Elizabeth Cook is a US country singer and radio host from Wildwood, Florida. Born in 1972, she moves to Nashville in her twenties and quickly secures a publishing deal. Her work sits in country music with strong links to Americana, alt-country, folk and blues.

Recording career

Cook begins by releasing The Blue Album independently in 2000, using demos recorded between 1997 and 2000. The album highlights her songwriting and includes contributions from Tim Carroll, Kenny Vaughan and Rick Schell. She makes her major-label debut with Hey, Y'All in 2002, then returns to independent release with This Side of the Moon in 2005, which receives positive reviews.

Her later albums include Balls in 2007, which becomes her most successful release at that point and brings wider attention through press coverage and video play for “Sometimes It Takes Balls To Be A Woman”. Welder follows in 2010 and features guest appearances from Dwight Yoakam, Steve Earle and Buddy Miller. Gospel Plow appears in 2012, and Exodus of Venus is released in 2016.

Radio and live profile

Cook hosts the morning programme Elizabeth Cook's Apron Strings on Sirius XM’s Outlaw Country channel. The show runs on weekdays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Eastern Time and mixes Americana, outlaw country and alt-country.

She also has a long association with the Grand Ole Opry, making more than 400 appearances there since her debut on 17 March 2000, despite not being a member.

Family background

Cook comes from a musical family. Her mother, who is from West Virginia, plays guitar and mandolin and sings on local radio shows. Her father is from Georgia and performs country music; he also serves jail time for running moonshine. After his release, Cook’s parents perform together in local bands before marrying.