Brittany Howard

Howard was born in Athens, Alabama,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/alabama-shakes-unlikely-triumph-20130228 |title=Alabama Shakes' Unlikely Triumph |magazine=Rolling Stone |last=Hermes |first=Will |author-link=Will Hermes |date=February 28, 2013 |access-date=March 11, 2015}} one of two daughters born to Christi (née Carter) and K. J. Howard.{{cite web|work=Line of Best Fit|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/brittany-howard-staying-high-interview|url-status=live|archive-date=March 18, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210318032316/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/brittany-howard-staying-high-interview|title=Brittany Howard: Staying High|date=September 17, 2019|last=Lloyd|first=Jack|access-date=March 18, 2021}} Her mother is white, of English and Irish ancestry while her father is African American.{{cite web |url=https://www.bet.com/article/3lvu2x/brittany-howard-i-don-t-think-about-color |title=Brittany Howard of the Alabama Shakes: "I Don't Think About Color" |website=BET |publisher=Viacom International |last=Cane |first=Clay |date=June 25, 2013 |access-date=March 11, 2015}} The family's home was in a junk yard and it once burned down due to a lightning strike.{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/01/28/464631594/alabama-shakes-brittany-howard-on-small-town-life-big-time-music |title=Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard On Small-Town Life, Big-Time Music |date=January 28, 2016 |website=NPR}} She learned to write poetry and play the piano from her older sister Jaime, who died from retinoblastoma in 1998; Howard had the same affliction but survived with partial blindness in one eye. Her parents separated soon after that.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/alabama-shakes-interview-i-didnt-think-i-wanted-to-do-this-any-more-10363116.html |title=Alabama Shakes interview: 'I didn't think I wanted to do this any more' |date=July 3, 2015 |first=Emily |last=Jupp |newspaper=The Independent }} She began playing the guitar at age 13; she was enamored with albums by Dionne Warwick and Elvis Presley, which she listened to repeatedly, and was inspired to write song lyrics.

Howard attended East Limestone High School, where she met future Alabama Shakes bassist Zac Cockrell.{{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/brittany-howard-21196677 |title=Brittany Howard - Singer |website=Biography |publisher=A&E |date=March 11, 2015 |access-date=March 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220201500/http://www.biography.com/people/brittany-howard-21196677 |archive-date=February 20, 2016 |url-status=dead }} In high school, Howard began listening to 1970s rock music, such as Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd. "I’d be in the back of this Buick and be like ‘What's this? This is really cool’ and my friends told me it was Pink Floyd and I was like ‘Whoa’, it blew my mind. I started getting into all the classic rock stuff, like Yes, Cream, all that stuff."

After high school, Howard worked for the United States Postal Service until becoming a full-time musician as lead singer of Alabama Shakes.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/22/magazine/alabama-shakess-soul-stirring-shape-shifting-new-sound.html |title=Alabama Shakes's Soul-Stirring, Shape-Shifting New Sound |first=Joe |last=Rhodes |date=March 18, 2015 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=December 15, 2015}}

File:Alabama Shakes - 16720670360.jpg in 2014]]

Brittany Howard is best known as the lead singer and guitarist for the American rock band Alabama Shakes. The band formed under the name "The Shakes" when Howard and bassist Zac Cockrell began playing covers and original songs together with drummer Steve Johnson. Guitarist Heath Fogg later rounded out the lineup, and the band began playing shows at bars in Alabama and recording their debut album, Boys & Girls. They signed a record deal with ATO Records and released Boys & Girls in 2012 which received critical acclaim and multiple Grammy Award nominations.

In April 2015, Alabama Shakes released their second album, Sound & Color. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6546301/alabama-shakes-first-no-1-album-billboard-200 |title=Alabama Shakes Scores Its First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart |first=Keith |last=Caulfield |date=April 29, 2015 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 15, 2015}} and received favorable reviews from the music press.{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/sound-color/alabama-shakes |title=Reviews for Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes |website=Metacritic |access-date=December 15, 2015}} The band performed on multiple late night shows including Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Howard was featured in the musical medley alongside Mavis Staples, Stephen Colbert, Ben Folds, and other artists in the series premiere of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.{{cite web |url=http://www.stereogum.com/1829382/watch-the-surprise-all-star-musical-finale-of-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-premiere/video/ |title=Watch The Surprise All-Star Musical Finale Of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Premiere |first=Tom |last=Breihan |date=September 9, 2015 |website=Stereogum |access-date=December 15, 2015}} At Lollapalooza in 2015, Howard was invited on stage to perform a duet of "Get Back" with Paul McCartney.{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/60623-paul-mccartney-performs-get-back-with-alabama-shakes-brittany-howard-fourfiveseconds-at-lollapalooza/ |title=Paul McCartney Performs "Get Back" With Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard, "FourFiveSeconds" at Lollapalooza |first=Evan |last=Minsker |date=August 1, 2015 |website=Pitchfork |access-date=December 15, 2015}} She also performed at the ceremony for Eddie Murphy's Mark Twain Prize.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tracy-morgan-joins-lineup-eddie-829611 |title=Tracy Morgan Joins Lineup for Eddie Murphy Mark Twain Prize Ceremony |agency=Associated Press |date=October 5, 2015 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=December 15, 2015}} In 2015, she was named the recipient of Billboard's Women in Music "Powerhouse" Award.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/women-in-music/6737548/alabama-shakes-brittany-howard-billboard-women-music-powerhouse |title=Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard Named Billboard's 2015 Women in Music 'Powerhouse' Artist |date=October 22, 2015 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 15, 2015}}

