Acclaimed Southern crooner Kashus Culpepper Announces Debut Album & Releases New Single

Born from the singular artistry that quickly earned him spots on culture’s most illustrious artist to watch lists, acclaimed Southern crooner Kashus Culpepper announces the anticipated arrival of his debut album Act I, out Friday 23rd January 2026.

the GRAMMY® Artist to Watch offers the unforgettable ‘Mean To Me’, and its accompanying official music video directed by Lewis Cater (Kacey Musgraves’ ‘The Architect’), available now. You can watch the video in this article. 

“Creating music has been the greatest joy of my life,” shares Culpepper. “What a magical thing it is. My debut album Act I serves as a beginning of that journey.”

The depth of influences in Culpepper’s musical rolodex is reflected within Act I’s 18 tracks and previously recognised by icons like Elton John who claimed the Alabama-artist is, “if Bill Withers made country music,” [here] and John Mayer who shared Culpepper is “as good as it gets.” Country, soul, blues, folk and rock are all represented on the album – songs with banjo and pedal steel, cello, violin and harp too.

Co-writing each song, Act I was recorded in Muscle Shoals and produced by Brian Elmquist. Today’s playful yet earnest ‘Mean To Me’ was written alongside Oscar Charles, Diego Urias and Matt Warren. Featuring acclaimed collaborators Sierra Ferrell (‘Broken Wing Bird’) and Marcus King (‘Southern Man’), Act I includes career defining lyrical masterworks like ‘After Me?’, ‘Cherry Rose’ and ‘Alabama Beauty Queen’.

The Alabama-native’s ‘Believe’ is making a quick ascent at US Triple A radio checking in the Top 20 this week as he wraps a run with Darius Rucker, following tours with Sierra Ferrell and Leon Bridges. Culpepper will headline throughout the remainder of the year before joining Eric Church in 2026. He recently made his national television debut on CBS Saturday Morning, performing ‘After Me?’, ‘Southern Man’ and fan-favourite ‘Man of His Word’.

Beginning his recording career just over a year ago, Culpepper has been recognised 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.

Act I Tracklist
 

1. Intro (Kashus Culpepper, Jordan Dozzi, Jacob Durrett)
2. Southern Man (feat. Marcus King) (Kashus Culpepper, Bear Rinehart)
3. Alabama Beauty Queen (Kashus Culpepper, Luke Preston, Diego Urias)
4. Woman (Kashus Culpepper, Anderson East)
5. Break Me Like (Kashus Culpepper, Grady Block, Hank Compton)
6. Believe (Kashus Culpepper, Foy Vance)
7. Stay (Kashus Culpepper, Jordan Dozzi, Jacob Durrett)
8. Mean To Me (Kashus Culpepper, Oscar Charles, Diego Urias, Matt Warren)
9. Broken Wing Bird (feat. Sierra Ferrell) (Kashus Culpepper, Brian Elmquist)
10. Better Weather (Kashus Culpepper, Luke Preston)
11. That’s The Feeling (Kashus Culpepper, Brian Elmquist)
12. Man Of His Word (Kashus Culpepper, Natalie Hemby)
13. In Her Eyes (Kashus Culpepper, Brent Cobb, Oscar Charles)
14. Is It True (Kashus Culpepper, Rhett Akins, Rocky Block)
15. After Me? (Kashus Culpepper, Mark Addison Chandler)
16. Out Of My Mind (Kashus Culpepper, Brian Elmquist)
17. House On A Hill (Kashus Culpepper, Rhett Akins, Jimi Bell)
18. Cherry Rose (Kashus Culpepper, Mikky Ekko, Brian Elmquist)

Italics indicate writing credits

Feature Image Photo Credit: Cedrick Jones

Artwork Cover Image: Cedrick Jones

Kashus Culpepper’s debut album ‘Act I’, is released on Friday 23rd January 2026.

Pre-order here: https://drop.cobrand.com/d/KashusCulpepper/ActI

For more information, visit kashusculpepper.com.