Today, bassist and vocalist Shelby Means has released her second ever single, a soaring slow-burn bluegrass cover of Lady Gaga’s “Million Reasons.” (STREAM HERE). Means recorded her cover after years of performing the number on stage in her solo shows and with her Americana duo, Sally & George. Tracked in Nashville and joined by world-class musicians like Jerry Douglas and Bryan Sutton, “Million Reasons” especially highlights Means’ powerful, crystalline voice, which is equally suited to the high lonesome sound and high drama pop balladry, both.
With the release of Gaga’s long-awaited new album, Mayhem, just a week ago, Means’ second solo foray has certainly been serendipitously timed. Across all of her eras and LPs, Means has appreciated and drawn inspiration from Lady Gaga’s artistry and musicianship, but perhaps none more than 2016’s country-tinged Joanne.
“When I first moved to Tennessee I was singing along to ‘Poker Face’ on the radio,” Means tells Grateful Web in a brand new interview. “That was so my jam! I love Lady Gaga for a million reasons. Her music brought me in and her wild pop star fashion captivates me! Her theatrical performances and her philanthropy around mental health and LGBTQ rights make me respect her even more. Her character Joanne was very relatable to me. … Bluegrass is ready for this Lady Gaga cover, I know it!”
Means recorded “Million Reasons” with Maya de Vitry producing and a superlative band including Jerry Douglas (Dobro), Ron Block (banjo), Bryan Sutton (guitar), Bronwyn Keith-Hynes (fiddle), and brother Jacob Means (mandolin). The cover has long been included in Means’ repertoire through her Americana duo Sally & George with her husband, musician and singer-songwriter Joel Timmons (who, along with de Vitry, supplied background vocals on the new single). It certainly thrives in this bluegrass setting, an endlessly charming combination of pop sensibilities and bluegrass grit crafted as only Shelby Means could do it.
“Million Reasons” is available to stream/download here.
ABOUT SHELBY MEANS: Born in the bluegrass of Kentucky and raised on Wyoming’s high plains, Shelby Means is one of the foremost bassists in bluegrass, with nearly two decades of experience in bluegrass, folk, rock, Americana, and country outfits. Now based in Charleston, SC, during her tenure in Nashville she was a member of the GRAMMY-nominated distaff bluegrass band, Della Mae. She has traveled to more than 20 countries around the world spreading musical diplomacy.
Means is one half of roots duo Sally & George with her husband and collaborator, Sol Driven Train’s Joel Timmons. With Timmons, Mary Lucey, and Billy Cardine, she co-founded another group, Lover’s Leap, a genre blurring, heart-led Americana band. Means is a member of Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, with whom she gained her first GRAMMY win for their 2023 album, City of Gold. She’s also received more than a handful of awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association for her work with Della Mae and Golden Highway.
Means is a driving player with a deep pocket, a singular stage presence, and a magnetic, centered approach to the upright bass. Beyond her work on the instrument, she’s also an accomplished songwriter and a heartfelt vocalist whose voice is rooted in tradition while authentically her own. With her debut solo music, slated for release in 2025, Means invites listeners to experience the same soulful presence and adventurous spirit she has built her career on. Her singing and playing has been heard across the country and around the world, from NPR’s airwaves, the Grand Ole Opry, Bonnaroo, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and Newport Folk to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Kazakhstan, Australia, and beyond. www.shelbyleemeans.com
