Ansel Brown has been creating music for years, steadily accruing a loyal legion of fans who understand that real music has soul. If not a comeback, the artist has certainly had a productive year in 2025, with 2026 looking even better.

As we embark on a new year, that authenticity that embodies Ansel’s music is more essential than ever. We inhabit a world full of trappings, AI, clickbait, and technology that seems to be sprawling out of control.

Finding original, authentic work can be a challenge. Artists can be tempted to take an easy path through AI or other enticing gimmicks.

“I definitely see reasons for AI, and there’s certainly room for it, especially in business, science, and other areas where it makes sense,” quips Ansel. “However, as for AI music, I am not on the bandwagon,” he continues. “From what I have heard, it’s soulless.”

Brown’s notoriety began during his formative years, launching what became a committed collaboration with well-known Nashville producer Cliff Downs.

He struck quickly.

Ansel became a recipient of MusicRow’s Discovery Award, acknowledging him as a standout emerging country artist. Plus, his breakout single, “Mine’s Bigger,” earned him a spot on the Country Music Association’s “Who’s New to Watch,” along with his album, “You’re Just Smoke,” getting him a nod for CMA’s Debut Spotlight.

Throughout 2025, Brown’s career hit a new trajectory just as quickly as he re-emerged. His contagious single, “The Whiskey Makes Her Miss Me,” which is the lead track from his seven-song EP, The Rise, continues to gain traction. The song is sitting at No. 75 on the MusicRow Country Breakout chart.

What does that mean to country music fans who don’t regularly follow charts? It implies that the independent release is garnering progressively increasing national radio airplay. That’s not an everyday occurrence for something not backed by a major record label. Its development is purely organic without any paid chart manipulation.

That’s only the beginning.

“The Whiskey Makes Her Miss Me” has already racked up over 300,000 streams on Spotify and has climbed as high as No. 2 on Amazon Music’s New Releases Country tally. Because of fan reaction, the single also reached the pinnacle on Amazon Music’s (all genres) Movers & Shakers chart.

Frankly, it seems like things are really steamrolling again for the artist, who’s originally from Greenville, SC, and was born into a U.S. Navy family.

Those roots, attached to service, no doubt helped foster Ansel’s relentless and unshakable sense of patriotism. That’s certainly evident on the anthemic “We Make America Run.” Meanwhile, the irresistible “More Cowbell” can easily be the soundtrack for a new line dance.

The Rise is brimming with hit singles, and it’s just the start. Ansel is putting the wraps on the upcoming EP, Falling into Place, which will be released by the end of spring 2026. By the close of this year, Falling into Place and The Rise will be combined for a full album to be titled GRAVITY. There might even be a couple of surprises included on GRAVITY, so stay tuned.

Ansel Brown and his wife, Johanna, originally from Bogotá, Colombia, and their family of five children reside just outside of Charlotte, NC. Ansel manages to carve out lots of time for his tribe, which includes collaborating with his daughter in the shaping of the YouTube channel, Seriously Sophia.

With a second EP and a full album on the way, it’s clear that Brown is pursuing more than a comeback. He’s starting a new chapter based on honesty, faith, and life fully lived. He’ll be out there doing shows and special events, too. To keep up on everything Ansel, make sure to visit www.anselbrown.com.