Ashley McBryde is enjoying one major triumph after another. Late this summer, she celebrated her 40th birthday; months later, she released a new album, and in a recent interview McBryde confirmed that she’s officially been sober for over a year now.
As a country music singer-songwriter, McBryde stood out for her style that draws inspiration from a variety of different sources. She’s been nominated for six Grammy Awards and won one, and has a CMA Award and Academy of Country Music Awards to her name. But while these victories piled up, she also found alcohol starting to “creep” inter her life – but no more.
Ashley McBryde opens up about her journey with alcohol
McBryde sat down for a chat with Today’s Country Radio With Kelleigh Bannen in an episode that was shared on September 19. There, she discussed her journey to sobriety. Pursuing a better lifestyle saw McBryde look within. McBryde realized that to get sober, she would have to first figure out the original reason she started turning to alcohol. At the same time, she also had to find out why she felt so divorced from her own emotions and yet felt them in such extreme measures.
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“Then when you find out the reasons that you’re going so overboard all the time, was because of your inability to feel something,” she shared. “Your brain was like, ‘I can’t do it, I can’t do it.’ Well, that’s weak, I’m not gonna accept that. I’d rather just hurt.”
Ashley McBryde opens up at last about spending well over a year sober
McBryde’s battle with alcohol was kept very deliberately quiet by the Grand Ole Opry member. “What a white knuckle time to sit down and talk,” she said to Bannen, “but I really didn’t want to talk to anybody about it, even lightly, until a year had passed.” That’s exactly what has happened – and then some.
“I didn’t check the counter, and I haven’t, but it’s, it’s four hundred and fifty-something days,” McBryde revealed to Banne, adding, “I think the last time I sat with you it was 100 days.” Even at that previous milestone, McBryde was determined to keep quiet until she passed at least a year sober, admitting that she was afraid she would “screw it up.”
But this had to be done, McBryde emphasized in her chat, because her habit was downright “detrimental” to her understanding her own heart and mind.
In the past, McBryde might have faced uncomfortable situations and feelings and felt overwhelmed – and maybe turned to alcohol or avoided such complicated matters. But, she said, she now knows it’s just fine to feel uncomfortable and that she can come out the other side safely. Now, she can just bask in her nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2023 CMA Awards as well as celebrate the release of her new album, The Devil I Know, which was released on September 8.
Congratulations on the personal accomplishment!
