Carly Pearce - 2022 Inductee

Carly Pearce is widely known as one of country music's most gifted singer-songwriters. Her intimate lyric arrangements capture the thoughts and emotions of everyday folks. She repeatedly invites members of her listening audience to explore her soul in every line of her artistry.

Carly Pearce was born April 24th, 1990 in Taylor Mill, Kentucky, to Todd and Jackie Slusser. She began singing in church and tent revival concerts at a young age. By the time she was 11 years old, she was performing professionally with bluegrass bands across the state. Carly was featured on the Mountain Top Bluegrass Gospel Christmas Album in 2007 and the Bluegrass Tribute to Taylor Swift in 2008.

Rooted in the classics, Carly left high school at 16 to take a job at Dollywood to pursue her dream of becoming a professional music entertainer. When she turned 19, Carly moved to Nashville. In 2012, she signed a developmental agreement with Sony Music Nashville at the age of 22.

Carly held down several part-time jobs in Nashville while attempting to jump-start her country music career. Early in 2015, she received her break. Carly made her debut at the iconic Grand Ole Opry. The Grand Ole Opry's vice president and general manager, Pete Fischer, witnessed her talent and memorable introductory performance. Doors began to open for Carly, and later that year, Busbee signed her to a developing-artist agreement.

In October 2015, Carly was featured along with the Josh Abbott Band on the duet "Wasn't That Drunk." The immediate success of this song helped ignite Carly's music career. In March 2017, she released the title track to her debut album, "Every Little Thing," on the Big Machine label. The heartbreaking ballad peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart and soared to number 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. The single achieved Platinum-certified status and received the CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Video of the Year in 2018.

While on tour, her second major hit, "Hide the Wine," rose to number 13 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and established Carly as an up-and-coming country music star.

Her second studio album, self-titled "Carly Pearce," was released in October 2019. The album produced, "I Hope You're Happy Now," topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart at Number 1 and claimed double Platinum status. Released with Lee Brice, the popular duet won the 2020 CMA Music Event of the Year Award, the 2021 ACM Music Event of the Year Award, and the 2021 ACM Single of the Year.

On September 17, 2021, Carly released her third album, "29: Written in Stone,”. The first single release, 'Next Girl,' soared to number two on the Canadian Country chart. "What He Didn't Do,' from the '29' album, charted on Country Billboards' top 30. And, with "Never Wanted to be That Girl," also from the '29' album, Carly teamed with Ashley McBryde to score another number-one hit on the Billboard Country Airplay chart as well as number 1 on the Canadian Country Music chart.

In 2021, Carly was accepted as a distinguished member of the renowned Grand Ole Opry. Later in 2021, Carly won the Country Music Association Award for Female Vocalist of the Year. Additionally, she received the ACM Music Event of the Year Award and the ACM Award for Female Artist of the Year in 2022.

Carly Pearce is recognized as one of country music's leading ladies, and her star power as an artist continues to rise. And indeed, Carly can trace much of her massive country music success to her musical roots in Gospel and Kentucky Bluegrass. Yet, ultimately, her desire, self-determination, and ability to overcome obstacles and roadblocks has led Carly Pearce to become the acclaimed professional music entertainer she always dreamed she would be.