Lindsay Ell Scores Her First U.S. #1 Song With “What Happens in a Small Town”

By Jencita Vargas on November 11, 2019 • ( Leave a comment )

Three and a half years ago, Variety Beat had the honor of interviewing up and coming artist, Lindsay Ell during CMA Fest. We have been fans of Ell before this and requested an interview be set up during the biggest Country Music Festival! The perfect opportunity to tell other country music listeners about one of our favorite acts!

Ell has many unique talents that set her apart from other women in the music industry. Not only does she play guitar (which many females also do), but she shreds guitars! Her guitar skills have been praised by others in the music industry including Brad Paisley (who has also taken her out on the road for several dates), Keith Urban and more!

Hailing from Canada, Ell has been the reciepient of some awards from her home country and that has finally started to trickle over to the USA. Ell had her first ACM nomination in 2019 and she has now scored her first #1 song with “What Happens in a Small Town” along with Brantley Gilbert.

Y’all. This is a moment I have been waiting for since I was a little girl. So many nights I have gone to sleep praying to be able to celebrate a #1 song like this….. Thank you @brantleygilbert & COUNTRY RADIO. 🙏🏼💙 pic.twitter.com/hqtW33l2ht
— Lindsay Ell (@lindsayell) November 11, 2019

The single was released in December 2018 and it has at last made it’s way to its rightful place of #1. Gilbert has four previous #1 songs, “Town” marks his first return since 2014. While this is Ell’s first time to reach a #1 in the US, she scored her first #1 song in Canada back in 2018 with her own song “Criminal.” It was the first time a Canadian solo female artist reached #1 since 2008! No small feat.

Ell released her first full length album with Stoney Creek Records “The Project” in 2017 where it debuted at #4 on the US Country chart. She has been songwriting since she was ten-years-old and has two previous albums released in Canada before her country music debut.

Ell has taken the time to hone in on her craft and discover herself at the urging of mentor and Sugarland member, Kristian Bush. She recorded and released a cover album of her favorite John Mayer album, (The Continuum) called The Continuum Project. Ell will be ending up her touring for the year in California with a string of shows! We are excited to see her perform!

Ell took to Facebook live to talk about getting her first U.S. #1 and also talk about her new single “I Don’t Love You” the first song off her next album that she is working on! It’s available now!!! Take a listen below!!