Ashley McBryde and Martina McBride are both American country music singers and songwriters who have made a name for themselves in the industry. They have also been compared and confused with each other because of their similar surnames. But are they related in any way? The answer is no.
Different Spelling, Different Family
The first clue that Ashley McBryde and Martina McBride are not related is the spelling of their surnames. Ashley’s last name has a “y” in it, while Martina’s does not. This may seem like a minor difference, but it indicates that they have different origins and ancestry.
the surname McBryde is of Scottish origin and means “son of Bride”, a female personal name derived from the Gaelic word “brigh”, meaning “strength”. The surname McBride, on the other hand, is of Irish origin and means “son of Brighid”, a female personal name derived from the same Gaelic word but with a different spelling.
Therefore, Ashley McBryde and Martina McBride are not likely to share any common ancestors or relatives, at least not in the recent past.
Similar Music, Different Careers
The second clue that Ashley McBryde and Martina McBride are not related is their different musical styles and career paths. While both women are country singers and songwriters, they have distinct voices, influences, and achievements.
Ashley McBryde was born on July 29th, 1983, in Waldron, Arkansas. She started playing guitar at a young age and moved to Nashville in 2007 to pursue her dream of becoming a country star. She released two independent albums, ‘Ashley McBryde’ (2006) and ‘Elsebound’ (2011), and an EP ‘Jalopies & Expensive Guitars’ (2016), before signing with Warner Music Nashville in 2017.
Her major-label debut album, ‘Girl Going Nowhere’, was released in 2018 and earned her critical acclaim and commercial success. The album was nominated for Best Country Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, and the title track won Breakthrough Video of the Year at the 2019 CMT Music Awards. Her second major-label album, ‘Never Will’, was released in 2020 and won Album of the Year at the 2020 ACM Awards.
Ashley McBryde is known for her gritty, authentic, and storytelling songs that draw from her personal experiences and rural upbringing. She has been praised for her powerful vocals, raw lyrics, and rebellious attitude. She has also collaborated with other artists such as Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Brothers Osborne, and Wynonna Judd.
Martina McBride was born on July 29th, 1966, in Sharon, Kansas. She also started singing at a young age and moved to Nashville in 1989 with her husband John McBride, who worked as a sound engineer. She signed with RCA Records in 1991 and released her debut album, ‘The Time Has Come’, in 1992.
She rose to fame with her second album, ‘The Way That I Am’, which spawned her first top-five hit “My Baby Loves Me”. She followed it with several successful albums such as ‘Wild Angels’ (1995), ‘Evolution’ (1997), ‘Emotion’ (1999), ‘Martina’ (2003), ‘Timeless’ (2005), ‘Shine’ (2008), and ‘Reckless’ (2016).
Martina McBride is known for her soprano voice, pop-oriented sound, and socially conscious songs that address issues such as domestic violence, cancer, child abuse, and female empowerment. She has won four CMA Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year, three ACM Awards for Top Female Vocalist, and one Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. She has also collaborated with other artists such as Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson, Jimmy Buffett, Clint Black, and Kelly Clarkson.
Conclusion
Ashley McBryde and Martina McBride are not related by blood or by marriage. They have different surnames, different backgrounds, different musical styles, and different career trajectories. The only thing they have in common is their love for country music and their respect for each other.
According to Parade.com³, Ashley McBryde said of Martina McBride in 2019, “She’s one of my heroes. She’s one of the reasons I wanted to do this.” Martina McBride also praised Ashley McBryde in 2018, saying, “She’s a great singer, a great songwriter, and she’s got a lot of charisma and a lot of heart.”
Ashley McBryde and Martina McBride may not be family, but they are certainly friends and fans of each other. And that’s something to celebrate..