Brittany Howard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brittany Howard
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Howard performing with Alabama Shakes in London, 2016
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Brittany Amber Howard |
| Born | October 2, 1988 Athens, Alabama, U.S. |
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| Occupation(s) | Musician |
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| Years active | 2009–present |
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Brittany Amber Howard (born October 2, 1988) is an American musician from Athens, Alabama. She became famous in the early 2010s as the lead singer, guitar player, and main songwriter for the band Alabama Shakes. Her work with Alabama Shakes earned her four Grammy Awards from nine nominations. One of these was for Best Alternative Music Album.
Later, Brittany also played bass guitar in a side project called Thunderbitch. She also played acoustic guitar and double bass for a group called Bermuda Triangle. In 2018, Alabama Shakes announced they were taking a break. After this, Brittany Howard released her first solo album, Jaime, in 2019. This album was highly praised. It also earned her seven Grammy nominations, and she won Best Rock Song for "Stay High". Her next album, What Now, came out in February 2024.
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Early Life and Music Beginnings
Brittany Howard was born in Athens, Alabama. She was one of two daughters. Her older sister, Jaime, taught her to write poetry and play the piano. Sadly, Jaime passed away in 1998. Brittany had the same eye condition as her sister but survived, though she has some vision loss in one eye.
Brittany started playing the guitar when she was 13. She loved listening to albums by Dionne Warwick and Elvis Presley over and over. This inspired her to write her own song lyrics. She went to East Limestone High School. There, she met Zac Cockrell, who would later become the bassist for Alabama Shakes. In high school, Brittany started listening to 1970s rock music. Bands like Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd really amazed her. She also enjoyed bands like Yes and Cream. After high school, she worked for the United States Postal Service. She later became a full-time musician with Alabama Shakes.
Music Career Highlights
Brittany Howard is most famous as the lead singer and guitarist for the American rock band Alabama Shakes. The band first formed as "The Shakes." Brittany and bassist Zac Cockrell started playing songs together. Drummer Steve Johnson joined them, and later guitarist Heath Fogg completed the group. They began playing shows in bars in Alabama. They also recorded their first album, Boys & Girls. They signed a deal with ATO Records and released Boys & Girls in 2012. This album was very popular and received many Grammy Award nominations.
In April 2015, Alabama Shakes released their second album, Sound & Color. It quickly became number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Music critics also gave it great reviews. The band performed on many TV shows, including Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Brittany even sang with Paul McCartney at Lollapalooza in 2015. She also performed at an event honoring Eddie Murphy. In 2015, she received the "Powerhouse" Award from Billboard's Women in Music.
Brittany Howard is also the lead singer of another rock band called Thunderbitch. This band started in Nashville in 2012. They surprised everyone by releasing their self-titled album in September 2015. Thunderbitch rarely performs live, but they did play a special show in October 2015.
Brittany Howard is also a singer in the band Bermuda Triangle. She formed this group with Jesse Lafser and Becca Mancari in Nashville in 2017. Their first live show was in July 2017. The trio released their first song, "Rosey," in September 2017. They also went on a small tour through the southern United States in October 2017.
In June 2019, Brittany Howard announced her first solo album, Jaime. It was released on September 20, 2019. She also planned a tour across North America and Europe. Jaime was praised by many. Pitchfork, a music website, said it was an "exceptional solo debut." On July 16, 2019, she released the music video for her song "Stay High." It featured actor Terry Crews lip-syncing to the song. In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine named Brittany Howard one of the "250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."
In 2024, Brittany Howard announced a tour with British singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka. She also made her acting debut in the animated movie Thelma the Unicorn. This film came out on Netflix on May 17, 2024. Brittany's personality, hair, and songs helped inspire her character in the movie. In late 2024, she announced a new hardcore punk project called KUMITE. KUMITE was set to play their first show in Nashville in January 2025.
Musical Influences
Brittany Howard has said that many artists have influenced her music. Some of these include Led Zeppelin, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Prince, Curtis Mayfield, and David Bowie. She also looks up to Mavis Staples, Tom Waits, Björk, Gil Scott-Heron, Freddie Mercury, and Tina Turner.
Awards and Nominations
Brittany Howard has won and been nominated for many awards. As a solo artist, she has received several Grammy Award nominations. In 2021, she won a Grammy for Best Rock Song for her song "Stay High." Her album Jaime was also nominated for Best Alternative Music Album.
See also
In Spanish: Brittany Howard para niños
