heartache? It would seem awkward for some, but Pearce took it easy and simple. “I’m pretty sure I went and had a glass of wine with some girlfriends!” she says. What else is the solution for such a straightforward song about a complicated feeling? The lyrics, “The look in your eyes like a window, the taste of your kiss soaked in wine / Every little thing, I remember every little thing / The high, the hurt, the shine, the sting—every little thing,” read like a personal conversation with oneself, but also a conversation with someone you trust to simply listen.
Since “Every Little Thing” has taken off on satellite and mainstream country radio, Pearce feels she’s reaching new areas in her craft and those interested in hearing it. “It’s hard to put into words,” she says. “I have put so much work into this—so much blood, sweat, and tears…it’s an indescribable feeling to see it starting to pay off. I’ll never take it for granted.”
She is currently on her radio tour promoting “Every Little Thing” with some large stage performances mixed in, such as the Grand Ole Opry, where she performed in the presence of other artists, like Zac Brown Band, Crystal Gale, and Trace Adkins. Since different stage locations aren’t unfamiliar to Pearce, touring continues to bring excitement. “I love being on the road. I love waking up in different cities,” she says. “I try to make the most of the time I’m in the cities to experience a little of what’s unique to them. Sleeping in a bunk is pretty crazy!”
Being around different people isn’t limited to traveling, as Pearce speaks of positive feelings when she decided to begin a co-writing partnership with various musicians and producers. She cites it as natural and fresh with different perspectives for a particular subject. “I think I definitely have benefited from many other co-writers in how I articulate things in songs,” she admits. “Even from a melodic sense, I’ve learned a lot of phrasing ideas from other writers that I’ve then taken and fused into my other [writings].”
I think I definitely have benefited from many other co-writers in how I articulate things in songs.
The new label Carly Pearce calls home is Big Machine Label Group, the same label holding Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, and Cheap Trick. BMLG’s CEO, Scott Borchetta, reached out to Pearce and was on a plane back to Nashville to meet her less than 24 hours after the song premiered on Sirius XM’s “The Highway.”
“It’s truly a dream come true…Not only are they an incredible label with incredible artists, but they are allowing me to be 100% authentic to my artistry and respect me. I’m so blessed,” she says.
Being able to start off the new year with goals achieved, Pearce keeps her eye on the big prize, making it clear the competition lies with herself and no one else. “I never want to get to a place where I feel like I’ve completely ‘hit the bar’ of my potential,” she says. “I don’t think any truly successful artist gets to that point. I want to continue to push myself in every area of my career, including how I bleed my heart into my songs.”
Other goals for Carly Pearce in 2017 are quite simple and are within reach. “I’d love to take ‘Every Little Thing’ to the top of the country chart, make an incredible record that I’m so proud of, and play as many shows as I can!” she tells us.
Upon taking any stage—after warming up with a country cover and having a glass of wine—Carly Pearce continues to hold composed and confident, bringing in new fans and listeners eager to watch her career soar.
Carly Pearce’s “Every Little Thing” is available on iTunes, and Spotify. For current tour dates, follow Carly at www.carlypearce.com and Twitter
Read more Music Interviews at Clichemag.com
The ACM Awards are quickly approaching and that means only one thing: Vegas, baby!
Prepping for the big awards show out west comes with the hefty task of getting glammed up in fabulous fashion, and Sounds Like Nashville’s ACM red carpet correspondent Carly Pearce went on a mission to find her dream dress for the dazzling night to come.
Heading over to Nashville’s own The Showroom, Pearce found herself in glitter heaven with all of the gowns and ensembles to choose from. From flowy frocks to jazzed-up numbers, the country newcomer slipped into a few ensembles that struck her fancy for the red carpet madness. Falling in love with rompers and dresses galore, Pearce could not keep her heart contained over all of the gorgeous options surrounding her.
When it comes to strutting her stuff though, even Pearce admitted she’s looking for a shoe that will support her every move while working it on ACM night.
