North Huntingdon native Ashley Puckett prepares to release debut country album

Ashley Puckett of North Huntingdon was having fun taking guitar lessons and enjoying herself while performing at her high school, at the Norwin’s Got Talent show and eventually at local gigs with the band This Cowgirl Met a Punk.

Puckett, 28, didn’t realize she was laying the groundwork for her future, which now includes the Valentine’s Day release of her debut country album, “Never Say Never.”

“This album has a ton of songwriters,” said Puckett of her first offering, 13 songs ranging from the strident ballad “Live Like You Love” to the banjo-inflected first single, “Medicine.”

“Medicine” has been streamed on Spotify more than 79,000 times since its release, and Puckett received a mention in Billboard Magazine’s “Women in Music” issue, released in December.

Puckett says she hopes to bring more of her own writing to future releases.

“I had to figure out my sound,” she says. “I like to write from experience, so if I’m driving down the road and something hits me, I’ll record an idea on my phone.”

Puckett says she really enjoyed the recording process for “Never Say Never,” which was produced by Bryan Cole and engineered by Doug Kasper at Tonic Recording Studios in McKeesport.

“I hope it will give me opportunities so I can on the road, put a nice tour together and obviously, make my way to Nashville to meet some of those songwriters and have some writing sessions,” she says.

“Never Say Never” will be released Feb. 14 on MTS Records. It will be available to stream on Spotify and for purchase at the iTunes Music Store.

Details: AshleyPuckett.com