Doin’ just fine in Cowboy country
Glenn Campbell’s girl on ‘gift’ of his influence
Ashley Campbell always knew her musical career would be cast in the mighty shadow of her Rhinestone Cowboy country pop legend dad Glen.
“It would be crazy indeed to think I could ever be who he was,” she admits. “But I know that I can be the greatest version of me the world has ever seen. His influence is a gift, not a burden.”
After playing with her father on his farewell tours in 2010 and 2011 and helping nurse him through Alzheimer’s disease until his death in 2017, Ashley, 33, proved a talent in her own right with her 2018 debut album The Lonely One.
Now with the follow-up Something Lovely, her banjo plucking and songster skills keep the family flag flying high. “In Nashville, it’s easy to get preoccupied worrying about what “other people” want to hear, it takes time and growth to realise that is how art dies,” says Ashley, Campbell’s youngest child with fourth wife Kimberly Woollen.
“I listened to advice from my dad that has stuck with me all these years –‘make something that you love’.
“This album is me just being me. I truly hope people enjoy it, but if not, at least I do.”
Ashley started out performing improvisational comedy – inspired by Monty Python, Will Ferrell and fellow banjo exponent Steve Martin.
“He enjoyed my shows with my university improv group. But we had to keep those clean,” she says. “I didn’t invite him to any of my shows in Hollywood though, because he
wouldn’t have been able to sit through the cursing and crude jokes.”
On her dad’s final tours she saw how engagement with his music allowed him to, at least momentarily, overcome his illness.
“I believe that music kept him with us longer. It was so deeply a part of who he was,” she says.
“He could have no idea what just happened 30 minutes ago and then walk on stage and nail Gentle On My Mind.”
Ashley doesn’t follow her father’s Republican political views and is prepared to take whatever consequences come of her opposition to Trump and support for BLM.
“I hope very much that the US can some day have a leader worthy of respect,” she says.
“Someone who is kind, considerate and strong. I do not believe that to be strong one has to sacrifice empathy and kindness.
“I am proud to state my opinion when asked and I know from past experiences that it can cause some fans to be upset.
“But if someone can’t handle an artist having a different opinion from their own, then fine, by all means, please ‘unfollow’ me.”
Something Lovely is out now
I’d be crazy indeed to think I could ever be who he was