It’s the year of the cowgirl — as declared by Spotify.
Country music’s popularity has grown by 110 percent these last five years in U.S. streams on the music platform. It’s been felt culturally, with cowboy core continuing to have its moment in fashion, alongside the rise of Stagecoach Festival in Indio, Calif., and a wave of new country stars like Zach Bryan redefining the boundaries of the genre. Established stars, too, have been leaning into a country sound; Beyoncé brought her Texas roots to her eighth studio album, “Cowboy Carter,” released in March.
For singer-songwriter Carly Pearce, it’s been a life of country music from the start. Born in Kentucky, she first made a name for herself in Nashville in 2017 with “Every Little Thing.” The self-released song reached number one on the Billboard country chart and ended up securing a contract with Big Machine Records. The 34-year-old has since dropped four studio albums, receiving a Grammy Award, three Country Music Association Awards, four Academy of Country Music Awards and a CMT Music Award.
In celebration of all things country, Spotify invited Pearce to perform at Desert 5 Spot in Los Angeles on Wednesday. It was a night of line dancing, with a DJ set by Brandi Cyrus and an opening performance by newcomer Carter Faith.
The country-inspired bar, on the rooftop of Tommie Hollywood, was filled with cowboy hats and boots, with the crowd embracing a Western theme.
Pearce stepped out in a denim look by Balmain, paired by metallic silver boots by Raye and Jenny Bird jewelry. She’s been working with stylist Lindsey Dupuis Bledsoe.
“I always love a night when I get to wear cute boots,” Pearce told WWD. “This is one of my favorite looks that I have been able to wear. I am obsessed with it.”
She sang her latest single “Truck on Fire” off her newest album, “Hummingbird,” out in June.
“It’s such a fun one to play live,” Pearce said of the song. “Seeing the crowd sing the words back to me never gets old.”