Ledbetter’s Bio

Don’t you really miss real country music, sometimes? The shuffles, two-steps, the twin fiddles and sobbing steel guitar. Unadorned and direct, country voices that sing heartfelt songs about real people—songs that soar with hope, crackle with laughter, or just profoundly and completely break your heart. If you miss the heart and soul of real country music in voices like George Jones, Merle Haggard, Johnny Paycheck, and Hank, Jr., you’re going to love Dennis Ledbetter.

A Louisiana native and a lifelong student of country music (the real stuff), Dennis Ledbetter brings a fresh, but achingly familiar voice to the stage and radio airways. His classic instrumental arrangements and vocal style harken back to country music of the 1970s and ‘80s—when the genre still had its trademark twang and was damn proud of it, thank you very much.

On July 2, 2018 Saint and Sinner Records released a new EP for Dennis Ledbetter. It is a 4 song EP. If you enjoyed the first two CDs you are going to love this one. Country is almost an understatement. The title cut, “It Might Be the Whiskey,” is a new original song from this unapologetically country singer, exploring the pain of knowing you screwed up a perfectly great relationship—and now there’s no going back and fixing it. This song was released to radio on November 12, 2018, and is climbing the charts as we speak. The second cut, “I’ll Let the Bottle Kill Me (Before Her Memory Does),” written by Brad Howard, contains the essentials of a hard-hitting, traditional country song. The third song, and the first single released from the EP was “JD’s My Whisky (Not My Name),” a tune that his brother Ken Ledbetter inspired many years ago and was co-written by Dennis Ledbetter and Chris Bellamy. There’s something undeniably satisfying about a cryin’ in your beer country shuffle that sports twin fiddles and a no-frills lead guitar laying down the heartbreak beat. The song went to #1 on the New Music Weekly Chart and stayed there for 5 weeks. “JD’s My Whisky (Not My Name)” is a Top 5 finalist for Pure Country Song of the Year for 2018 by the Academy of Western Artists. The final song on the EP, “That Ain’t Country,” will explain the difference between modern “bro country” music and the authentic article as preached by Conway, Haggard and Jones, this new song co-written by Dennis Ledbetter and Chris Bellamy will spell out all you need to know about the state of mainstream country music.

The 23rd Annual Academy of Western Artists nominated Ledbetter in several categories for 2018. Pure Country Male Artist, Pure Country Album for the EP “It Might Be the Whiskey”, and Pure Country Song for “It Might Be the Whiskey”, “I’ll Let the Bottle Kill Me (Before Your Memory Does)”, JD’s My Whiskey (Not My Name)”, and “That Ain’t Country. The votes for the Top 5 finalist for 2018 are in and “JD’s My Whisky (Not My Name)” is in the running for Pure Country Song of the Year for 2018. Winners will be announced on March 14 at the Annual 2018 Academy of Western Artists Awards banquet.

Saint and Sinner Records has also brought a truly innovative way to entertain Ledbetter’s fans through animated music videos. The FIRST & ONLY of its kind! Unapologetically country meets virtual reality. A truly Ground Breaking form of Entertainment in the Country Music Industry. To date 3 can be watched on the Animated Video Music Outlet on YouTube..

Country radio has fallen in love with Dennis Ledbetter’s music. The debut album, “If You Drive Me to Drinking (I’ll Buy the Gas),”generated five #1 singles on the New Music Weekly Charts. His sophomore CD, “My Life Is a Country Song,” garnered three #1 singles on the same charts.
The EP “It Might Be the Whiskey” has produced one #1already and another is racing to the top of the chart.

Good songs and stories—the ones that leap through the lines of music to touch your heart with characters that seem as real as the friends and family you interact with every day—aren’t portrayed effectively in shallow, bro-country ditties with a five-note vocal range, predictable lyrics, screaming rock ‘n’ roll guitars and heavy drums.

The kind of country songs that Ledbetter writes and sings are the ones that can be a little tough to get through without tearing up because they’re so incredibly sad and true-to-life. As a country singer and also a songwriter, Dennis opens a vein, and let’s true life stories and emotions flow.

Ledbetter and his Unapologetically Country band are entertaining, yes. But there’s more to their music than that. The simple, yet poignant lyrics, the singer’s unapologetically, stone cold country vocals, and the steely glint of blue eyes that peer out from beneath the wide brim of a real cowboy hat…. These things consistently and completely grab listeners by the heart and pull them into a song.

Ledbetter is a working man—a skilled steam turbine engineer of 42 years who chooses his words carefully before speaking, or singing. His trad-country perspective isn’t an act or a costume chosen for a polished, retro CMT video. Dennis has loved country music all of his life. He’s spent years onstage at honkytonks and clubs in the South, honing his craft and earning the tears and smiles that are reflected in his authentic voice.

Friends and fans will be pleased to hear Ledbetter’s new EP, which is now available to radio and available for sale in all digital formats including CD Baby, Amazon, & ITunes.

Dennis Ledbetter’s Music

It Might Be The Whiskey

My Life Is a Country Song

Drive Me To Drinking