American star Dasha opens up on struggles with fame

Rising American country singer Dasha has shared candid details about the challenges behind her rapid rise to stardom, revealing that the pressures of touring led her to a difficult period in her career.

The Austin hitmaker, born Anna Dasha Novotny, spoke backstage at a Nashville concert where she described the toll that constant travel and live performances have taken on her mental and physical health.

“The road’s really hard. It’s very tiring, and a lot of people don’t really talk about that side of it,” Dasha admitted. “There’s not a lot of mental downtime or physical downtime. The toughest part is just finding ways to ground yourself.”

Her latest single, Oh, Anna!, was written during what she called a “full mental breakdown.”

“I lost sight of the confidence and fearlessness I’ve always had. Suddenly, I was saying, ‘I don’t know’ to everything, and that wasn’t me,” she explained. “So I wrote Oh, Anna! as a letter to my younger self. I cried so much in that session — it was like therapy.”

The emotional track has since become a fan favourite and now serves as the foundation of her upcoming project. “It’s about rewinding and reminding people who I really am and where I come from,” she added.

Despite the intense lifestyle, Dasha said she finds comfort in simple routines, including cooking, reading at night, and keeping in touch with her family. She also credits music and personal hobbies with helping her stay focused during difficult times.

Now, Dasha is set to bring her heartfelt music and energetic performances to international audiences. She has been officially announced as part of the CMC Rocks Queensland 2026 line-up, joining one of the biggest country music festivals in the Southern Hemisphere.

“It’s going to be my first time performing in Australia, and I’ve heard that the crowds are really dedicated,” she said. “I feed off the audience, so having that kind of energy – it’s just going to be magical.”