Ashley Monroe, the East Tennessee-born singer-songwriter best known as one-third of the country trio Pistol Annies alongside Miranda Lambert and Angaleena Presley, turned 40 on 10 September 2026. Born in Knoxville in 1986, she overcame her father's death from pancreatic cancer when she was 13 to pursue music, moving to Nashville at 15 and eventually building a career as both a solo artist and in-demand songwriter, a path that has earned her recognition from the Grammys, the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association.

Monroe's early career included writing for other artists, such as Jason Aldean's 2009 number one "The Truth", and a frustrating stint with Sony that saw her debut album, Satisfied, repeatedly shelved before their split in 2007. Co-writing Miranda Lambert's hit "Heart Like Mine" led to the formation of Pistol Annies in 2011, whose debut album Hell on Heels topped the country charts, while Monroe's solo career flourished with albums including Like a Rose, produced by Vince Gill. She has since released seven solo albums and three with Pistol Annies, most recently surprise-releasing Dear Nashville on 27 March 2026.