File:Brittany Howard and Paul McCartney.jpg at Lollapalooza 2015]]

Howard is also the lead singer of the rock band Thunderbitch, formed in Nashville in 2012 with members of Clear Plastic Masks and ATO Records' labelmates Fly Golden Eagle. The band surprise released a self-titled album in September 2015.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/alabama-shakes-brittany-howard-releases-new-lp-as-thunderbitch-20150901 |title=Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard Releases New LP as Thunderbitch |first=Jon |last=Blistein |date=September 1, 2015 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=December 15, 2015}} Although the band rarely makes live appearances, they played a rare set at ATO Records' CMJ Music Marathon showcase in October 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2015/10/thunderbitch_pl.html |title=Brittany Howard's Thunderbitch played ATO's CMJ showcase w/ Margaret Glaspy, Jessica Lea Mayfield and Joseph (pics) |date=October 20, 2015 |website=BrooklynVegan.com |access-date=December 15, 2015}}

Brittany Howard is also a singer in the band Bermuda Triangle with Jesse Lafser and Becca Mancari, which was formed in Nashville in 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/09/06/548853529/songs-we-love-bermuda-triangle-rosey' |title=Songs We Love: Bermuda Triangle, 'Rosey' |first=Ann |last=Powers |date=September 6, 2017 |website=NPR |access-date=October 19, 2017}} Their debut live performance was on July 12, 2017, at the Basement East in Nashville.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/live-reviews/brittany-howard-side-project-bermuda-triangle-watch-debut-w492167 |title=Watch Brittany Howard Side Project Bermuda Triangle Make Live Debut |first=Adam |last=Gold |date=July 13, 2017 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=October 19, 2017}} The trio released their first single on September 6, 2017, titled "Rosey", which was first released on Jesse Lafser's 2015 album "Raised On The Plains". Although originally believed to be a one time performance, the trio performed a five show tour through the southern states of the US in October 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/210522/9 |title= Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard Shares Debut Single Of New Band Bermuda Triangle |first=Jon |last=Stickler |date=September 7, 2017 |website=Stereoboard |access-date=October 19, 2017}} This small tour included shows in Carrboro and Asheville, North Carolina; Birmingham, Alabama; Atlanta; and Knoxville, Tennessee.

File:Sundance Film Festival 2024 - Britanny Howard-104A1997.jpg in January 2024]]

In June 2019, Brittany Howard announced a debut solo album, Jaime which was released on September 20, 2019, as well as a tour across North America and Europe.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/alabama-shakes-brittany-howard-announces-debut-solo-album-shares-new-song-listen/|title=Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard Announces Debut Solo Album, Shares New Song: Listen|website=Pitchfork|date=June 25, 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-06-25}} Jaime was received with universal acclaim; Pitchfork noted, "The exceptional solo debut from the Alabama Shakes singer-songwriter is a thrilling opus that pushes the boundaries of voice, sound, and soul to new extremes."{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/brittany-howard-jaime/|title=Brittany Howard: Jaime|website=Pitchfork|language=en|access-date=2019-11-13}} On July 16, 2019, Howard released the music video to the single Stay High, featuring actor Terry Crews lip-syncing to the track.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/alabama-shakes-brittany-howard-shares-terry-crews-starring-video-for-new-song-watch/|title=Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard Shares Terry Crews-Starring Video for New Song: Watch|website=Pitchfork|date=July 16, 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-11-13}} On April 15, 2020, she released a cover of a Funkadelic's 1971 song "You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks" and a new rendition of her song "Stay High".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/brittany-howard-funkadelic-spotify-single-984134/ |title= Hear Brittany Howard Cover Funkadelic's 'You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks' |first=Angie |last=Martoccio |date=April 15, 2020 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=April 15, 2020}} Stay High was recommended as an "appropriate musical remedy" to get people through lockdown and quarantine by KRCW.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-31 |title=KCRW Presents Lockdown Listening: Lady Blackbird |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/03/31/975218809/kcrw-presents-lockdown-listening-lady-blackbird |access-date=2021-04-03 |website=npr.org}} On October 13, 2023, she released the title track to her second album What Now. In the same year, Rolling Stone named Howard to its "250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" list.{{Cite magazine |date=2023-10-13 |title=The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-guitarists-1234814010/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}

