Grammy Artist to Watch Kashus Culpepper releases “Cherry Rose,” his most tender statement to date as an artist whose substantial early acclaim continues to build and prove he can deftly mix Americana twang, intimate soul, and searing Southern rock. The sweeping piano ballad appears on his forthcoming debut album ‘Act I,’ arriving January 23. Its respective official music video, Act I, Scene 3, directed by Lewis Cater, known for his work on Kacey Musgraves’ “The Architect,” premieres today. The Alabama native chose to record ‘Act I’ in Muscle Shoals, a decision rooted in both state pride and musical history. Culpepper notes, “So much history between the soul giants of the world, like Aretha and Wilson Pickett, and then some of my favorite bands, like the Allman Brothers.” “Cherry Rose” emerges as a song about people “doing work, just to get by, because they have to,” cowritten alongside singer-songwriter Mikky Ekko, known for work with Rihanna on “Stay,” Teddy Swims on “Lose Control,” and 21 Savage on “red sky,” along with producer Brian Elmquist.
Ahead of his debut, Culpepper has earned co-signs from icons and musical heroes like Elton John, who claimed Kashus is “if Bill Withers made country music,” and John Mayer, who shared he’s “as good as it gets.” Praise continues rolling in for the album ahead of its release, with Rolling Stone noting, “If what we’ve heard so far is any indication, expect 2026 to be a breakthrough year for this Alabama singer,” while Paste concludes that “the idea that Act I is Culpepper’s debut album is challenging… since he seems like one of those inevitable artists who has always been.” Nashville Lifestyles calls the debut “a blockbuster… the scene-stealing talent is just getting started,” and Parade logs the album as one of the five most highly anticipated country albums of the year. Prior to “Cherry Rose,” Culpepper released a string of album singles that have caught the ears of listeners and critics alike, most recent “In Her Eyes” named a Song You Need To Know according to Rolling Stone and one of Billboard’s Must-Hear New Country Songs, along with “tightly crafted” “Mean To Me” per Country Central and Americana radio number one “Believe.” On the album, Culpepper is joined by Grammy recognized collaborators Sierra Ferrell on “Broken Wing Bird” and Marcus King on “Southern Man.”
This year Culpepper hits the road for headliners in New York, Boston, Nashville, and more amidst dates in Australia with Wyatt Flores and an opening slot supporting Eric Church. With a busy year ahead in 2026, Culpepper’s 2025 gained him recognition 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. Finding his voice in church as young as five years old, it wasn’t until 2020’s global pandemic that Culpepper went from listener to performer, picking up a guitar and learning cover songs to play at barrack bonfires in Rota, Spain during his deployment with the Navy.
Act I Tracklist
Intro (Kashus Culpepper, Jordan Dozzi, Jacob Durrett)
Southern Man (feat. Marcus King) (Kashus Culpepper, Bear Rinehart)
Alabama Beauty Queen (Kashus Culpepper, Luke Preston, Diego Urias)
Woman (Kashus Culpepper, Anderson East)
Break Me Like (Kashus Culpepper, Grady Block, Hank Compton)
Believe (Kashus Culpepper, Foy Vance)
Stay (Kashus Culpepper, Jordan Dozzi, Jacob Durrett)
Mean To Me (Kashus Culpepper, Oscar Charles, Diego Urias, Matt Warren)
Broken Wing Bird (feat. Sierra Ferrell) (Kashus Culpepper, Brian Elmquist)
Better Weather (Kashus Culpepper, Luke Preston)
That’s The Feeling (Kashus Culpepper, Brian Elmquist)
Man Of His Word (Kashus Culpepper, Natalie Hemby)
In Her Eyes (Kashus Culpepper, Brent Cobb, Oscar Charles)
Is It True (Kashus Culpepper, Rhett Akins, Rocky Block)
After Me? (Kashus Culpepper, Mark Addison Chandler)
Out Of My Mind (Kashus Culpepper, Brian Elmquist)
House On A Hill (Kashus Culpepper, Rhett Akins, Jimi Bell)
Cherry Rose (Kashus Culpepper, Mikky Ekko, Brian Elmquist)