Brittany Howard (born October 2, 1988, in Athens, Alabama) is an American musician best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary songwriter for the Grammy‑winning band Alabama Shakes. She’s widely recognized for her raw, soulful voice, genre‑blending style, and fearless artistic experimentation. In 2011, she was a rural mail carrier assistant. In the concert video (right) she talks about how she was writing songs while on her mail route.

🎶 Career Highlights

Alabama Shakes (2010s)

• Rose to prominence as the frontwoman of the band.
• Known for hits like Hold On and Don’t Wanna Fight.
• Earned multiple Grammy Awards with the group.

Solo Career

• Released her debut solo album Jaime in 2019, which won Best Alternative Music Album at the Grammys.
• Her solo work blends rock, soul, funk, and experimental sounds.

Side Projects

• Thunderbitch — a punk‑influenced project where she played bass.
• Bermuda Triangle — a trio where she played acoustic guitar and double bass.

🏆 Awards & Recognition

• 5 Grammy Awards from 18 nominations across her work with Alabama Shakes and as a solo artist.
• Named one of the “250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” by Rolling Stone in 2023.

🎤 Style & Influence

Howard’s music is known for:

• Soulful, powerhouse vocals
• Blending genres — rock, Americana, experimental, roots rock
• Deeply personal songwriting
• Bold, emotional performances

Her sound pulls from blues, classic rock, soul, and gospel, but she reshapes them into something unmistakably her own.

📺 Recent Spotlight

She recently gained attention for performing at the SNL 50th anniversary special, including a duet of “Nothing Compares 2 U” with Miley Cyrus.