Brittany Howard
Howard singing passionately
Howard performing with Alabama Shakes in London, 2016
Background information
Birth nameBrittany Amber Howard
Born (1988-10-02) October 2, 1988 (age 35)
Athens, Alabama, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
  • drums
  • bass
Years active2009 (2009)–present
Labels
Formerly ofAlabama Shakes
Bermuda Triangle
Thunderbitch[3]

Brittany Amber Howard (born October 2, 1988[4][5]) is an American musician from Athens, Alabama. Currently a solo artist, she rose to prominence in the early 2010s for being the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and the primary songwriter of Alabama Shakes. Her work with Alabama Shakes garnered her four Grammy Awards (including Best Alternative Music Album) from nine nominations. Later in the decade, Howard played bass in the side project Thunderbitch as well as both acoustic guitar and double bass for the trio Bermuda Triangle.[6]

In 2018, Alabama Shakes announced they were going on hiatus. After the announcement, Howard released her debut studio album as a solo artist, Jaime, in 2019. The album received critical acclaim and earned her seven Grammy nominations, winning Best Rock Song for "Stay High". Its follow-up, What Now, was released in February 2024.

Early life

Howard was born in Athens, Alabama,[7] one of two daughters born to Christi (née Carter) and K. J. Howard.[8] Her mother is white, of English and Irish ancestry while her father is African American.[9] The family's home was in a junk yard and it once burned down due to a lightning strike.[10] She learned to write poetry and play the piano from her older sister Jaime, who died from retinoblastoma in 1998; Howard had the same affliction but survived with partial blindness in one eye. Her parents separated soon after that.[11] She began playing the guitar at age 13;[12] she was enamored with albums by Dionne Warwick and Elvis Presley, which she listened to repeatedly, and was inspired to write song lyrics.[8]

Howard attended East Limestone High School, where she met future Alabama Shakes bassist Zac Cockrell.[12] In high school, Howard began listening to 1970s rock music, such as Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd. "I’d be in the back of this Buick and be like ‘What's this? This is really cool’ and my friends told me it was Pink Floyd and I was like ‘Whoa’, it blew my mind. I started getting into all the classic rock stuff, like Yes, Cream, all that stuff."[8]

After high school, Howard worked for the United States Postal Service until becoming a full-time musician as lead singer of Alabama Shakes.[13]

Career

Howard playing guitar onstage
Howard performing with Alabama Shakes in 2014

Brittany Howard is best known as the lead singer and guitarist for the American rock band Alabama Shakes. The band formed under the name "The Shakes" when Howard and bassist Zac Cockrell began playing covers and original songs together with drummer Steve Johnson. Guitarist Heath Fogg later rounded out the lineup, and the band began playing shows at bars in Alabama and recording their debut album, Boys & Girls. They signed a record deal with ATO Records and released Boys & Girls in 2012 which received critical acclaim and multiple Grammy Award nominations.[13]

In April 2015, Alabama Shakes released their second album, Sound & Color. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200,[14] and received favorable reviews from the music press.[15] The band performed on multiple late night shows including Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Howard was featured in the musical medley alongside Mavis Staples, Stephen Colbert, Ben Folds, and other artists in the series premiere of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[16] At Lollapalooza in 2015, Howard was invited on stage to perform a duet of "Get Back" with Paul McCartney.[17] She also performed at the ceremony for Eddie Murphy's Mark Twain Prize.[18] In 2015, she was named the recipient of Billboard's Women in Music "Powerhouse" Award.[19]

A large stage with Howard and McCartney's band performing
Brittany Howard performing with Alabama Shakes at Lollapalooza 2015

Howard is also the lead singer of the rock band Thunderbitch, formed in Nashville in 2012 with members of Clear Plastic Masks and ATO Records' labelmates Fly Golden Eagle. The band surprise released a self-titled album in September 2015.[20] Although the band rarely makes live appearances, they played a rare set at ATO Records' CMJ Music Marathon showcase in October 2015.[21]

Brittany Howard is also a singer in the band Bermuda Triangle with Jesse Lafser and Becca Mancari, which was formed in Nashville in 2017.[22] Their debut live performance was on July 12, 2017 at the Basement East in Nashville.[23] The trio released their first single on September 6, 2017, titled "Rosey", which was first released on Jesse Lafser's 2015 album "Raised On The Plains".[22] Although originally believed to be a one time performance, the trio performed a five show tour through the southern states of the US in October 2017.[24] This small tour included shows in Carrboro and Asheville, North Carolina; Birmingham, Alabama; Atlanta; and Knoxville, Tennessee.[24]

Howard talking about her new album at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in January 2024

