AMERICANA HONORS & AWARDS EMERGING ACT OF THE YEAR NOMINEE COVERS OTIS REDDING’S TIMELESS CLASSIC “THESE ARMS OF MINE,” RECORDED AROUND A CAMPFIRE IN NASHVILLE
STREAM “THESE ARMS OF MINE (AMAZON MUSIC ORIGINAL)” EXCLUSIVELY ON AMAZON MUSIC HERE
NASHVILLE, TENN. – Today, acclaimed artist-writer Kashus Culpepper releases “These Arms of Mine (Amazon Music Original),” a stunning cover of Otis Redding’s 1962 classic. The Alabama native, who is nominated for Americana Honors & Awards Emerging Act of the Year, delivers a stripped-back, soul-drenched rendition of the iconic track – recorded around a campfire in Nashville with only a guitar, dobro, backing vocalists and a choir of crickets.
When Culpepper was invited to record an Amazon Music Original, he had a clear vision for the session. A student and reverent purveyor of Southern music, he counts Otis Redding as a massive influence, and “These Arms of Mine” was his pick from the start.
The release follows a whirlwind season for Culpepper, who released his debut album Act I to widespread acclaim earlier this year. He has been touted by Elton John as “if Bill Withers made country music;” made appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, CBS Saturday Sessions, The Kelly Clarkson Show, NPR World Cafe and The Tamron Hall Show; and landed covers of SPIN (February 2026) and Guitar.com (May 2026). Act I hit No. 4 on the Americana Album Chart and produced the No. 1 Americana and Top 10 Triple A single “Believe.”
ABOUT KASHUS CULPEPPER
Alabama-born artist-writer Kashus Culpepper encompasses the sound of the South. A student and reverent purveyor of Southern music – country, soul, blues, folk and rock – Culpepper found his voice in church as young as five years old. It wasn’t until 2020 that Culpepper went from listener to performer, picking up a guitar and learning cover songs to play at barrack bonfires in Rota, Spain during his deployment with the Navy. Covers soon became originals, and once he landed home on U.S. shores, Kash played dive bars up and down the Mississippi Gulf Coast, making a name for himself with the fresh-yet-reminiscent sound that oozes from his very being. Crashing into prominence, Culpepper sold out headline club shows throughout the South before formally releasing a single song. With Nashville taking notice, Culpepper found a musical home at Big Loud Records. Culpepper has joined Leon Bridges, Sierra Ferrell and Darius Rucker on tour – embarking this year on a headlining run as well as dates with Niall Horan, Eric Church, Shaboozey, Jelly Roll, Thomas Rhett and Wyatt Flores. Named one of the 2026 Shazam Fast Forward Class, WXPN’s Artist to Watch for January 2026, 2026 Nashville Scene Artist to Watch, GRAMMY.com‘s 25 Artists to Watch in 2025, Apple Music Zane Lowe’s 25 Artists for ’25, 2025 Variety Power of Young Hollywood Impact Report, Opry NextStage Class of 2025, Billboard‘s February 2025 Country Rookie of the Month, 2025 Amazon Music Bonfire Artist to Watch, Apple Music’s February 2025 Country Riser of the Month, 2025 Pandora Country Artist to Watch and Martin Artist Showcase Class of 2025, Culpepper’s debut album Act I, and seasonal addendum Act I: Summer Nights, are out now.
ABOUT AMAZON MUSIC
Amazon Music is an immersive audio entertainment service that connects fans, artists, and creators through music, podcasts, and culture. Amazon Music brings fans closer to what they love, with curated and personalized playlists, artist livestreams, artist merch, and Amazon Exclusive podcasts. Prime members get access to over 100 million songs in shuffle mode, All-Access playlists, plus the largest catalog of top ad-free podcasts, included with their membership. Customers can subscribe to Amazon Music Unlimited for full, on-demand access to 100 million songs in HD, a growing catalog of Ultra HD and Spatial audio, and one audiobook a month from the world’s largest selection of audiobooks from Audible. Anyone can listen to Amazon Music by downloading the free Amazon Music app, or wherever they listen to music including Alexa-enabled devices. Learn more at amazon.com/music.
CONNECT WITH KASHUS CULPEPPER
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Media Contacts
Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud
corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com
