Ella Gracen at PumpkinFest 2026

Ella Gracen is a 16-year-old singer-songwriter bringing a fresh, young voice to country music while staying rooted in the storytelling that made her fall in love with the genre in the first place. A songwriter first, Ella has been writing songs since childhood and has already built a catalog of hundreds of originals, with more than 20 songs released before turning 17. Her sound blends modern country with the influences of artists ranging from Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift to Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson—honest lyrics, memorable hooks and songs that feel like conversations you weren’t necessarily supposed to overhear. In 2026, Ella released “Legends,” a tribute to the artists who inspired her to dream big enough to pursue music herself. Co-written with Anne Buckle, a cousin of June Carter Cash, the song was released on Dolly Parton’s birthday and went on to earn a Josie Music Awards nomination for Country Female Song of the Year. Her follow-up single, “Sunday Drive,” showcased another side of her writing, turning the idea of slowing down a relationship into a modern country song about knowing your worth and setting your own pace. She followed it with “Cut & Dry,” an upbeat take on the very un-upbeat reality of trying to get over someone who somehow keeps showing up everywhere—including in every song. Ella has also developed a reputation for putting a country spin on songs outside the genre, including her 2026 release of Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph.” She was inspired to record the song after hearing Sheeran talk about his interest in country music—a full-circle moment made even sweeter when he later appeared on an album by one of Ella’s biggest current influences, Megan Moroney. Onstage, Ella combines her original music with the country songs that shaped her, performing throughout Tennessee at songwriter rounds, festivals and special events. Offstage, she remains just as focused on the craft: writing constantly, recording in Nashville and building her career one song, one show and one opportunity at a time. For Ella, country music has always been about more than chasing a moment. It’s about telling stories people recognize themselves in—and hopefully creating the kind of songs someone else will grow up loving the way she grew up loving her own musical heroes.