There’s a certain magic that happens when blood harmonizes with blood—a resonance that can’t be faked, a chemistry that’s woven into the DNA. For The Castellows, three sisters from a cattle farm in rural Georgetown, Georgia, that magic is the foundation of their sound, their story, and their meteoric rise from TikTok covers to the heart of Nashville’s country music machine.
Roots That Run Deep
Before the bright lights and the Warner Music record deal, Eleanor “Ellie,” Powell, and Lily Balkcom were just three sisters living a life that reads like a country song. Homeschooled on their family’s farm near the Georgia-Alabama border, the girls grew up with dirt under their fingernails, horses in the pasture, and a soundtrack of Southern gospel and classic country filling the air. Music was always present—church choir harmonies, family jam sessions, and the kind of sibling rivalry that pushes each player to be better, tighter, and truer.
Ellie and Powell, two-thirds of a set of triplets, are the eldest, with Lily trailing by just eighteen months. It’s a dynamic that’s served them well: Ellie, the steady hand on lead guitar; Powell, plucking the banjo with a bluegrass soul; and Lily, the youngest, wielding a voice that’s both honey-smooth and steel-strong, anchoring their harmonies and leading the charge.
From Farm to Fame: The Social Media Spark
The Castellows’ journey to country music’s center stage wasn’t plotted from childhood. In fact, each sister started down a different path at the University of Georgia, chasing dreams far from Nashville’s neon glow. But in 2022, a simple act—posting acoustic covers on Instagram and TikTok—changed everything. Their renditions of classics by The Animals, Ed Sheeran, and Jason Isbell showcased not only their technical skill but a natural, familial blend that caught the ear of millions. Within months, their follower count soared past a million, and the music industry took notice.
By early 2023, the sisters were fielding calls from Nashville, New York, and Los Angeles. The buzz was undeniable: here was a trio that could bring the warmth of the old school to a new generation, with a sound that was both comfortingly familiar and refreshingly original.
Nashville Bound: The Making of The Castellows
Moving to Nashville in the summer of 2023, The Castellows wasted no time. They adopted their great-grandmother’s maiden name as their moniker—a nod to family tradition and Southern heritage—and signed with Warner Music Nashville and Warner Records. The city’s writers’ rooms and studios became their new stomping grounds, and by October, they’d released their debut single, “No. 7 Road.”
Their first EP, A Little Goes a Long Way, dropped in February 2024. Produced by Trina Shoemaker, the project is a masterclass in neo-traditional country: lush three-part harmonies, acoustic textures, and storytelling that feels lived-in and honest. The standout track, “I Know It’ll Never End,” earned them a nomination for CMT’s Digital-First Performance of the Year, signaling that the industry was paying attention—not just to their sound, but to their potential to shape the future of country music.
The Castellows Sound: Tradition, Innovation, and Harmony
At the heart of The Castellows’ appeal is their ability to straddle the line between tradition and modernity. Their music is steeped in the sounds of the South—banjo, acoustic guitar, fiddle—but there’s nothing dusty or dated about their approach. Instead, they channel the spirit of the genre’s greats while infusing their songs with the energy and perspective of a new generation.
Their harmonies are their secret weapon. When Ellie, Powell, and Lily sing together, it’s as if three voices become one—an “almost angelic” blend that’s both haunting and uplifting. This isn’t just technical prowess; it’s a kind of musical telepathy that only siblings can share, honed over years of singing together in kitchens, barns, and back porches.
Lily’s lead vocals are the anchor: clear, emotive, and unpretentious. Ellie’s guitar work provides a melodic backbone, while Powell’s banjo adds a bluegrass edge that sets them apart from Nashville’s pop-country crowd. Together, they create a sound that’s “traditional, yet modern; authentic, yet harnessed”—a phrase that’s become something of a calling card for the trio.
