Ashland Craft on dive bar beauty queen, new collabs & her journey

Country singer-songwriter Ashland Craft joins Bar Conversations to talk about her latest album dive bar beauty queen, out now, along with newly released reimagined collaborations from the project. Ashland reflects on growing up in South Carolina, where a blue-collar upbringing and strong work ethic helped shape her authentic sound. From learning guitar by watching CMT to singing in church and playing local bars at just 17, she shares the early experiences that fueled her passion for music and ultimately led her to the national stage on The Voice, where she worked with Miley Cyrus.Ashland also dives into the making of dive bar beauty queen, including writing or co-writing nearly every track and taking a more hands-on role in shaping the record’s sound. She talks about standout songs like Kick Rocks Cowboy and the story behind the title track, plus her recent collaborations with Chase Rice, Ashley McBryde, and Mae Estes. She also reflects on making her debut at the legendary Grand Ole Opry, touring internationally, and her mission to create music that feels like a friend to her fans—along with what’s ahead in 2026.Jonathan’s Drinking: Rare Character 2026 Rye Batch 1