“I can barely get around in boots, so trying to get around in heels is gonna be fun. So I’m gonna have to find some type of thick heels so I don’t bust my butt in front of everyone. The stiletto is not my friend,” she told SLN during an exclusive fitting.
Taking into account that Vegas is all about the flashiness of the bright lights, Pearce went back and forth between all the sequins and keeping it classy.
“I kind of go usually black or neutrals and stuff like that or I really do love, like, glitz and glamour and rhinestones,” she admitted. “I mean, I did work for Dolly Parton, so there’s a little bit of that part of me in there.”
Stay tuned to see which outfit Pearce chose during the 52nd Annual ACM Awards, airing live from Las Vegas on Sunday, April 2, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
Be sure to visit The Showroom at 1212 8th Ave S in Nashville, Tennessee to buy or rent your next fancy ensemble!
Carly Pearce, you are ripping my heart out with this new single and video for “Every Little Thing.”
It’s the ultimate heartbreak anthem. Not because it focuses only on the grand and obvious moments of a past relationship, but because it focuses on the “little things,” and we all know those little, everyday ordinary things are what really make a relationship. Those are the memories you carry with you that creep up on you and still break your heart, no matter how much time passes.
Those are the moments we really miss when love is lost — and the ones we sometimes try not to forget because we don’t really want to let go.
Pearce perfectly captures the melancholy with the moody neon glow of her debut video, captured by director Patrick Tracy during a live session at Brown Owl Studios. Her lilting, emotive voice soaring as she sings of “the high, the hurt, the shine, the sting,” Pearce will make you feel every little thing.
Pearce co-wrote this track with Emily Shackelton and busbee, who is producing Pearce’s debut album for Big Machine Label Group. “Every Little Thing” has already reached over 1 million streams to date.
Big Machine Label Group President & CEO Scott Borchetta, CRB Executive Director Bill Mayne and BMLG artists Maddie & Tae, A Thousand Horses, Trent Harmon, Midland, Carly Pearce; Delta Rae; Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CRSEverybody better be keeping their eyes and ears open for the stars of Big Machine Label Group because the record company’s new artists are about explode all over the country scene.
New faces lead the way throughout the special Country Radio Seminar lunch, which gave way to a future look at what tunes will soon be blasting through the speakers of every country radio listener within the next year. Scott Borchetta, CEO and President of Big Machine, introduced the stellar line-up with great excitement for what’s to come on their musical horizon.
A Thousand Horses kicked off the midday event with a heavy harmonica rock song called “Travelin’ Man,” which showcased their loud and proud repertoire of their electric guitar sound. Following up with a little bit of soul in their step, the band performed their upcoming single, “Preachin’ to the Choir,” with some help coming in stride from their ladies-in-waiting on the powerful background vocals. Shouting a big thank you out to country radio for supporting a band like them, they closed their quick set with their No. 1 hit, “Smoke,” setting the bar high for the BMLG acts to follow.
‘Highway Find’ Carly Pearce graced the stage with her presence as Borchetta explained her longwinded journey to the country music scene. At the age of just 16, Pearce left home and dropped out of high school after seeking out an ad to work within the Dollywood franchise. With great strength and gumption, Pearce developed her love of the stage under the watchful eye of Dolly Parton’s legendary presence to begin her own career singing songs and making music.
Pearce made nice about shutting down the post-breakup urges with her cheeky track, “Hide the Wine.” Set to be released on her forthcoming album, the hilarious ‘no-no’ song boasts tongue-in-cheek lyrics like, “I don’t trust myself with you,” and “It’s a dangerous thing pouring alcohol on an old fling,” that could make anyone think, “Been there, done that.” Pearce then played her current hit, “Every Little Thing,” as an ode to the heartbreak she managed to fight through thanks to her therapeutic songwriting skills.
