Kassi Ashton released her debut album, Made from the Dirt, on September 20, and the 30-year-old rising country star hopes that this is the start of a long, fruitful career. Considering that Ashton was nominated for the coveted New Female Artist of the Year award at the 2024 ACM Awards, and has already released a series of well-received hits on the Country Airplay charts, her music career is already off to a fantastic start. The songs featured on Made from the Dirt come from a personal, revealing place for the blossoming singer. “The music that I have made now and that’s on this album, I couldn’t have made that five years ago,” Ashton reveals. “I just wasn’t as concentrated and honed in on who I am as a person. It wasn’t like I discovered myself, that’s not it, it’s more so I uncovered myself.” Ashton is playing Way Out West Fest in El Paso on September 28, and opening for Clint Black in Surf City, North Carolina on November 2. (People)