Ashley McBryde, the powerhouse country singer known for hits like “Ain’t Enough Cowboy Songs,” has rubbed elbows with some of the biggest stars in the music world. However, there’s one moment that still stands out in her memory: the time she met country legend Reba McEntire at the 2019 Academy of Country Music Awards.
Reflecting on this unforgettable encounter, McBryde shared with PEOPLE that while she’s met countless singers and celebrities over the years, nothing quite compared to the overwhelming starstruck feeling she had when Reba surprised her during a radio interview. “She snuck in when I was doing a radio interview, and she got right next to my face and said into the microphone, ‘Hi, Ashley McBryde, this is Reba McEntire, and I’m your biggest fan,’” McBryde recalled. “I just literally honked like a goose at her.”
It’s a funny moment in McBryde’s career, and she admits she could barely get out a coherent response. “I literally said, ‘Hi,’ and it came out sounding like a nervous squeak.” Despite the embarrassment, the country star now looks back on it with fondness, as it was one of the highlights of her career.
Though she’s met many famous faces over the years, McBryde confesses that there are still certain icons that leave her in awe. One such figure is the legendary Emmylou Harris. McBryde explained that for years, she intentionally avoided Harris when they were in the same building. “If we were in the same building, I would walk the opposite direction from her because I knew I would do something stupid,” McBryde admitted, laughing. But her anxiety over meeting Harris was quickly dispelled when they finally crossed paths at a benefit concert in New York City.
“I was like, ‘I can’t talk to her. I can’t talk to her,’ and then she just walks over to me and says, ‘Hey, come in my dressing room. I wanted to talk to you,’” McBryde recalled. “I thought, well, here it goes. I’m going to say something stupid.” However, McBryde managed to hold her own, engaging in a surprisingly calm conversation with the woman she had idolized for years.
Despite these positive encounters, McBryde admits she’s had her fair share of awkward moments with other idols, revealing that she’s said “stupid things” to people like Patty Loveless and Morgan Stapleton. One such encounter occurred when McBryde was in the presence of World Champion roper Jackie Crawford, who she views as one of the best in the world. “When I look at her, I’m looking at the best on the planet,” McBryde said. “No matter what line of work you’re in, it makes you feel so tiny and so seen at the same time.”
In these moments, McBryde has come to terms with the fact that it’s okay to feel awkward. “Now that I’m sober, I know that it’s okay to feel awkward about that in real time,” McBryde reflected. Sobriety has been a significant milestone in her life, and last month, she proudly celebrated 900 days of being sober.
Reflecting on her journey, McBryde shared how the path to sobriety has helped her rebuild her trust in herself. “I’d lost so much self-trust without even realizing it had completely gone extinct,” McBryde explained. “But now, when I say something to you, you can trust it because I can trust it.” The country star believes that learning to trust herself has been one of the most valuable lessons she’s learned along the way, noting that true trust comes from within.
As McBryde continues to thrive both personally and professionally, her stories of starstruck moments and self-discovery offer a glimpse into the humility and authenticity that make her one of country music’s most beloved stars.
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