Rising country artist Ashley Cooke closes out her breakthrough year with a surprise drop of “it’s been a year,” out everywhere now. Arriving just before year’s end, “it’s been a year” serves as a sentimental rewind on her unprecedented 2022.
Out today with a special video recap, the wistful ballad penned by Cooke, Brett Tyler, and Will Weatherly reflects on the dedication Cooke has put towards her craft – leading to a whole new level of success – with the consequence of time flashing before her eyes. “It’s been three hundred sixty-five of record lows and record highs / Loving and losing, fun and confusing, praying and shifting gears / For the minute you got, it’s probably a lot, more than you wanna hear / So all I’ll say is, ‘it’s been a year,'” Cooke confesses.
“This year has been nothing short of a whirlwind. I inked my first deals, played bucket list stages, went on four major tours and a country-wide radio tour, met thousands of new people and even a few of my heroes, fell in and out of love and spent more nights sleeping on a van bench than in my bed,” shares Cooke. “It held some good, some bad, and some of the greatest moments of my life so far – and I wouldn’t trade a single minute of the last 365 days. Thank you all for being on this journey with me and cheers to many more.”
As her packed touring schedule comes to a close for the year, Cooke gears up to visit her UK fans for the first time to play the Spotlight Stage at the C2C: Country to Country music festival in London (March 10th) and Glasgow (March 11th). For tickets and additional information, visit: https://c2c-countrytocountry.com/.
Cooke kicked off her 2022 being tapped as Spotify’s Hot Country Artist to Watch before signing her record deal with Big Loud / Back Blocks Music in March. After making her debut at US country radio with her “romantic hit” (Good Morning America) “Never Til Now” with Brett Young in May, the “country music breakout star” (CMT) made her national television debut on ABC’s The Bachelorette this summer, kick-starting the upward trajectory of “Never Til Now” at terrestrial radio. Tours with Young, Cole Swindell, and Jordan Davis filled out Cooke’s calendar with over 100 shows, while notching career milestones with debuts at the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium.
“it’s been a year” serves as the latest instalment of new music from the powerhouse female songstress, who delivered fans “getting into” and “back in the saddle” this summer, before dropping dual releases “running back” and “dirt on ’em” last month. Heading into 2023 with momentum like never before and more new music on the way, Cooke is just getting started.
ABOUT ASHLEY COOKE
With Big Loud / Back Blocks Music country artist Ashley Cooke, it’s best to know what you’re getting into – because this emerging star is the definition of more than meets the eye. A graceful exterior matched by a casual-cool nature. Skilfully crafted lyrics and a knack for unforgettable performance. Effortless vocal beauty and a bold sense of internal grit, freely mixing it up with the boys while she rallies the girls. And most important, a passion for capturing the magic between heartbeats, each moment as unique as she is. Still early in her journey, being herself has already served Cooke well. It’s led to chart climbing hits like “Never Til Now” with Brett Young, national TV appearances on ABC’s The Bachelorette, tours with Cole Swindell, Jordan Davis, and more.
Hailing from Parkland, Fla. and moved by emotional hit makers like Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Kelly Clarkson and more, Cooke embraces the energy of pop and depth of country, writing her first song by age 11. Cooke moved to Nashville at 18 and attended the prestigious Belmont University – but unlike so many others, she did not study music. After entering the schools revered Country Showcase on a whim and winning, Cooke decided to pursue music for a year. When the pandemic had other plans, Cooke went to TikTok where she built a thriving fanbase, writing and sharing country music on her own terms – and in many ways, she’s still putting melodies to her journal entries today. Vivid and emotionally pure, her sun-kissed blend of two-lane pop is often inspired by true tales of love, loss, and living, matching raw relatability and deeply addictive hooks.
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