North Huntingdon singer hits No. 1 on country radio chart
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When Ashley Puckett of North Huntingdon released her debut album, “Never Say Never,” this past Valentine’s Day, she didn’t expect recognition to come so quickly.
The 28-year-old’s single, “Bulletproof,” secured the No. 1 spot on the country radio chart in the June 12 issue of New Music Weekly magazine.
The chart is based on how many times songs are requested and played on AM/FM radio across the United States. It is updated weekly.
A graduate of Norwin High School, Puckett hopes the accomplishment is a symbol of her future aspirations in the music industry.
“It’s not only a success, but it’s given me more of an edge moving forward,” Puckett said. “There’s so much more I can do if I’ve done this so early on.”
Her family doesn’t have much musical background, but growing up, Puckett’s parents would “primarily” listen to country music.
She believes that’s how her love for the genre started.
“Country has always been where my heart fell because it’s a lot of romantic, real life stories,” Puckett said. “I like singing [country] because it’s more relatable.”
She began playing guitar and writing songs at age 16. She explained that she doesn’t really have a “writing process,” but her words are influenced by her life and the people around her.
“Even random strangers will influence me,” Puckett said. “They probably don’t even know they are the reason for a song, which is kind of funny.”
Her debut album doesn’t include any original songs, but she is looking to include some on her second album.
The songs on the album were written by artists in Nashville. Puckett was given 100-150 options to listen to, which she narrowed down to 13 to become “Never Say Never.”
“I picked the 13 that most spoke to me,” Puckett said. “I like to sing and share music that I relate to.”
After she chose the songs, producer Bryan Cole and sound engineer Doug Kasper helped Puckett put her own twist on them at Tonic Recording Studios in McKeesport. The process that spanned about a year.
“[The songs] weren’t necessarily all fit for her,” Kasper said. “Bryan and myself worked those songs in a way that they all became part of Ashley’s wheelhouse. That was our job – to make them fit her.”
When the album came out on Valentine’s Day, it saw almost immediate success.
“With everything going on with covid, I was unsure,” Puckett said. “The marketing had to be a little different with no live shows. It was more online based.”
Even before the album was released, Puckett was featured on the Women in Music issue of Billboard Magazine in December.
“Taylor Swift was on the cover,” Puckett gushed. “[It was] a really cherished opportunity that I appeared in there.”
With her fan base just starting to build, Puckett and her team look forward to what the future might hold.
“My big dream was always to win a Grammy award, but in the music business it’s really hard to picture,” Puckett said. “It’s easier to celebrate the little things.”
Cole and Kasper are excited to work with Puckett again.
“[Ashley] did a fantastic job for this being her debut album,” Cole said. “She has a long future as an artist in this business.”
“I’m extremely happy for Ashley,” Kasper said. “We worked on this record over a long span of time and I really got to know her.”
Puckett is still in awe of her #1 spot on New Music Weekly magazine’s country chart.
“Living in the middle of this dream come true is kind of ironic,” Puckett said. “It’s still something that I’m getting used to.”
Puckett will be opening for Mark Chesnutt at Jergel’s Rhythm Grille in Warrendale on Nov. 20 at 8 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased in advance for $35 each on Puckett’s website.