In June 2019, Brittany Howard announced a debut solo album, Jaime which was released on September 20, 2019, as well as a tour across North America and Europe.[25] Jaime was received with universal acclaim; Pitchfork noted, "The exceptional solo debut from the Alabama Shakes singer-songwriter is a thrilling opus that pushes the boundaries of voice, sound, and soul to new extremes."[26] On July 16, 2019, Howard released the music video to the single Stay High, featuring actor Terry Crews lip-syncing to the track.[27] On April 15, 2020, she released a cover of a Funkadelic's 1971 song "You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks" and a new rendition of her song "Stay High".[28] Stay High was recommended as an "appropriate musical remedy" to get people through lockdown and quarantine by KRCW.[29] On October 13, 2023, she released the title track to her second album What Now. In the same year, Rolling Stone named Howard to its "250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" list.[30]

Influences

Howard has cited as influences artists including Led Zeppelin,[31] Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Prince, Curtis Mayfield, David Bowie, Mavis Staples, Tom Waits, Björk, Gil Scott-Heron, Freddie Mercury, and Tina Turner.[32]

Personal life

Howard came out as a lesbian at age 25. She married fellow band member Jesse Lafser in 2018; they divorced the following year.[33][34]

Awards and nominations

For awards and nominations as a member of Alabama Shakes, see Alabama Shakes § Awards and nominations.
Year Association Category Nominated Work Result Ref.
2019 Rober Award Music Prize Best Female Artist Herself Nominated [35]
Best R&B Nominated
Album of the Year Jaime Nominated
UK Music Video Award Best Rock Video - International "Stay High" Nominated [36]
2020 Grammy Award Best Rock Song "History Repeats" Nominated
Best Rock Performance Nominated
GLAAD Media Award Outstanding Music Artist Jaime Nominated [37]
Americana Music Honors & Awards Artist of the Year Herself Nominated [38]
Song of the Year "Stay High" Nominated
Album of the Year Jaime Nominated
Libera Award Album of the Year Nominated [39]
2021 Grammy Award Best Rock Performance "Stay High" Nominated [40]
Best Rock Song Won
Best Alternative Music Album Jaime Nominated
Best R&B Performance "Goat Head" Nominated
Best American Roots Performance "Short and Sweet" Nominated
Libera Award Best Sync Usage "You'll Never Walk Alone"
(Johnnie Walker's #KeepItMoving Campaign) 		Nominated [41]
2022 Best Dance Record "Stay High again.." Nominated [42]
Best R&B Record Jaime (Reimagined) Nominated

Discography

Brittany Howard discography
Studio albums2
EPs4
Singles16
Remix albums1

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected information
Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[43] 		AUT
[44] 		BEL
(FL)
[45] 		BEL
(WA)
[46] 		CAN
[47] 		FRA
[48] 		NL
[49] 		SCO
[50] 		SPA
[51] 		UK
[52]
Jaime 13 59 29 159 34 182 76 13 98 36
What Now[53]
  • Released: February 9, 2024
  • Label: Island
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
 —[A] — 75 — — — — 45 — —

Remix albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
US
Current
[55]
Jaime (Reimagined)
  • Released: July 23, 2021
  • Label: ATO
  • Formats: LP, digital download, streaming
 71

Extended plays

Title Details Peak chart positions
US
Sales
[54] 		US
Folk
[56]
Spotify Singles
  • Released: April 15, 2020[57]
  • Label: ATO
  • Formats: streaming
 — —
Live at Sound Emporium
  • Released: August 29, 2020[58]
  • Label: ATO
  • Formats: LP
 51 20
Jaime (The Remixes)
  • Released: September 17, 2020[59]
  • Label: ATO
  • Formats: Digital download
 — —
Live from East West Studios
  • Released: May 7, 2021
  • Label: ATO
  • Formats: Digital download
 — —

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
AAA
[60] 		US
Adult
R&B
[61] 		US
Alt.
Dig.
[62] 		US
Rock
[63] 		BEL
(FL)
Tip
[45] 		CAN
Rock
[64] 		MEX
Air
[65] 		NLD
Air
[66] 		NZ
Hot
[67]
"I Wonder"
(with Ruby Amanfu) 		2012 — — — — — — — — — Non-album single
"History Repeats" 2019 — — — — —[B] — 49 — — Jaime
"Stay High" 1 23 24 34 22 — 50 41 —
"He Loves Me" 2020 28 — — — — — — — —
"You'll Never Walk Alone"[68] — — 12 —[C] — — — — — Non-album single
"Stay High again.."[70]
(with Joy Anonymous and Fred again..) 		2021 — — — — — — — — — Jaime (Reimagined)
"(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher"
(Amazon Original)[71] 		— — — — — — — — — Non-album single
"Presence"
(Little Dragon Remix) 		— — — — — — — — — Jaime (Reimagined)
"Tomorrow"
(BadBadNotGood Remix) 		— — — — — — — — —
"Checks and Balances"
(from the Netflix series We the People) (with Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Robert Lopez, and Daveed Diggs) 		— — — — — — — — — Non-album single
"Stay High"
(Childish Gambino remix) 		— — — — — — — — 36 Jaime (Reimagined)
"Running with the Angels"
(with Tia P.) 		2022 — — — — — — — — — Non-album single
"What Now" 2023 1 — — —[D] — 30 — — — What Now
"Red Flags" — — — — — — — — —
"Prove It to You" 2024 29 — — — — — — — —
"Power to Undo" — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist

