Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde are officially Grammy Awards winners! The two won the Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group collaboration, for their “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” duet. The song, which marks the first time two female artists have won in the category, is from Pearce’s 29: Written in Stone record.
“I did not expect this,” Pearce said from stage. “I’m out of breath. Oh my goodness. You know what? I was working on a record and I heard — I’ve known Ashley for a long time, and I just wanted to sing a song with her. We wrote this song and it has just transcended so many of my wildest dreams. Real music. Real country music. Thank you, Scott Borchetta. Thank you, Big Machine Records. Thank you to country music fans and thank you to The Academy. Holy crap. This is my first nomination, so I was not expecting this.”
CARLY PEARCE IS A GRAMMY WINNER. “Never Wanted To Be That Girl" won Best Country Duo/Group Performance! Congrats Carly and Ashley! #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/noZCRzqJTK
— Carly P Connect – FAN ACCOUNT (@CarlyP_Connect) February 5, 2023
Backstage, Pearce reflected on both the song and the strong friendship that ensued, as a result of “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” between the two women.
“I always loved Ashley’s music and just was a fan. I asked her if she’d write a song with me,” Pearce said backstage (via The Tennessean). “To see this song do what it’s over the last year and a half for us and just continue to show the girls coming up behind us that you can write your truth and you can do everything that you want in this business, I feel very, very lucky.”
It was Pearce’s idea to write “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” part of an entire project that shares Pearce’s feelings over the end of her brief marriage to Michael Ray. It’s an idea McBryde admits she wasn’t sure Pearce was ready to explore, at least at first.
“I was like, ‘This is a little soon, and this is a little close to home for you, and if we’re being honest, it’s a little close to home for me,” McBryde conceded to People. “And she said, ‘I think we should do it.'”
McBryde was also nominated for Best Country Album, for Ashley McBryde Presents; Lindeville. That trophy went to Willie Nelson, for his A Beautiful Time album..
Pearce just announced her 29: Written in Stone (Live From Music City) album, which includes both her duet with McBryde, as well as collaborations with Lee Brice and Matthew West. The record will be out on March 24. Pre-order of the record is available here.
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