Kashus Culpepper, Philip Bowen

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Cedrick Jones

A close-up of Kashus Culpepper.

Kashus Culpepper

With a string of singles starting in 2024, Alabama singer-songwriter Kashus Culpepper has built anticipation for his debut album, Act I, on the way in late January. It’s easy to hear why; his music effortlessly blends soul and country, all topped by Culpepper’s warm and gritty vocal style. It seems unlikely he will be playing rooms the size of the High Noon next time around, so this is a show to not sleep on. With Phillip Bowen.

media release: Acclaimed Southern crooner Kashus Culpepper is turning up the volume on his rock influences with today's release of “In Her Eyes” from his highly-anticipated debut album Act I due out January 23. The song's official music video continues the visual series accompanying the album – Act I, Scene 2 is out now. In tandem with the release, Culpepper earns his first No. 1 at Americana radio this week with “Believe,” topping the charts in just ten weeks.

Amidst Culpepper's signature layering of country, folk, soul and blues, “In Her Eyes” reflects his most prominent Southern rock influences. Highlighting his “gravelly voice with his compelling songwriting” (Billboard), the new song was rightfully recorded in Muscle Shoals and written alongside Brent Cobb and Oscar Charles.

The depth of influences in Culpepper's musical rolodex is reflected within Act I's 18 tracks and previously recognized by icons like Elton John who claimed the Alabama-born artist is, “if Bill Withers made country music,” and John Mayer who shared Culpepper is “as good as it gets.” Country, soul, blues, folk and rock are all represented on the album – songs with banjo and pedal steel, cello, violin and harp too.

A preview of what's to come, recent “Mean To Me” was noted by Rolling Stone's Music Now podcast as a one of “the five songs in country and Americana that you just need to hear this week.” Each song on the album was co-written by Culpepper, recorded in Muscle Shoals and produced by Brian Elmquist. With features from acclaimed collaborators Sierra Ferrell (“Broken Wing Bird”) and Marcus King (“Southern Man”), Act I includes career defining lyrical masterworks like “After Me?,” “Cherry Rose” and “Alabama Beauty Queen.”

The Alabama-native will continue to headline throughout the year following tours with Darius Rucker, Sierra Ferrell and Leon Bridges. He is set to open for Eric Church in 2026 and recently made his national television debut on CBS Saturday Morning, performing “After Me?,” “Southern Man” and “Man Of His Word.”

Beginning his recording career just over a year ago, Culpepper has been recognized as one of GRAMMY.com's 25 Artists to Watch in 2025, Apple Music Zane Lowe's 25 Artists for '25, 2025 Variety Power of Young Hollywood Impact Report, Opry NextStage Class of 2025, Billboard's February 2025 Country Rookie of the Month, 2025 Amazon Music Bonfire Artist to Watch, Apple Music's February 2025 Country Riser of the Month, 2025 Pandora Country Artist to Watch and Martin Artist Showcase Class of 2025.