Title Year Album
"Higher"[73]
(Thad Cockrell featuring Brittany Howard) 		2020 If In Case You Feel the Same

Other charted songs

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Sales
[74]
"It Makes No Difference"
(My Morning Jacket featuring Brittany Howard) 		2012 11 Endless Highway - The Music of the Band

Other appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"For You Alone" 2011 Matt Stephens Matt Stephens
"West on Train" 2013 Turk Tresize Soul Casino
"Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am" My Morning Jacket, Merrill Garbus Red Hot + Fela
"I Feel Free" 2015 — Joy (Music from the Motion Picture)
"Darkness and Light" 2016 John Legend Darkness and Light
"Higher" 2020 Thad Cockrell If In Case You Feel The Same
"Shining Star" 2022 Verdine White Minions: Rise of Gru (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

With Alabama Shakes

Main article: Alabama Shakes discography

With Thunderbitch

Notes

  1. ^ What Now did not enter the Billboard 200 but peaked at number 33 on the Top Album Sales chart.[54]
  2. ^ "History Repeats" did not enter the Flanders Ultratop 50, but charted as an extra tip on the Flanders Ultratip chart.[45]
  3. ^ "You'll Never Walk Alone" did not enter the Hot Rock Songs chart, but peaked at number 11 on the Rock Digital Songs chart.[69]
  4. ^ "What Now" did not enter the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, but peaked at number 26 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart.[72]

