With a viral hit under her belt, a breakout Stagecoach performance, and a fierce, unfiltered voice—both musically and personally—Dasha is redefining what it means to be a woman in country music. But make no mistake: she’s not just here to sing; she’s here to shake things up.
From the crowd to the main stage
In April 2023, Dasha stood in the crowd at California’s Stagecoach Music Festival—just another fan soaking in the desert sun and sounds. But as Lainey Wilson performed, Dasha broke down in tears. Not from heartbreak, not from nostalgia, but from something closer to prophecy. “I broke down because I was like, I’m going to play this stage soon,” she recalls.
One year later, the 25-year-old singer-songwriter from San Luis Obispo did exactly that. In April 2025, she took the stage at Stagecoach’s largest venue, the Mane Stage, in front of over 80,000 people. “I’m playing Stagecoach Mane Stage!” she shouted into the mic, her blonde waves flying and her cowlick—now something of a trademark—whipping in the wind.
A star in motion
Dasha’s set was a full-blown spectacle: 35 minutes of high-energy, high-glam country pop. Dressed in a custom Victoria’s Secret Pink denim corset and leather chaps inspired by Coyote Ugly, she moved with a commanding mix of precision and wild abandon. Even during quick water breaks, lasso dancers filled the gaps, keeping the momentum alive.
She closed her set with the song that started it all—Austin. As the crowd sang along to its now-iconic lyrics, Dasha’s polished exterior cracked ever so slightly. Standing on the edge of the catwalk, her eyes glistened with tears of gratitude and joy. She held them back, stepped back into formation, and let the neon-lit stage carry her home.
Roots in SLO, raised by rhythm
Dasha’s journey begins in San Luis Obispo (SLO), a quirky California town where wealth and hippie spirit coexist. Growing up surrounded by bluegrass festivals, folky jams, and jam-band soundscapes, she found her calling early. “I’ve gone to the Live Oak Music Festival every year of my life—even in my mom’s belly,” she laughs. “There’s music everywhere. It’s all folky as fuck.”
In that environment, she learned piano and guitar by age eight, and was already dancing and singing long before then. Her first performance, a cover of Sheryl Crow’s The First Cut Is the Deepest, was a family affair—accompanied by her brother Bardo’s band. “Something clicked,” she says. “My parents saw how much I came alive onstage.”
A family band, in spirit and sound
Music runs in the Novotny family. Bardo, now a producer and member of LA-based rock band Beauty School Dropout, remains Dasha’s closest collaborator. Their sibling dynamic, forged over childhood projects and even Christmas EPs for their parents, still thrives today. When Dasha has a melody in her head, Bardo is the first person she calls.
Their father, Philip Novotny, co-founded a luxury stroller brand before selling his share to become a full-time dad-ager. He even bought a studio for his kids to create in. Her mother, Laura, is an architect and radio host who often plays her children’s music on air. And then there’s Carmen, Dasha’s younger sister and aspiring music journalist, who’s tagging along on tour this summer for a feature in Vice.
Country but make it Cuntry
Dasha doesn’t shy away from provocation. She leans into it. Known for her no-filter personality, she’s embraced her boldness both in fashion and language—selling camo hats embroidered with “Cuntry” in neon orange. “I kind of push the limits on what I say, what I wear, how I talk,” she says. “But I think women need more role models who keep it fucking real.”
Still, she’s aware of the traditionalism that runs deep in the country music scene. “I know how small and how family-oriented the country world is,” she says. “I’m not trying to come out, guns blazing. I have a lot to learn.” But she’s playing the long game, with plans to challenge the industry once she’s gained enough power to truly shift its foundations.
From viral fame to global reach
Austin, released in November 2023, launched Dasha into stardom. The song—and its viral line-dance choreography—catapulted her to performances at the CMT Music Awards, the Grand Ole Opry, and even the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She handled a lipstick-related mic mishap during the latter with viral-worthy grace, turning a slip-up into social media gold.
She’s currently on tour as an opener for Kane Brown and popping into every podcast, radio station, and platform that’ll have her. Her relentless hustle mirrors the strategy of her idol, Taylor Swift. “She was always so vocal, the lyrics and the stories,” Dasha says. “I just wanted to write songs like her.”
Beyond the stage: Building a legacy
Dasha’s ambitions don’t end with music. She wants to act, collaborate with a DJ on a club anthem, and perform on Saturday Night Live. She even has her own headlining tour this summer, Welcome to Dashville. “I make music not just to fund my life and be a little country star,” she says. “I’m ready to take this as far as it can take me.”
Though fame has brought its challenges—like being chased to her tour bus in Germany—Dasha isn’t intimidated. She’s prepared for it. Her dreams are mapped out like a mission plan, and she’s ticking them off, one show at a time.
The real deal
Now based in Nashville, Dasha has carved out a life that honors her beginnings while fully embracing what’s next. “I was genuinely out there paying my rent by scooping horseshit,” she says, laughing. And now? She’s selling out stages, dancing on national television, and inspiring a new generation of country fans to live—and speak—their truth.
“You can say whatever the hell you want,” she says, unapologetically. “Your comments are only going to boost my algorithm. So shout out.” This isn’t just a star on the rise. This is a woman on a mission. And country music might never be the same.
