Ashley Cooke possesses a voice that is both clear and sincere yet carries a subtle roughness. At the start of the 2020s she gained attention through a string of online singles that secured a recording agreement with Big Loud. Her visibility increased thanks to collaborations with prominent artists such as Jimmie Allen on “Good Goodbye” and Brett Young on “Never Til Now,” both appearing on her debut full-length release Already Drank That Beer from 2022. In 2023 she followed up with Shot in the Dark, which included work alongside Colbie Caillat.
Originating from Wisconsin, Cooke divided her early years between California and Florida before establishing residence in Parkland, Florida. She began composing her own material during childhood and developed an affinity for country music while in high school, especially the pop-infused styles of Taylor Swift, Florida Georgia Line, and Rascal Flatts. Following completion of high school she committed to a music path by attending Belmont University in Nashville. Her victory at the institution’s Country Showcase—previously claimed by Brad Paisley and Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line—facilitated her entry into the Nashville country scene upon earning her degree in 2019.
In 2020 Cooke started cultivating listeners via her social media video presence, emphasizing this approach amid the COVID-19 lockdown period. She contributed to forming the 615 House group alongside other Nashville residents like Chris Ruediger, while also advancing her solo recordings. During that period she independently issued the digital tracks “Strangers,” a joint effort with Daniel Kim Ethridge, and “Chasin’ You.” Partnering next with Back Blocks Music resulted in the 2020 release of “Jealous of the Sky,” succeeded by “Sunday Morning Kinda Saturday Night,” the duet “Between You & Me” with Roman Alexander, “Under,” and “Already Drank That Beer,” all preceding the August 2021 launch of Already Drank That Beer Side A, which Jimmy Robbins produced.
This momentum, combined with the Jimmie Allen pairing “Good Goodbye,” drew interest from Big Loud, leading to Ashley Cooke’s signing for both recording and publishing arrangements in April 2022; these deals represented joint efforts with Back Blocks Music. Soon after she issued a fresh rendition of “Never Til Now” featuring Brett Young, later incorporated into the complete Already Drank That Beer. Additional tracks emerged during the remainder of the year, among them “It’s Been a Year” and “Back in the Saddle.” Along with the Colbie Caillat joint “Mean Girl,” these appeared on her 2023 project Shot in the Dark.
