Nashville Singer Songwriter Joins Keith Urban On His 'High and Alive World Tour', Playing Charleston May 24th

Jeff Walker,  Entertainment Writer 

While she recorded her debut EP back in 2019, gaining moderate attention, up and coming Nashville singer songwriter Alana Springsteen (no relation to Bruce) began to hit her stride a couple years ago with the release of 'TWENTY SOMETHING'. Ironically the album was the combined efforts of three of her EPs from 2023. 

'TWENTY SOMETHING' included collaborations with two established country music artists. Chris Stapleton was featured on 'ghost in my guitar', with Mitchell Tenpenny featured on 'goodbye looks good on you', a track that cracked the Country Music Top 20 Charts, earning Springsteen's her first single to be certified RIAA Gold.

Just 24 years old, Springsteen has had three songs reach the top 40 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, earning a number one hit with 'Hot Honey' (Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay), her collaboration with Dutch DJ Tiësto. Things are looking up for this rising Music City talent who was raised in a musical household.

"I have a good appreciation for all types of music. Growing up, my Dad was really into music. He'd listen to Michael Jackson, John Mayer, and ACDC. It was an eclectic mix. But, something about country music just pulled me in. Country music is all about story-telling, and the artists are storytellers. I really got into singers like Emmylou Harris, Shania Twain, and of course Taylor Swift."

Although Swift was already a rising superstar before leaving behind her teenage years, Springsteen admits they are kindred spirits. "I feel like we share a similar path. Like Taylor, I started writing songs at an early age and signed a publishing deal at age 14."

Raised just outside Virginia Beach, Springsteen's dad was a real estate investor, with both her grandfathers southern Baptist pastors. Torn between rednecks and surfers, she admits her small town community wasn't ripe to develop her flourishing skills.

"Nobody where I grew up (Pungo,Virginia) understood my crazy dream of being a singer songwriter. However, my parents saw something in me, and encouraged me all along. I wrote my first song at age 9, and at that point it was game over. I knew what I wanted to do."

She adds, "Music was my outlet. Honestly, it's all I knew growing up. It allowed me to communicate who I am. When you're a kid you don't think that far ahead, but I felt this was my calling. Looking back, there was no plan B."

It took a few years but she finally made it to Music City. Not many families would uproot themselves to follow the dreams of a young teenager. "I'm grateful and blessed. My family believed in me and moved to Nashville when I was just 10 so I could pursue my passion of writing songs and making music."

At 19 she dipped her toe in the recording pool, releasing her self-titled EP  with 'Slow Down' becoming the debut single. Buzz around Nashville was favorable. She, like many entertainers weathered the pandemic, finally releasing 'TWENTY SOMETHING' in 2023 to rave reviews. Springsteen co-wrote all the songs on the album, along with other Nashville-based songwriters. 

"I wouldn't want to be an artist if I didn't write songs." Springsteen says she's matured as a songwriter. "I guess early on I was influenced by movies, books, and things I saw on TV. But there  came a time I realized songs have to come from within. You have to live your out songs, often through personal experiences.

Songwriting to Springsteen is all about connecting with the song and being true to herself. "I feel as though I've grown as a songwriter. I'm getting to know myself better, and I'm more honest with my lyrics." It's been a evolving process. " I wrote love songs before I had boyfriends. The whole reason I started writing songs is because I wanted to tell my truth.

Last year People Magazine named Springsteen to their '2024 Ones to Watch' list of musicians. She takes the nod humbly. "It means a lot. That gives me little signs I'm on the right path." However, despite an accolade from a prominent national publication, Springsteen appreciates validation from different sources. "Hearing stories from the fans means way more to me. How my songs have helped or inspired them is some way says a lot about where I'm at."

Springsteen is not short on gaining exposure on big time concert tours. In 2024 she opened several shows for Luke Bryan, and in 2025 she's taking part in Keith Urban's 'High and Alive World Tour' which runs May 22nd through October 17th.

"Life doesn't get much better than this. Keith Urban is one of my all time favorites. I literally taught myself how to play guitar by listening to 'Defying Gravity'. I spent hours upon hours pouring over licks."

She recalls when she first met Urban. "We connected last year at the Ryman Auditorium, and then again at Summerfest in Milwaukee." The two performed Urban's hit 'We Were Us'. "I flipped out when I discovered I was going to be opening for him this year." Adding, "I've learned so much from him, and how he connects with the audience. Being on tour with Keith, will not only introduce myself to a bigger fanbase, but improve my on stage skills, just watching him perform."

 Springsteen's latest album is akin to a milestone in country music. Released earlier this year, and featuring seven tracks, 'Alana Springsteen: Live from the Ryman' revisits her first full-band set at the historic venue in 2024. "I hadn't released a live album, and for my first to be from the Ryman is totally surreal. We're talking the 'mother church' of country music. There's so much history at the Ryman."

She made her Grand Ole Opry debut back in 2022, and has returned on to that stage on several occasions. "No doubt, these are bucket list items when your a country music artist. When you've performed at both the Ryman and the Opry you feel like you've arrived in Nashville, and that the industry is taking note of what you do."

Charleston SC fans will have an opportunity to experience Alana Springsteen first hand, when Keith Urban's 'High and Alive World Tour' visits the Credit One Stadium on Saturday May 24th. "The tour's just about to kick off. I can't wait to play Charleston. I'm looking forward to it. I've heard so many good things about Charleston." Chase Matthew and Karley Scott Collins are scheduled to perform as well.

For more on Alana Springsteen visit her site at https://www.alanaspringsteen.com/  and for more on the Charleston concert at Credit One Stadium visit https://creditonestadium.com/event/keith-urban-high-and-alive-world-tour/