Elvie Shane

Artist Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine Raised on gospel and Southern rock, modern-day country crooner Elvie Shane made a big splash with his 2020 debut single, "My Boy." An ode to his stepson, the song captured Shane's sentimental streak and his facility with soul, making for a distinctive beginning to his career. His debut EP, Country Roads, was released in 2021. A Kentucky native -- he was born in Caneyville -- Elvie Shane learned to love music by singing in church and listening to his father play country and classic rock at home. As he grew older, he was increasingly drawn to both the gospel and music, and when he attended Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, he studied creative writing and English literature. All these elements would eventually coalesce in his music, but first he had some living to do. He dropped out of college, got into trouble, struggled with addictions, and then righted himself through marriage and being a stepfather. Inspired by the rise of Chris Stapleton, Shane started playing music publicly in the mid-2010s. Developing a blend of classic rock, R&B, and country, he first gained attention with an appearance on American Idol in 2016. He didn't make it past the initial rounds in Hollywood, but it was enough for his subsequent song, "Country Roads," to build a fan base in earnest. His 2018 song "My Boy" wound up a viral hit, bringing him to the attention of Rome Phrey Publishing. Soon afterward, BBR Music Group signed Shane to a deal in 2019. By design, the label issued "My Boy" as his first single, shortly before Father's Day 2020. Released in 2021, Shane's follow-up single "Country Roads" leaned into his rock side and served as the title track for his first EP later that year.