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Ashley Cooke Reaches a Milestone with Debut Album “Shot in the Dark”

Ashley Cooke on making country music history with her debut album
by
  • Riley is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, known for her engaging storytelling and insightful coverage of the genre.
  • Before joining Country Thang Daily, Riley developed her expertise at Billboard and People magazine, focusing on feature stories and music reviews.
  • Riley has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Belmont University, with a minor in Cultural Studies.

With her single ”Your Place” from the album Shot in the Dark, Ashley Cooke jumps into a huge leap in her career and turns into a Billboard Hot-100 artist at No. 95. Luminate reports that the smash hit earned her about 23 million radio airplay impressions and 2 million streams in the US from May 24 to 30. The songstress is the second female singer to reach the Top 10 Country Airplay in 2024 after Lainey Wilson’s “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” tops at No. 5 in May. 

RELATED: 5 Essential Facts About Ashley Cooke You Need to Know

A certified hitmaker in the long run, Cooke gravitates country fans with breakup tracks and love songs that can go head-to-head with popular artists in today’s mainstream music. Laying out a 24-tracklist in her major-label debut album Shot in the Dark under Big Loud Records on July 21, 2023, is a groundbreaking achievement for the songstress, following her independent debut album Already Drank That Beer on April 1, 2022. Her latest album proves that she has grown more mature and vulnerable in expressing herself and is ready to take on record-breaking milestones at the early stage of her career.

How did Ashley Cooke become famous?

From Parkland, Florida, to Nashville, Tennessee, Ashley Cooke moved from different states to support her older sister Jenn’s dream of becoming an actress. While her sister grew up loving acting and pageantry, Ashley was the sporty tomboy who didn’t seek the superstar’s attention. Once she discovered her passion for songwriting, she has taken the solo artist route since then. 

Ashley majored in Corporate Communication at Nashville’s Belmont University where she won Belmont’s 2019 country showcase in performing Maren Morris and Zedd’s popular song “The Middle.” She made her viral moment on TikTok when her collaboration with Brett Young on “Never Til Now” became a sensation. It is only one of the tracks included on the Shot in the Dark album.

In 2022, at the age of 27, Ashley toured with rising artists such as BRELAND, Spencer Crandall, Cole Swindell, Brett Young, and Jordan Davis. She currently has 24 upcoming concerts across 2 countries, with the next stop being Ford Idaho Center Amphitheatre in Nampa. 

With Shot in the Dark, Cooke unveils captivating melodies that blend warm tales of relatable stories. She has shown her full capability to engage listeners not only sonically but also emotionally through well-crafted compositions. Off the Record stresses that the album can “send a career into the big leagues and if there’s any justice, it will do just that.” As she tours over the United States, soon, she’ll be spinning all over global stadiums and radio stations positioning herself as an influential figure. 

Don’t miss out and play the smash hit “Your Place” from the album A Shot in the Dark” by Ashley Cooke.

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