Acclaimed Southern crooner Kashus Culpepper has announced the arrival of his highly anticipated debut album, ‘Act I’, set for release on January 23, 2026, via Big Loud Records. The Alabama-born artist, whom Elton John famously described as “if Bill Withers made country music,” has crafted an expansive 18-track collection that seamlessly blends country, soul, blues, folk, and rock. Recorded in the historic Muscle Shoals and produced by Brian Elmquist, the album features guest appearances from Grammy-winning artist Sierra Ferrell on “Broken Wing Bird” and blues-rock titan Marcus King on “Southern Man.” Culpepper co-wrote every track on the record, which utilizes a rich instrumental palette including banjo, pedal steel, cello, and harp to bring his raw, road-worn stories to life.
To celebrate the announcement, Culpepper released the playful yet earnest single “Mean To Me,” accompanied by a music video directed by Lewis Cater. The track joins earlier hits like the Triple A radio standout “Believe” and the viral masterpiece “After Me?” in defining a project that John Mayer has called “as good as it gets.” Culpepper’s journey from singing in church at age five to learning guitar during a Navy deployment in Spain has culminated in a sound that captures the “sandpaper growl” of the South. ‘Act I’ stands as a factual milestone for an artist who sold out headline shows before ever releasing a formal single, signaling the beginning of a major new chapter in American roots music.