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MARSHALL – When I last talked with Abbie Callahan in April, the Nashville-based singer-songwriter was building momentum, celebrating new opportunities and working to establish her place in the music industry.
Seven months later, the Iowa City native is seeing that momentum translate into something bigger.
Since April, Callahan has gained more than 200,000 Instagram followers, performed at the Grand Ole Opry and landed a spot on a 19-show tour with Orville Peck.
More importantly, she has made a significant change behind the scenes, stepping away from Broadway performances and cover gigs in Nashville to focus entirely on her original music.
"I think professionally, the biggest change is I stopped doing Broadway in Nashville. I stopped doing cover gigs," Callahan said. "I’ve been able to fully focus on my original music, and what I want my world to look like."
The change has allowed Callahan to put more time and energy into developing her own creative direction, including overseeing photo shoots and other projects surrounding her music.
She said the difference has been noticeable in her social media presence and the way she has been able to present herself as an artist.
Photo by Daniel Lins.
Another major boost came from influencer, nurse, and author Jen Hamilton, who shared Callahan’s music with her followers twice. The exposure helped grow Callahan’s audience and has brought a new experience: being recognized by listeners away from the stage.
Callahan recalled being approached by a fan at a Brooklyn venue who recognized her and mentioned covering one of her songs.
"That’s been something that I’ve been getting used to, and I enjoy," Callahan said.
The growth has also become more tangible during performances. Earlier in the year, Callahan said she was accustomed to hearing a handful of people sing along to songs such as "Mary Jane" and "Simon Says," which gained traction online. Now, she is seeing audiences connect with songs beyond her singles.
During one recent performance, a fan gave her a bracelet featuring the name of "Carousel," a song from her project that was not released as a single.
"It’s cool that somebody actually is listening and is singing along to songs that are not just singles or viral, but like, something that was just on the album," Callahan said. "You had to go and listen to it."
She has also noticed people singing along to her entire set, a shift she described as a different feeling from what she experienced earlier in the year.
"You see numbers and then putting people’s faces with it is my favorite part," Callahan said.
Photo by Daniel Lins.
One of the biggest milestones during that time was performing at the Grand Ole Opry, an experience Callahan described as surreal.
She said she tried not to get too attached to the idea before it happened, not wanting to be disappointed if something fell through. The significance of the opportunity did not fully register until she arrived, completed sound check, and looked around the venue.
"I was sound checking and looking up, and it’s just like, I mean, at that point, probably some of the biggest stages I’d ever performed on," Callahan said. "It was just surreal, and it was such, like, so warm, and everyone was so welcoming and so sweet."
Her latest opportunity came through an unexpected connection with Orville Peck. After he discovered her song "OptiMYSTIC," which Callahan released earlier this year, he shared it on his Instagram story, followed her, and sent her a direct message praising the song.
Callahan had been familiar with Peck’s music since moving to Nashville six years ago and admired the way he had carved out his own identity in the industry.
With encouragement from her booking agent, she reached out to express her interest in joining him on tour. Two days later, she received an offer to join him for the entire 19-show leg.
At the time of the interview, the tour was nine shows in, with the 10th scheduled for that night.
The experience has been unlike anything Callahan had encountered before. She described the crowds as her "dream crowd," pointing to the welcoming atmosphere and the connections she has made with fans.
"Everyone is, like, full of love, and, like, nice to everybody around them, and funny, and sweet," Callahan said. "People have been making me gifts, and it’s just a different experience than I’ve ever had."
The schedule can be demanding, with three or four shows in four days, but Callahan said she enjoys the day-to-day nature of touring. Rather than balancing performances with other work, she can focus on preparing her voice and taking the stage.
She also approaches each performance with gratitude, regardless of the size of the venue or audience.
"There are a lot of people who could be in my spot right now," Callahan said. "I just feel grateful. Somebody decided to orient their day around me."
That perspective has helped her remain grounded as her career continues to grow. She also recognizes the sacrifices made by the people around her, including her band, photographer, and team, as well as the support she receives from her family.
Callahan’s mother and grandparents have been especially important throughout her career. Her family checks in regularly during the tour, following her performances and keeping track of where she is playing.
Having the opportunity to return to Iowa for performances remains particularly meaningful. Callahan said her grandparents, now around 90 years old, have difficulty traveling, making it special when they can attend a show close to home.
"I moved to Nashville six years ago, and to be able to have it bring me back, that’s really cool," Callahan said. "When I get to go back home, and they get to have a seat up front and watch, that’s like, that’s all I could want."
Her family has supported her career from the beginning, she said, never questioning her decision to pursue music or the direction she takes with her songs.
Callahan is not ready to define a single moment as having "made it." Instead, she sees milestones along the way, from releasing a new song to looking out at a large crowd and realizing what she has accomplished.
Performing at The Armory in Minneapolis was one of those moments. The performance also provided another opportunity to document Callahan’s growth firsthand, as she took the stage in front of a Minneapolis audience.
"I was looking out at the crowd after I went on, and I was like, wow, I did that," Callahan said. "It gives you a lot of confidence as a person."
She still has goals she hopes to reach, including signing a record deal with the right label and playing more headlining shows. But she does not view success as a destination with one defining finish line.
"I want to keep just doing this as long as I can," Callahan said.
Looking ahead, Callahan expects the coming months to include plenty of songwriting. She also plans to return to Nashville after the tour and begin working toward a new project.
Playing overseas is another goal she hopes to accomplish in the near future. She also hopes the next group of songs will help point her in a new musical direction.
For now, Callahan is focused on enjoying the opportunities in front of her and continuing to build a community around her music.
"Everyone’s welcome. I love everybody," she said. "My fans have a very safe space to fully be themselves and be who they want to be, and I love them."
As Callahan looks back on the distance she has traveled since April, the growth is evident in more than her social media following or the stages she has reached. She has found the freedom to focus on her own music, connected with audiences across the country, and begun to see listeners embrace the songs that mean the most to her. While she still has plenty of goals ahead, Callahan is no longer just working to find her place in the industry. She’s building a career on her own terms, one song, one show, and one connection at a time.