Country star Ashley McBryde has revealed that a serious horse-riding accident in 2021 nearly ended her career. The fall, which occurred in Montana, left her with a concussion and stitches to her scalp, requiring emergency hospital treatment. 'I was really, really badly hurt, and it was a bad enough injury that there was a chance that I wouldn’t have been able to perform ever again,' she told the Associated Press.
The incident prompted McBryde to reconsider her musical legacy, leading to the creation of her new album 'Wild', released on Friday. 'What if I keep letting them not be on records? ... Somebody never hears “Water in the River”? ... because I let myself be discouraged,' she said, explaining her motivation to capture live favourites in the studio. Produced by John Osbourne and recorded with her band Deadhorse, the album is described as her most rock 'n' roll yet.
McBryde's defiance against critics is evident in the album. 'When critics said something “was too rock, we turned that up. They said something that was too country, then we put a toothpick in its mouth. ... By the time we got to ‘Wild,’ I didn’t care anymore,' she said. The album blends fiery tracks like 'Lines in the Carpet' with heartfelt anthems, embodying her rebellious spirit.
Her journey to sobriety in 2022 also influenced the album's songs, including 'Bottle Tells Me So' and 'Behind Bars'. McBryde admitted fearing that her songwriting would suffer after giving up alcohol, but found that her new material was 'just grown' as she got out of her own way. She hopes the album will inspire listeners to take a chance on themselves, saying, 'I want that to wake up in you when you hear this record.'