In 2024, Howard announced a co-headlining tour with British rhythm and blues singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka.{{Cite web |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/brittany-howard-michael-kiwanuka-announce-fall-co-headline-tour-brooklynvegan-presale-for-central-park-show/ |title=Brittany Howard & Michael Kiwanuka announce fall co-headline tour (BrooklynVegan presale for Central Park show) |first=Bill |last=Pearis |date=2024-04-23 |accessdate=2024-04-23 |language=en-US |website=BrooklynVegan}}

Howard made her acting debut in the animated film Thelma the Unicorn, which debuted on Netflix May 17, 2024. Howard's personality, hair, and songs were all used as inspiration for her character in the film.{{cite magazine |last1=Wang |first1=Jessica |title=Brittany Howard didn't expect to be so moved by a script about a pony who dreams of music stardom |url=https://ew.com/brittany-howard-thelma-the-unicorn-interview-exclusive-8648616 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=17 May 2024}}

In late November 2024, Howard announced the debut of her hardcore project KUMITE. KUMITE were scheduled to play their first show in Nashville, in January 2025.{{cite web |title=Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard announces new hardcore project |url=https://lambgoat.com/news/44980/alabama-shakess-brittany-howard-announces-new-hardcore-project/ |website=Lambgoat |access-date=25 November 2024}}

In 2024, Howard co-wrote an original track with Ludwig Göransson, Pale Pale Moon, which was prominently featured in Ryan Coogler's film Sinners. Both Howard's original demo and the movie version performed by actress Jayme Lawson are featured on the soundtrack album.

Howard has cited as influences artists including Led Zeppelin,{{cite news|work=New York Post|url=https://nypost.com/2019/09/19/alabama-shakes-brittany-howard-rocks-to-a-solo-beat-on-new-album/|title=Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard rocks to a solo beat on new album|last=Arnold|first=Chuck|date=September 19, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200601231849/https://nypost.com/2019/09/19/alabama-shakes-brittany-howard-rocks-to-a-solo-beat-on-new-album/|archive-date=June 1, 2020}} Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Prince, Curtis Mayfield, David Bowie, Mavis Staples, Tom Waits, Björk, Gil Scott-Heron, Freddie Mercury, and Tina Turner.{{cite web|work=Vanity Fair|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2015/08/alabama-shakes-brittany-howard-interview|title=We Talked Smoking, Drinking, and Soul-Baring with Alabama Shakes|last=Robinson|first=Lisa|date=August 25, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823072502/https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2015/08/alabama-shakes-brittany-howard-interview|archive-date=August 23, 2016}}

Howard came out as a lesbian at age 25. She married fellow musician Jesse Lafser in 2018; they divorced the following year.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/brittany-howard-interview-alabama-shakes-jaime-album-racism-sexuality-a9113771.html|work=The Independent|title=Brittany Howard: 'I didn't want to end up back in the trailer park'

|last=Smith|first=Patrick|date=September 21, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200601232706/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/brittany-howard-interview-alabama-shakes-jaime-album-racism-sexuality-a9113771.html|archive-date=June 1, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Peisner |first1=David |title=Brittany Howard Taps Into the Ancestors, and Finds a New Groove |work=The New York Times |date=January 23, 2024 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/23/arts/music/brittany-howard-what-now.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare |access-date=25 January 2024}}

{{for|awards and nominations as a member of Alabama Shakes|Alabama Shakes#Awards and nominations}}

{{Infobox artist discography

| Artist = Brittany Howard

| Studio = 2

| EP = 4

| Singles = 16

| Option = 1

| Option name = Remix albums

}}

{{main|Alabama Shakes discography}}

• Boys & Girls (2012)
• Sound & Color (2015)

• Thunderbitch (2015)

{{notelist-ua|40em}}

{{Reflist}}

{{sister project links|d=Q19572136|c=Category:Brittany Howard|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no|q=no}}

• {{official website}}

{{Alabama Shakes}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Rock Song}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Brittany}}

Category:1988 births

Category:African-American guitarists

Category:African-American rock musicians

Category:African-American rock singers

Category:American women rock singers

Category:American people of English descent

Category:American people of Irish descent

Category:ATO Records artists

Category:Living people

Category:LGBTQ people from Alabama

Category:American lesbian musicians

Category:Singers from Alabama

Category:People from Athens, Alabama

Category:American rock guitarists

Category:Grammy Award winners

Category:Guitarists from Alabama

Category:21st-century American women singers

Category:21st-century American women guitarists

Category:21st-century American guitarists

Category:American LGBTQ singers

Category:African-American LGBTQ people

Category:21st-century American singers

Category:20th-century American LGBTQ people

Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people

Category:African-American women musicians

Category:21st-century African-American women singers

Category:20th-century African-American musicians

Category:20th-century African-American women

Category:Island Records artists

Category:American musicians with disabilities

Category:Singers with disabilities