Act I is set for January 23rd
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, due out January 23rd via Big Loud. The Grammy Artist to Watch offers the unforgettable “Mean To Me,” available now, and its accompanying official music video, directed by Lewis Cater (Kacey Musgraves’ “The Architect”).
“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 the beginning of that journey.”
The depth of influences in Culpepper’s musical rolodex is reflected within Act I‘s 18 tracks and previously recognized by icons like Elton John, who claimed the Alabama-born artist is, “if Bill Withers made country music,” 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.”
Recent “Believe” is making a quick ascent at 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.
- Intro (Kashus Culpepper, Jordan Dozzi, Jacob Durrett)
- Southern Man featuring Marcus King (Kashus Culpepper, Bear Rinehart)
- Alabama Beauty Queen (Kashus Culpepper, Luke Preston, Diego Urias)
- Woman (Kashus Culpepper, Anderson East)
- Break Me Like (Kashus Culpepper, Grady Block, Hank Compton)
- Believe (Kashus Culpepper, Foy Vance)
- Stay (Kashus Culpepper, Jordan Dozzi, Jacob Durrett)
- Mean To Me (Kashus Culpepper, Oscar Charles, Diego Urias, Matt Warren)
- Broken Wing Bird featuring Sierra Ferrell (Kashus Culpepper, Brian Elmquist)
- Better Weather (Kashus Culpepper, Luke Preston)
- That’s The Feeling (Kashus Culpepper, Brian Elmquist)
- Man Of His Word (Kashus Culpepper, Natalie Hemby)
- In Her Eyes (Kashus Culpepper, Brent Cobb, Oscar Charles)
- Is It True (Kashus Culpepper, Rhett Akins, Rocky Block)
- After Me? (Kashus Culpepper, Mark Addison Chandler)
- Out Of My Mind (Kashus Culpepper, Brian Elmquist)
- House On A Hill (Kashus Culpepper, Rhett Akins, Jimi Bell)
- Cherry Rose (Kashus Culpepper, Mikky Ekko, Brian Elmquist)