References

  1. ^ Kot, Greg (September 20, 2019). "Review: Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes turns solo debut into a personal manifesto". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on June 1, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  2. ^ Savage, Mark (September 25, 2019). "Brittany Howard finds freedom after Alabama Shakes". BBC. Archived from the original on June 1, 2020.
  3. ^ Montgomery, James (December 18, 2012). "Alabama Shakes: Brittany Howard Robbed at Gunpoint". MTV. Viacom International. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  4. ^ "Celebrity birthdays Oct. 2". DelawareOnline. October 1, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  5. ^ "Alabama Shakes - American rock band". Britannica.com. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  6. ^ Pareles, Jon (September 3, 2015). "Review: 'Thunderbitch' Features Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes". The New York Times. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  7. ^ Hermes, Will (February 28, 2013). "Alabama Shakes' Unlikely Triumph". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  8. ^ a b c Lloyd, Jack (September 17, 2019). "Brittany Howard: Staying High". Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  9. ^ Cane, Clay (June 25, 2013). "Brittany Howard of the Alabama Shakes: "I Don't Think About Color"". BET. Viacom International. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  10. ^ "Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard On Small-Town Life, Big-Time Music". NPR. January 28, 2016.
  11. ^ Jupp, Emily (July 3, 2015). "Alabama Shakes interview: 'I didn't think I wanted to do this any more'". The Independent.
  12. ^ a b "Brittany Howard - Singer". Biography. A&E. March 11, 2015. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  13. ^ a b Rhodes, Joe (March 18, 2015). "Alabama Shakes's Soul-Stirring, Shape-Shifting New Sound". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  14. ^ Caulfield, Keith (April 29, 2015). "Alabama Shakes Scores Its First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  15. ^ "Reviews for Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes". Metacritic. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  16. ^ Breihan, Tom (September 9, 2015). "Watch The Surprise All-Star Musical Finale Of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Premiere". Stereogum. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  17. ^ Minsker, Evan (August 1, 2015). "Paul McCartney Performs "Get Back" With Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard, "FourFiveSeconds" at Lollapalooza". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  18. ^ "Tracy Morgan Joins Lineup for Eddie Murphy Mark Twain Prize Ceremony". The Hollywood Reporter. October 5, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2015. ((cite magazine)): Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  19. ^ "Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard Named Billboard's 2015 Women in Music 'Powerhouse' Artist". Billboard. October 22, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  20. ^ Blistein, Jon (September 1, 2015). "Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard Releases New LP as Thunderbitch". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  21. ^ "Brittany Howard's Thunderbitch played ATO's CMJ showcase w/ Margaret Glaspy, Jessica Lea Mayfield and Joseph (pics)". BrooklynVegan.com. October 20, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  22. ^ a b Powers, Ann (September 6, 2017). "Songs We Love: Bermuda Triangle, 'Rosey'". NPR. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  23. ^ Gold, Adam (July 13, 2017). "Watch Brittany Howard Side Project Bermuda Triangle Make Live Debut". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  24. ^ a b Stickler, Jon (September 7, 2017). "Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard Shares Debut Single Of New Band Bermuda Triangle". Stereoboard. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  25. ^ "Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard Announces Debut Solo Album, Shares New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  26. ^ "Brittany Howard: Jaime". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  27. ^ "Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard Shares Terry Crews-Starring Video for New Song: Watch". Pitchfork. July 16, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  28. ^ Martoccio, Angie (April 15, 2020). "Hear Brittany Howard Cover Funkadelic's 'You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  29. ^ "KCRW Presents Lockdown Listening: Lady Blackbird". npr.org. March 31, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  30. ^ "The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Rolling Stone. October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  31. ^ Arnold, Chuck (September 19, 2019). "Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard rocks to a solo beat on new album". New York Post. Archived from the original on June 1, 2020.
  32. ^ Robinson, Lisa (August 25, 2015). "We Talked Smoking, Drinking, and Soul-Baring with Alabama Shakes". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on August 23, 2016.
  33. ^ Smith, Patrick (September 21, 2019). "Brittany Howard: 'I didn't want to end up back in the trailer park'". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 1, 2020.
  34. ^ Peisner, David (January 23, 2024). "Brittany Howard Taps Into the Ancestors, and Finds a New Groove". The New York Times. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  35. ^ "The Rober Awards 2019 Music Poll | Rober Awards". Archived from the original on May 29, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  36. ^ "UK Music Video Awards 2019: all the nominations! | News | Promonews". Promonewstv.
  37. ^ "The Nominations for the 31st Annual GLAAD Awards". glaad.com. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  38. ^ "Americana Music Honors & Awards - 2020". Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  39. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  40. ^ "Grammy Nominations 2021". The New York Times. November 24, 2020.
  41. ^ Grein, Paul (March 22, 2021). "Phoebe Bridgers, Run the Jewels & Perfume Genius Among Top Nominees For 2021 Libera Awards". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  42. ^ Aswad, Jem (March 23, 2022). "Japanese Breakfast, Jason Isbell, Arlo Parks Lead Indie-Music Collective A2IM's 2022 Libera Awards Nominees". Variety. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  43. ^ "Brittany Howard Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  44. ^ "Diskografie Brittany Howard". Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  45. ^ a b c "Discografie Brittany Howard". ultratop.be. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  46. ^ "Discografie Brittany Howard". ultratop.be. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  47. ^ "Brittany Howard – Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  48. ^ "Discography Brittany Howard". lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  49. ^ "Discografie Brittany Howard". Dutch Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
  50. ^ Peaks on the Scottish Albums Chart:
  51. ^ "Discografy Brittany Howard". spanishcharts.com. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  52. ^ "Brittany Howard | full Official Chart history". www.officialcharts.com. Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  53. ^ Hussey, Allison (October 13, 2023). "Brittany Howard Announces New Album What Now, Shares Video: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  54. ^ a b "Brittany Howard Chart History – Top Album Sales". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  55. ^ "Brittany Howard Chart History (Current Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  56. ^ "Brittany Howard Chart History – Americana/Folk Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  57. ^ "Spotify Singles by Brittany Howard". Spotify. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  58. ^ "Live At Sound Emporium". Recordstoreday.com. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  59. ^ "Jaime (The Remixes) - Single by Brittany Howard". Apple Music. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  60. ^ "Brittany Howard – Chart History: Adult Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  61. ^ "Brittany Howard Chart History - Adult R&B Songs". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  62. ^ "Brittany Howard Chart History - Alternative Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  63. ^ "Brittany Howard Chart History - Hot Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  64. ^ "Brittany Howard – Chart History: Canada Rock". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  65. ^ "Brittany Howard Chart History - Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  66. ^
  67. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 2, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  68. ^ "You'll Never Walk Away - Single by Brittany Howard". Apple Music. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  69. ^ "Brittany Howard – Chart History: Rock Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  70. ^ "Stay High again.. - Single by Brittany Howard, Joy Anonymous, & Fred Again." Apple Music. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  71. ^ Yoo, Noah (March 8, 2021). "Brittany Howard Covers Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher"". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  72. ^ "Brittany Howard – Chart History: Rock & Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  73. ^ "Higher (feat. Brittany Howard) - Single by Thad Cockrell". Apple Music. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  74. ^ "Brittany Howard Chart History - Hot Singles Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.

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