The journey toward self-discovery looks different for everyone. For singer- songwriter Danielle Bradbery, it is a winding path marked by steep hills and triumphant peaks. Bradbery’s career has been an upstream battle against two overwhelming currents: insecurity, and an industry determined 
to box her into a stereotype.

Years before stardom, Bradbery faced the debilitating barrier of self-doubt.

I remember feeling stuck in a little shell growing up, Bradbery said. I knew I loved to sing, but I didn't really know if I was good at it, so I would practice and challenge myself. And if anybody asked me to sing, I would get so nervous—I would even get a little angry and defensive out of fear of messing up.

In 2013, Bradbery became the youngest artist to win NBC’s The Voice at 
the age of 16, kicking off a storied career with consecutive record-setting performances. Yet despite her incredible success, it was not Bradbery’s choice to enter the high-stakes competition—her mother had signed her up without her knowledge. Bradbery was overcome with anxiety leading up to her televised debut.

Although she always had a passion for singing, this was Bradbery’s foremost opportunity to put her ability to the test. But shifting from singing in her bedroom 
in Cypress, Texas to a celebrity-packed studio 
in Los Angeles was no small feat. Instead of withdrawing, Bradbery rose to the occasion. The day my mom brought me to The Voice, I felt overwhelmed with adrenaline, she recalled. I had to become an alter ego of myself. I realized that maybe I could do this even though 
I was terrified.

Bradbery eventually learned to live with her reserved nature. The secret, she 
believes, is remembering that she is her biggest critic. Somebody once told me that I’ve become more confident at being shy, she recalled. I will never forget 
that. It’s true–I still get shy.

The day after winning The Voice in 2013, Bradbery signed to a studio and began working on her debut album, Danielle Bradbery. While still a triumphant era in her career, Bradbery remembers it as a time before she had a grasp on her identity.

The album was packed with country hits, but Bradbery still had a long road toward aligning her music with her personality. She felt herself being coerced into the standard image of a country singer rather than conveying who she truly was.

Finally, in 2017, Bradbery reinvented her music with renewed 
self-expression. 
Her album I Don’t Believe We’ve Met sets the record straight on who Danielle Bradbery is–raw, vulnerable, and honest. In an Instagram post around the time 
of the release, Bradbery highlighted the significance of the musical shift solidified by the album.

I like to think of I Don’t Believe We’ve Met as a re-introduction to the world, 
she wrote. A musical handshake or a ‘nice to meet you.’ You do 
so much growing from the ages of 16 – 21 and I feel so lucky to have fans who waited patiently for me as I figured it all out.

I Don’t Believe We’ve Met is the inaugural album of Danielle Bradbery’s most authentic self. It is a rejection of the made–in–the–studio trope offered by the industry and an affirmation of the made–in–Texas reality that speaks to her earliest influences.

I don’t ever want to be put in a basket, she said. I’m always striving to do something different, and I’m set on making my own path. One way I do that is by weaving R&B throughout my music.

Another album and over a dozen singles later, Bradbery has solidified her place in the world of country music. A country singer is only as strong as their foundation, and Bradbery’s is unbreakable.

My passion for country music definitely comes from my family–both my mom and dad, but mainly my dad, since he's more of the country boy in the family, Bradbery said. The storytelling of the music is just incredible. Being from Texas, I grew up on Texas country. It’s been embedded in me at this point.

Bradbery’s parents exposed her to a unique blend of music. While her father brought country legends such as George Strait, Shania Twain, 
and Faith Hill into the household, Bradbery’s mother preferred high-energy Spanish music interwoven with R&B and hip-hop. The impact of this fusion is heard in her songs.

Country music will always be my base, but I also have so many branches of different types of music instilled in me, she said. And now that I’m getting the hang of writing songs and getting more in touch with who I am, I’m able to weave those inspirations in and out.

Since the release of her self-titled debut album in 2013, Bradbery’s musical message has been one of honesty and strength. With the release of her latest single, A Special Place, a new era of Danielle Bradbery has begun. She is embracing a new mentality rooted in profound confidence.

Over the past few years, I’ve been getting into writing and listening to outside songs, just really tapping into the woman I’m becoming, Bradbery said.

Music has a function in Bradbery’s eyes. Her songs convey her own aspirations 
to lead an authentic lifestyle, driven by the belief that vulnerability is the key to growth.

As I get older, I’m starting to mold just who I am, she said. It’s been 
really fun—and I’m forever going to be molding, right?

She connects with her audience through the rich storytelling tradition of country music. By sharing an experience once thought to be unique, she helps fans realize they are not alone. Most importantly, she tells it from the heart.

Honesty is what I want to put in my music, Bradbery said.

Singing initially served as an escape from Bradbery’s teenage shyness. Years after opening up, she now uses her talent to encourage fans to lean into authenticity. 
Her songs resonate deeply in the hearts of millions, inspiring resilience and 
self-expression.

For anyone afraid of following their dreams, Danielle Bradbery 
has a message.

I was afraid in the beginning…and that's okay, she said. You can definitely be worried. But be authentically you, and don't let people transform you into 
somebody that you're not.

You have a story, you are your own person, and no one else can tell 
your story 
for you.