Ashley McBryde can now be called Dr. McBryde. The “Light On in The Kitchen” singer received her Honorary Doctorate of Music degree from her alma mater, Arkansas State University. McBryde attended Arkansas State on a French horn scholarship, later dropping out to pursue music full-time instead, after trying to juggle her studies while performing.
“Earning a degree in music has always been something I’ve placed a lot of value in,” McBryde says when accepting her honorary doctorate degree. “It was something I felt I needed to accomplish. In my time here at A-State, I found my passion not only for performing, but for creating other musicians. The music education program is priceless.”
McBryde goes on to thank specific people who helped her while attending Arkansas State University, acknowledging that her trajectory in music is different than most.
“While my path to music education wound up looking a little different than a traditional one, I never lost my passion for music education,” McBryde says, “and I work alongside music educators every chance I get. Thank you for shaping me into the advocate I became, the musician I am today, and the entrepreneur I didn’t know I was going to have to be.”
McBryde’s father, William McBryde, was a medical doctor, a path he wanted his daughter to pursue. While McBryde ultimately chose a different path, she understands the value of the title, perhaps more than most.
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“There are doctors in my family, Doctors of Medicine, so I know that when you address someone by that word, you’re acknowledging their rank,” McBryde says. “You’re acknowledging a lifetime – time, money, effort, everything they’ve got that they’ve spent in pursuit of excellence in their chosen field. The residencies, internships, fellowships, the many accomplishments and the many failures it takes to accomplish them. I have dedicated my life to the pursuit of and the magic of making music, and hopefully, I will inspire others to do so.”
McBryde reflects on the learning she did in real-time on the road, a unique and sometimes grueling path, but one that taught her plenty.
“This stage became my classroom,” McBryde reflects. “Board proficiencies were in rooms of tens and then one hundreds and then thousands – those are hard to pass. I’ve been judged on late-night TV shows, morning talk shows, award shows. Those are especially hard to pass because all of social media is there to give you a pass or fail grade on the spot. The people making remarks are the icons and legends of my field, and they just so happen to be names you’re familiar with: Wynonna Judd, Vince Gill, Hank Williams Jr. My classmates were Luke Combs, Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, Jon Pardi – it sounds like I’m name-dropping, but these are the people I went into the trenches with.
“I left this campus as a broke, guitar-playing, songwriting chick who played in bars for a living, and I stand here today as a Grammy-Award winning songwriter. A member of the Grand Ole Opry. And I look forward to being introduced on that sacred stage this week as Dr. Ashley McBryde. Thank you so much.”
McBryde also opens up about the significance on social media of receiving her honorary doctorate degree, and having her parents there to witness it all.
“Honored doesn’t even begin to cover it,” she says.” One day when my bones ache and my knees creak I’ll look back on my life and say ‘I am so glad this is how I spent it.’ Arkansas State, thank you for recognizing a life dedicated to the pursuit of the magic of music. Thank you to my family and friends who witnessed it. Mom and Pop I love you so. And Dr. McBryde, thank you for coming to watch your little girl become Dr. McBryde.”
McBryde’s entire speech can be seen here, beginning at about the 15:50 mark.