STEPS ONTO THE RYMAN STAGE FOR BACK-TO-BACK NIGHTS AS DIRECT SUPPORT FOR COLE SWINDELL JUST ONE WEEK AFTER HER GRAND OLE OPRY DEBUT
“RUNNING BACK” AND “DIRT ON ‘EM” OUT NOV. 18
Ashley Cooke at the Ryman Auditorium
Photo credit: Alanna McArdle | Download here
NASHVILLE, TENN. – Rising country artist Ashley Cooke continues her record-breaking year with a sold-out, two-night debut at the revered Ryman Auditorium as direct support for Cole Swindell’s Back Down To The Bar Tour. The milestone performance at the mother church of country music saw Cooke playing a mix of her biggest hits like “Never Til Now,” welcoming Roman Alexander to the stage for a duet of “Between You & Me,” and joining Swindell on the second night for a powerful rendition of the Swindell/Lainey Wilson hit “Never Say Never.” Cooke also treated the audience to brand new music, teasing her unreleased track “dirt on ’em,” which will drop alongside “running back” on Friday, Nov. 18, available for pre-save now.
“Every artist dreams of getting to play the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium, two of music’s most legendary stages. I’m overcome with emotion having made my debut at both within days of each other,” shares Cooke. “It has truly been the most incredible time of my life and I’m feeling so blessed to be on this ride with someone as kind and encouraging as Cole Swindell.”
Just moments before Cooke stepped on the beloved stage, the artist with “superstar potential” (CMT) was surprised by her team and SiriusXM producer Nicholas Elliot with plaques recognizing her SiriusXM The Highway No. 1 chart-topper “Never Til Now” and 100M Global Artist Streams. Cooke’s debut performance at the landmark venue comes just one week after she stepped in the circle for her Grand Ole Opry debut on Oct. 26, where she joined country icon and hero Gary LeVox for an emotional duet of “What Hurts The Most.”
Cooke’s year of bucket list firsts includes the buzzed-about songstress’ national television debut on ABC’s The Bachelorette, kick-starting the upward trajectory of “Never Til Now” at terrestrial radio. The “romantic hit” (Good Morning America) about finding your soulmate when you least expect it continues to resonate with fans nationwide, cementing its spot in the Top 50 on the Country Aircheck/Mediabase charts at country radio.
In August, Cooke ushered in a new chapter of music following her 2021 debut project Already Drank That Beer, dropping back-to-back releases “getting into” and the anthemic “back in the saddle” in September. The recent Big Loud / Back Blocks music signee continues to tour across the country with Swindell as she prepares to deliver fans more new music on Nov. 18. For dates and more information, visit ashleycooke.com and keep up with her on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok @theashleycooke.
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. Skillfully 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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Media Contacts
Olivia Hanceri or Lexi Howder | OH Creative
olivia@theohcreative.com, lexi@theohcreative.com
Jess Anderson | Big Loud Records
Photo credit: Brayln Kelly | Download here
Ashley Cooke and Cole Swindell
Photo credit: Alanna McArdle | Download here