Songwriting: Stories from the Heartland
The Castellows’ songwriting is as robust as their musicianship. Drawing inspiration from their upbringing, their lyrics are rich with images of rural life, family bonds, and the bittersweet beauty of growing up Southern. Songs like “No. 7 Road” and “Alabama Stone” evoke the red clay roads and rolling pastures of their childhood, while tracks like “Girl That Boy” (described by Billboard as “exquisitely melancholy”) showcase a knack for emotional storytelling that resonates far beyond their hometown.
Their music isn’t just nostalgia—it’s a bridge between past and present, a way of honoring their roots while carving out a space for themselves in the ever-evolving landscape of country music.
Breaking Out: Awards, Tours, and Industry Buzz
2024 was a banner year for The Castellows. In addition to their CMT nomination, the trio landed on multiple “Watch Lists,” including CMT’s Next Women of Country and Nashville Lifestyles’ annual roundup of rising stars. They hit the road with country heavyweights Little Big Town and Sugarland on the Take Me Home Tour, and their momentum only grew.
By 2025, The Castellows were headlining their own Homecoming Tour, fresh off the release of their seven-song EP Homecoming. Collaborations with artists like Wyatt Flores (“Sober Sundays”) and Flatland Cavalry (“Place They Call Home”) expanded their sound and audience, proving that their appeal wasn’t limited to traditionalists.
They graced the covers of Modern Luxury Nashville, JEZEBEL, and Magnolia & Moonshine magazines, and were named an Amazon Music One To Watch. SiriusXM’s The Highway dubbed them a “Highway Find,” and the sisters joined Thomas Rhett on his Better In Boots Tour, including a stop at Boston’s iconic Fenway Park.
The Castellows Live: Bringing Family Tradition to the Stage
A Castellows show is more than a concert—it’s a family gathering, a celebration of Southern culture, and a showcase of musicianship that’s both tight and joyful. Onstage, the sisters’ chemistry is palpable: they trade solos, swap instruments, and banter with the easy familiarity of siblings who’ve spent a lifetime making music together.
Their setlists blend originals with carefully chosen covers, paying homage to their influences while putting their own stamp on each song. Whether they’re playing a packed arena or a small-town festival, The Castellows bring the same energy and authenticity, inviting audiences into their world and reminding them of the power of music to connect, comfort, and inspire.
Why The Castellows Matter: A New Generation of Country
In an era when country music is constantly reinventing itself, The Castellows stand out by embracing what’s always made the genre great: storytelling, musicianship, and a sense of place. They’re not chasing trends or pandering to pop radio; instead, they’re doubling down on the elements that drew them to music in the first place—family, tradition, and the simple joy of singing together.
Yet, their appeal isn’t limited to die-hard traditionalists. By harnessing the power of social media, collaborating with contemporary artists, and writing songs that speak to universal themes, The Castellows are bringing a new generation into the country fold. Their fans are as likely to be teenagers discovering the genre for the first time as they are lifelong country devotees.
Looking Ahead: The Future of The Castellows
With two EPs under their belt, a string of high-profile collaborations, and a headline tour in motion, The Castellows are poised for even greater things. Their story is still being written, but the chapters so far suggest a band with the talent, work ethic, and vision to become not just stars, but standard-bearers for the next wave of country music.
As they continue to evolve, one thing is certain: The Castellows will do it their way—rooted in family, grounded in tradition, and always in perfect harmony.
If you close your eyes and listen to The Castellows, you can almost smell the Georgia pines, feel the dust of a country road, and hear the laughter of sisters who never dreamed they’d end up here, but can’t imagine being anywhere else. In a world that moves too fast and forgets too easily, their music is a reminder that some things—family, harmony, and a good country song—never go out of style.
The Castellows can be reached via the following official contacts:
- the website of The Castellows
- the band's Twitter account
- the Youtube channel of The Castellows
- the instagram account of the three sisters
- the TikTok channel of The CastellowsPhoto Credit: Ben Humphrey