Carly Pearce

Carly Pearce is an American country singer from Taylor Mill, Kentucky, and is associated with contemporary country and country music. She is signed to Big Machine Records and has also had a development deal with Sony Music Nashville.

Early life and career beginnings

Pearce is born in 1990 and grows up in Taylor Mill. She leaves school at 16 and moves to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where she performs at Dollywood five times a week and contributes to bluegrass compilation albums. At 19, she relocates to Nashville, Tennessee.

Recording career

In 2012, Pearce signs a developmental deal with Sony Music Nashville, but it does not lead to a release. Her profile rises in 2016 when she appears as a featured vocalist on Josh Abbott Band’s “Wasn’t That Drunk”, a song that charts in the top 40 of Country Airplay. She tours with the band and performs the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

That success leads to her working with songwriter and producer busbee on her solo debut single, “Every Little Thing”. After the song receives airplay on Sirius XM’s The Highway, she signs with Big Machine Records, which releases the single to country radio. Her debut studio album, Every Little Thing, follows in 2017.

Albums and singles

Pearce’s next single, “Hide the Wine”, becomes a further hit and reaches number 13 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in 2018. She then releases “Closer to You” in 2018 as the lead single for her second studio album. In 2019, she issues “I Hope You’re Happy Now”, a duet with Lee Brice, and it becomes her second number one on Billboard Country Airplay.

Her self-titled second studio album is released in 2020 after she marries singer Michael Ray. It debuts at number six on the Top Country Albums chart and number 73 on the Billboard 200. She later releases “Next Girl” in 2020, then her first EP, 29, in 2021. The title refers to the personal setbacks she experiences during her 29th year, including her divorce from Michael Ray and the death of busbee. The EP receives strong critical notice and “Next Girl” later reaches the top 15 of Country Airplay.

Grand Ole Opry and later work

In June 2021, Dolly Parton invites Pearce to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. The following month, she announces 29: Written in Stone with the promotional track “Dear Miss Loretta”, a tribute to Loretta Lynn featuring Patty Loveless. Released in September 2021, the album reaches number nine on the country albums chart and number 83 on the Billboard 200. It includes “Never Wanted to Be That Girl”, a duet with Ashley McBryde, which becomes her third Country Airplay number one, and “What He Didn’t Do”, which reaches number one on the Aircheck/Mediabase chart.

In 2023, Pearce releases 29: Written in Stone (Live from Music City), her first live album, which includes the full previous album plus additional tracks and special guests. In 2024, she releases Hummingbird, which reaches number 31 on the US country albums chart. Its lead single, “We Don’t Fight Anymore”, featuring Chris Stapleton, reaches the US country top ten.

Awards and recognition

Pearce receives her first Grammy Award recognition in 2023 for her performance on “Never Wanted to Be That Girl”.