There’s nothing like a little bit of Maddie & Tae to get the party started, and they did just that with their sassy response to life’s expectations in their new song, “Just Fine.” Rolling eyes at all of the questions regarding their futures, the girls laughed off their haters in lyric form while charming the crowd with their flawless harmonies. “Welcome to the Club” gave off the same vibes, only this time it was in breakup form. Claiming things are going to be ok even after someone leaves you high and dry, Maddie & Tae reassured that heartbreak is just something everyone has to deal with every once in a while (and it sucks).
Proving that ‘they can’t change what’s in their veins,’ Maddie & Tae garnered a chuckle or two throughout their performance of “Blame It on the Tree,” in which they point the finger at the generations before them for turning them into the strong-willed women they are today. Ending off their time at the luncheon with an emotional rendition of “Somebody Will,” they established that the duo sure knows how to tug on the heartstrings of all those who listen to their unmatched harmonies.
Bringing the good ol’ days of traditional country back into the format, Midlandplayed tracks from their most recent EP, including “Check Cashin’ Country” and “Burn Out,” to channel the sounds of a Randy Travis-meets-George Strait vibe in trio form. Finishing off their set with a standing ovation, the guys strummed their acoustic guitars during “Drinkin’ Problem,” their debut radio single.
The minute American Idol winner Trent Harmon took the stage, the crowd felt as if he was someone special. Throwing in the lighthearted spirit of his current radio tune, “There’s a Girl,” into the mix, his vocals melted like butter throughout every vibrato mastered within the performance. But it was his bluesy love song dedicated to his girlfriend of six years that left everyone floored. “Her” told the story of how no one else, no matter the temptations or the opportunities, will ever be as good as the love of his life. The slowed-down track with its acoustic touch filled the room with goosebumps by the last powerful note.
Finishing out the showcase was the band Delta Rae, which Borchetta compared to the likings of a Little Big Town revamp. Their fiddle-driven melodies combined with the folksy harmonies gave off a hippie-meets-country sound to their tracks like “Walk with Me” and “I Moved South.” Highlighting their true talent by getting all four members to gather around one microphone, Delta Rae stunned the audience with their hauntingly beautiful song, “No Peace in Quiet.”
Fans can be on the lookout for each of these artists as they take over country music by checking their music out on Spotify now.
Featuring: Jack Falahee, Carly Pearce, Runaway June, Katelyn Tarver, The Heydaze, Leslie Mosier (Doug The Pug), Tommy Dorfman, Dante Brown, Jline
https://nkdmag.com/issue-68-february-2017/
NASHVILLE, TN (January 23, 2017) – Big Machine Label Group proudly announces the signing of singer/songwriter CARLY PEARCE. Blazing her own trail, the CMT Next Women of Country alum has taken the format by storm with her critically-acclaimed new single “Every Little Thing,” which was first discovered as a “Highway Find” on SiriusXM’s “The Highway” and is available now. Carly officially joins a superstar artist roster that includes Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Reba, Florida Georgia Line, Brantley Gilbert and Thomas Rhett.
2017 is destined to be Carly’s breakout year with accolades like CMT “Listen Up Artist: 17 for 2017,”SiriusXM “Future Five for 2017,” Rolling Stone Country “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know,”Huffington Post “Top 10 Country Artists to Watch in 2017,” Country Living “10 Country Artists to Watch in 2017,” One Country “11 Country Artists to Watch in 2017,” Sounds Like Nashville “14 New Country Artists to Watch in 2017” and Whiskey Riff “14 Artists Set to Break Out in 2017.”
BMLG President & CEO Scott Borchetta comments, “Carly has been very impressive in constructing her team and preparing for success and she is a very important member of the new generation of female Country artists. Her craft is her life’s charge and we’re very proud to add her to the Big Machine family.”
“I’m so honored and truly blessed to be able to work with Scott Borchetta and the Big Machine Label Group staff,” adds Carly. “It’s a dream come true to have found a team who not only sees my vision but believes in it too. I couldn’t be more excited and ready to hit the ground running!”
Carly is managed by Vector Management in Nashville.
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