Madison Cunningham

Madison Cunningham (born October 14, 1996) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. ''Rolling Stone'' described her music as "a new spin on West Coast folk-rock, with classical tendencies, electric guitars, jazz-school chord changes and alt-rock strut all living under the same roof". Her second studio album, '' Who Are You Now'' (2019), was nominated for the best Americana album in the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. Her third studio album '' Revealer'' (2022) won the Grammy for Best Folk Album in 2023.

Life and career

Madison Cunningham was born in Escondido, California, and later moved to Costa Mesa, where she grew up. She is the daughter of a pastor at a local church, and she has four sisters. Influenced by her father and grandmother, Cunningham started playing guitar when she was seven years old, performing in the church. As a teenager, she met producer Tyler Chester, with whom she made the self-released studio album ''Authenticity'' (2014).

She removed ''Authenticity'' from streaming services in 2021 because she felt it was no longer relatable. Cunningham has said of her faith that "Christianity looks different to me all the time. The phrase that I use with my husband is 'I’m becoming more and more of an agnostic every day.'"

After graduating from high school, Cunningham discovered many influences, such as the Beatles, Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan. Other inspirations include Radiohead, Fiona Apple, Juana Molina and Jeff Buckley.

In 2017, Cunningham joined the cast of American Public Media's show '' Live from Here'', presented by Chris Thile, of whom she became a frequent collaborator. She also toured with multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird, being credited for vocals in his twelfth solo studio album, '' My Finest Work Yet'' (2019).

'' Who Are You Now'', released on August 16, 2019, earned her a Grammy nomination in the following year for best Americana album. In 2020, Cunningham released her third extended play (EP), ''Wednesday'', covering songs by Tom Waits, Radiohead, John Mayer and the Beatles. She is currently based in Los Angeles.

On August 3, 2022, the artist made an appearance at NPR's Tiny Desk, playing four songs from her upcoming studio album ''Revealer''. NPR music contributor Jewly Hight states that Madison was an "audacious guide, steering us toward exploration with the shrewd parts she played on three different guitars over the course of four songs".

On September 9, 2022, Cunningham released '' Revealer'', her third studio album. '' Consequences editorial coordinator Paolo Ragusa writes about it: "With each song on ''Revealer'', Cunningham is proving that she can satisfy and surprise her audience all at once, and it’s one of the most delightful albums released so far in 2022."

On October 18, 2024, Cunningham and Andrew Bird released a new studio album, titled '' Cunningham Bird'', which features covers of the entirety of '' Buckingham Nicks'' (1973), the only studio album by the duo of American rock guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and singer Stevie Nicks, both of whom later joined Fleetwood Mac.

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Authenticity'' (2014)
* '' Who Are You Now'' (2019)
* '' Revealer'' (2022)
* '' Cunningham Bird'' (2024), with Andrew Bird

Extended plays

* ''Love, Lose, Remember'' (2017)
* ''For the Sake of the Rhyme'' (2019)
* '' Wednesday'' (2020)

Singles

Awards and nominations

References

External links

Official website
*
*
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham, Madison
1996 births
Living people
21st-century American singer-songwriters
21st-century American women guitarists
21st-century American women singers
American folk singers
Americana musicians
Singer-songwriters from California
Musicians from Orange County, California
People from Costa Mesa, California
People from Escondido, California
Grammy Award winners