Tyler Childers y Aja Monet

Instead of diving into typical country stereotypes, Childers, the son of an Appalachian coal miner, uses his lyrical writing to push back against stereotypes about the region. His seamless blend of blues, jazz, and country both comforts and challenges listeners, helping them understand what life is really like in the region.

Childers started his love for country at 13 years old. As a member of his local church’s choir, he polished his vocal talent and discovered his favorite genre. During high school, he honed his guitar skills to match his natural creativity. After a few semesters at both Western Kentucky University and Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Childers decided to fully pursue a career in music.

Like many other hard-working artists, Childers took it upon himself to fund his dreams. He tackled a variety of jobs to power through his years as a struggling musician, and soon enough, his efforts paid off. His regular live performances throughout Kentucky and West Virginia allowed him to release his first LP, Bottles and Bibles, in 2011. This promising album helped new listeners get a sneak peek into Childers capabilities. Two EPs followed the singer-songwriter’s debut and laid a solid foundation for his impending success.

Childers found his breakthrough success with the release of his sophomore album, Purgatory. The 2017 LP was a testament to the artist’s devotion to bluegrass and his willingness to put himself out there. While Childers stuck to his Kentucky roots, he wasn’t afraid to bring old-school sounds to country music. By combining folk and blues elements, Childers delivered a fresh perspective to other up-and-coming artists. Ultimately, Purgatory peaked at number 17 on the US Country Albums chart and cemented Childers as a soon-to-be-in-demand act.

Childers’ third album, Country Squire, kept the momentum going in 2019. It dove deeper into Childers’s country genre skill set while offering a classic bluesy twist. The singer’s raspy voice dominated the airwaves and helped provide a new take on modern bluegrass. With singles like “All Your’n” lighting up the tracklist, Childers’ talent was an undeniable force. His growing discography snagged him a well-deserved Grammy nomination for Best Country Solo Performance that same year. It was no surprise this exciting recognition motivated him to take everything to the next level with his third studio release.

Childers’ surprise release of another album, Long Violent History, in October 2020 provided fans some much needed solace during a tumultuous year. Its traditional fiddle instrumentals gave depth to the nine-track record. Childers didn’t hold back with his lyricism, either. He addressed political and social issues like racism and police brutality, standing with Black Americans while never sacrificing his overall sound. Despite its title, Long Violent History called for change and empathy – and 100% of the profits went to benefit underserved Appalachian communities. It was Childers’s way of speaking up and fighting for a better world through music.

In 2022, Childers took the plunge and tried to top his previous album with Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? The three-part LP delved into more uncharted territory. It was a unique listening experience and an experimentation of Childers’s instrumental repertoire. Each part featured the same eight songs performed in new and reinvigorated ways. As fans got a taste of Childers’s remarkable versatility, Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? soared to number eight on the US Billboard’s Top 200 All-Genre Albums chart and scored the artist his first top ten album.

For fans, Childers’s reign in the music industry is just beginning. With a growing list of accolades in his arsenal, the artist is ready to take the next step in his creative journey.