Biography
Avery Anna Rhoton grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona. [2] When she was 8 years old, after she was baptized, she received a journal as a gift, which later became the inspiration for her songs. [3] She started singing in church as a little girl; her mother told her it was to help people get closer to God. She wrote her first song around the fifth grade and soon taught herself to play guitar. [4] She also sang country songs by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Merle Haggard with her grandfather, who played guitar. [5]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she posted her cover version of "Say Something" by Christina Aguilera on TikTok, which became a viral video. [1] [5] She sang in her bathtub because of the good acoustics. [5]
The video gained the attention of Matt Thomas of Parmalee, who forwarded it to David Fanning. [1] Fanning contacted Anna via Instagram and signed her to a talent manager and song production agreement. [1] Along with Andy Sheridan and Ben Williams, Fanning wrote the song "Narcissist", inspired by Anna's journal entries, which she recorded. It was performed by Kelly Clarkson on The Kelly Clarkson Show . [3]
In May 2021, Anna graduated from high school, completing her final year via Zoom, and in August 2021, aged 17, she moved to Nashville. [5]
In June 2022, Anna signed a recording contract with Warner Music Nashville. [3]
Anna made her Grand Ole Opry debut on September 30, 2022. [6]
In October 2022, she released her debut extended play, Mood Swings, made up of songs that are inspired by moments her life where she felt either really happy, really in love, really confused, or really sad. [7]
In July 2024, her debut album, Breakup Over Breakfast, was released via Warner Music Nashville. She co-wrote all seventeen of the album's songs including singles "Make It Look Easy", "Two Sides of the Story", "Blonde", "Breakup Over Breakfast", and "Girl Next Door". The project also features collaborations with Parmalee, Dylan Marlowe, and Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose, and Lori McKenna (known collectively as the Love Junkies). [8] [9]
In October 2024, Sam Barber released "Indigo" from his debut album Restless Mind which features and was co-written with Anna. It peaked at number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 8 on the Hot Country Songs chart. The song also became popular on TikTok, propelling it to international success in various countries. [10] Anna also features on the album's title track.
In May 2025, her second album, Let Go Letters, was released. Songs were inspired by fans; at Anna's concerts, fans would write down their struggles in letters as a way to process and let go - each song on her album based on one of these letters. [11]
