Ashton Shepherd (born Ashton Delilah Shepherd, August 16, 1986, in Coffeeville, Alabama[1][2]) is an American country music singer-songwriter. She was first signed to Universal Music Group Nashville's MCA Nashville division in April of 2007.[3] In late 2007, she released her debut single "Takin' Off This Pain", which peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in early 2008 and served as the lead-off single to her debut album Sounds So Good. The title track was released as the second single in 2008 and has reached the Top 30 of the country chart. Ashton Shepherd was born August 16, 1986 in Coffeeville, Alabama. She began singing at an early age, and started writing songs at age five.[4] By age eight, she had entered her first talent competition, where she sang Patsy Cline songs, and soon afterward, she began performing at various local venues as well. Her parents helped her finance a self-titled CD, which she released independently at age fifteen.[4]