Mae Estes still remembers the day Ashley McBryde got serious with her.
Mae told the story last month on the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast, in an episode posted Oct. 20. Whiskey Riff wrote it up again on Nov. 8.
Ashley needs little introduction for most country fans. She grew up in small-town Arkansas and broke through with her 2018 album “Girl Going Nowhere.” She sang its title song at her Grand Ole Opry debut in June 2017. She was named CMA New Artist of the Year in 2019 and became an Opry member in December 2022.
The Opry shared the night she was officially welcomed into its family.
Ashley becomes a member of the Grand Ole Opry
Mae is a newer name, but she comes from the same state. She grew up in Hope, Arkansas. She made her singing debut at age 7 in a rodeo ring there. She has spent about 10 years in Nashville. Fans know her from “Mr. Fix It,” from opening shows for Luke Bryan and from her new single “The 90’s Called,” her first for Blue Highway Records.
Getting into the big rooms took a long time, and Mae admits it did not feel natural once she got there.
“I struggle with imposter syndrome, that’s the best, common phrase I know to use,” she said on the podcast.
“I’ve been in town a long time, screaming my name from the rooftops,” she explained. When the doors finally open after years of knocking, she said, “I think its fair psychologically to say, ‘Well what do I do now?'”
She told Whiskey Riff she thinks part of it comes from her years working in production, where she got used to cleaning up after artists, not standing beside them.
Then came an award show where Mae and Ashley shared a dressing room. Mae has a lot of respect for Ashley. “You talk about honest and transparent and holds her integrity really close to her, I respect that so much,” she said.
Ashley asked her a simple question. “She was like, ‘How do you feel about these award shows?'” Mae recalled.
Mae answered from the heart. “I was like, ‘Honestly Ashley, I’m just tickled to be here. I can’t believe I’m even here.'”
Ashley did not let that slide. “She really got stern pretty quick,” Mae said. Here is what Ashley told her, in Mae’s words:
“You know the happy to be here bit, you are gonna have to give that up. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t belong here, and you are gonna have to start acting like you belong here.”
Mae told Whiskey Riff that Ashley was not the only one. Opry legend Jeannie Seely, who passed away in 2025, gave her the very same advice.
According to Whiskey Riff, Mae called the advice invaluable and much needed at that point in her career. Since then, she has made a point of reminding herself that she is just as deserving as any other artist. She sees her long years of work in Nashville as the groundwork for that. The story comes from Mae; we could not find Ashley talking about it publicly.
This clip starts right where Mae gets to that award show.
Mae tells the dressing room story on the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast
Mae has talked about Ashley’s advice on other shows, too, including a long sit-down with Bobby Bones.
Mae talks with Bobby Bones about life and advice from Ashley McBryde
Mae started out singing in a rodeo ring in Hope and on an AM country station every Tuesday as a middle schooler. Years later, in an award show dressing room, a singer from her own state made sure she heard what she needed to hear.