The Shires

Comprised of singer/songwriters Ben Earle and <a href="spotify:artist:1fJhkuex3YZnmMBduSwwuX">Crissie Rhodes</a>, the Shires are a British duo with a knack for crafting pitch-perfect American country-pop in the vein of <a href="spotify:artist:32WkQRZEVKSzVAAYqukAEA">Lady A</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:70kkdajctXSbqSMJbQO424">Kacey Musgraves</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:3b8QkneNDz4JHKKKlLgYZg">Florida Georgia Line</a>. Emerging in 2015 with the U.K. country chart-topping Brave, the Shires have enjoyed success both at home and across the pond, where they became the first English country artists to sign with a major Nashville label. The duo issued their fifth album, 10 Year Plan, in 2022.

The Shires came into existence in 2013 after Hertfordshire guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Ben Earle, a struggling solo artist who had toured with <a href="spotify:artist:5zzrJD2jXrE9dZ1AklRFcL">KT Tunstall</a>, posted "there must be a country singer somewhere" on his social media. A response came from nearby Bedfordshire in the form of <a href="spotify:artist:1fJhkuex3YZnmMBduSwwuX">Crissie Rhodes</a>, a talented vocalist who had been honing her craft at weddings, pubs, and clubs. The pair bonded over their mutual love of artists like <a href="spotify:artist:32vWCbZh0xZ4o9gkz4PsEU">Dolly Parton</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:70kkdajctXSbqSMJbQO424">Kacey Musgraves</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:5J6L7N6B4nI1M5cwa29mQG">Alison Krauss</a>, and began writing and performing together; they eventually inked a deal with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Decca+Records%22">Decca Records</a> in the U.K. and <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Universal+Music+Group+Nashville%22">Universal Music Group Nashville</a> in the United States. Their first single, the aptly named "Nashville Skies," debuted in 2014 ahead of their full-length studio album Brave, which followed in February 2015. The duo promoted the record with a nationwide tour and returned in 2016 with their second album, My Universe, which entered the mainstream U.K. chart at number three. Their third effort, 2018's Accidentally on Purpose, recorded in Nashville with Lindsay Rimes, was their attempt at a proper crossover record, taking inspiration from the contemporary U.S. country scene with big pop hooks and choruses. Following the release of the album, the duo headed out on a lengthy U.K. tour before rounding out the year in support of <a href="spotify:artist:5e4Dhzv426EvQe3aDb64jL">Shania Twain</a>. 2019 saw them return to Nashville to record what would become their fourth studio album, Good Years. The release was issued at the beginning of 2020 before the pair headed out on a U.K. tour. In 2022, they released 10 Year Plan, which like its four predecessors, soared to number one on the U.K. country charts. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi