Editing Leigh Nash

{{short description|American singer (born 1976)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Leigh Nash
| image             = File:Leigh Nash - May, 2025.jpg
| caption           = Leigh Nash performing in 2025
|alt = Leigh Nash performing in 2025
| birth_name        = Leigh Anne Bingham
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1976|6|27}}
| birth_place       = [[New Braunfels, Texas]], U.S.
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Pop rock]]|[[soft rock]]|[[country music|country]]}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}
| years_active      = 1992–present
| current_member_of = [[Sixpence None the Richer]]
| past_member_of    = [[Fauxliage]]
| website           = {{Official website|leighnash.net}}
}}

'''Leigh Anne Bingham Nash''' ({{IPAc-en|l|i:}} {{respell|LEE}};<ref>{{cite AV media |author=Kingsway Worship |title=Leigh Nash Interview on 'Hymns and Sacred Songs' |date=February 13, 2012 |publisher=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF64sMpeFNk | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/lF64sMpeFNk| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=September 9, 2016 |time=0:00}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |people=Leigh Nash |date=October 6, 2015 |title=Leigh Nash: Live Performance on Good Day LA |medium=Motion picture |publisher=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwlyrcmXw2o | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/rwlyrcmXw2o| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=September 9, 2016 |time=0:00, 0:15}}{{cbignore}}</ref> born June 27, 1976) is an American singer and songwriter who is the lead vocalist for the Christian alternative rock band [[Sixpence None the Richer]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/artists/LeighNash.asp |title=JesusFreakHideOut biography |publisher=Jesusfreakhideout.com |access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> and was also a member of [[Fauxliage]]. Her debut solo album, ''[[Blue on Blue (Leigh Nash album)|Blue on Blue]]'', was released in August 2006. Nash has released two other solo albums in 2011 and 2015. Nash has two Grammy nominations: "Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal" in 1999 and "Best Rock Gospel Album" in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/leigh-nash/9573|title=Leigh Nash|date=November 23, 2020|website=grammy.com}}</ref> 

== Early life ==
Nash was born Leigh Anne Bingham in [[New Braunfels, Texas]]. She started singing country music and learning old country songs on the guitar at the age of 12. She had several years experience singing in local cafes with a band and performed regularly at a Texan country & western dance hall. She met guitarist and songwriter [[Matt Slocum]] at a church retreat in the early 1990s.

== Career ==
Leigh Nash and [[Matt Slocum]] formed Sixpence None the Richer (named for a line from the book ''[[Mere Christianity]]'' by the author [[C. S. Lewis]]) soon after and went on to record four full-length albums with the band. Their first album, released when she was age 17, was ''[[The Fatherless & the Widow]]''. The album garnered critical acclaim and Slocum and Nash searched for new band members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.drdrew.com/DrewLive/article.asp?id=544|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227034127/http://www.drdrew.com/DrewLive/article.asp?id=544|title=Dr. Drew Interview|archivedate=December 27, 2007}}</ref>

Joined by [[Tess Wiley]], Dale Baker, and J.J. Plascencio, the new band recorded ''[[This Beautiful Mess]]'', which won a [[GMA Dove Awards|Dove Award]] for Best Album. Wiley quit the band after their US tour and the band released the ''[[Tickets for a Prayer Wheel]]'' EP and then signed to the Squint Records label following the demise of R.E.X.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Sixpence-None-The-Richer-Biography/9C4A5A5D1983A92B4825692A0022E095 |title=Sing365 band biography |publisher=Sing365.com |date=October 3, 2007 |access-date=March 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407124112/http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Sixpence-None-The-Richer-Biography/9C4A5A5D1983A92B4825692A0022E095 |archive-date=April 7, 2013 }}</ref>

[[File:Leigh Nash-2.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|left|Leigh Nash with Jars of Clay in Toronto in 2009]]
The band's eponymous album was released in 1997 and the single "[[Kiss Me (Sixpence None the Richer song)|Kiss Me]]" in 1999. In 1999 they received numerous Dove Awards, including Best Artist of the Year. The band was also nominated for a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]]. A second single, a cover of the La's "[[There She Goes (The La's song)|There She Goes]]", also hit the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], followed by a third single, "I Can't Catch You".

In 2000, Nash sang the song "[[Need to Be Next to You]]" for the movie ''[[Bounce (film)|Bounce]]''. Written by [[Diane Warren]], it became Nash's first solo single.

After the departure of drummer Dale Baker and bass player J.J. Plascencio, Sixpence None the Richer released ''Divine Discontent'' in 2001. Two singles from that album, "Breathe Your Name" and a cover of [[Crowded House]]'s 1986 hit single "[[Don't Dream It's Over]]", charted on the US Adult Top 40 at No. 18 and No. 9, respectively.

In 2003, the band appeared on an episode of the final season of the ABC sitcom ''[[Sabrina, The Teenage Witch]]''.

In 2004, Sixpence None the Richer announced their breakup by letter from Matt Slocum to ''[[CCM Magazine]]''. After that, the band released ''[[The Best of Sixpence None the Richer]]''. Nash and her husband left their Nashville home of 10 years and moved to Los Angeles.

Nash released her first solo record, ''[[Blue on Blue (Leigh Nash album)|Blue on Blue]]'', in August 2006 on One Son Records, Nash's own imprint label through [[Nettwerk]] Productions. The first single, "[[My Idea of Heaven]]", was released to U.S. radio the week of July 14, 2006, and the song "Ocean Size Love" was to be the second single, but it was a promo release only. She has also recorded a song "Mirrors and Smoke" with the band [[Jars of Clay]] on their album ''[[Good Monsters]]'' the same year. She also performed the song "A Place for Us" (written by [[Bryan Adams]]) with [[Tyler James (American musician)|Tyler James]] for the 2007 Disney film ''[[Bridge to Terabithia (2007 film)#Soundtrack|Bridge to Terabithia]]''.

In 2007, Nash began a new band, [[Fauxliage]], with Canadian band [[Delerium]], which released a self-titled album on August 14, 2007. Nash, Megan Thompson and Kate York also started a Christian band called Thompson, York & Nash. They worked on a few songs that have been put on MySpace.<ref>{{cite web|author=US |url=http://www.myspace.com/thompsonyorknash |title=thompson, york & nash &#124; Gratis muziek, tourneedata, foto's, video's |publisher=Myspace.com |access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> However, none of the songs posted on their MySpace page have been formally released.

In January 2008 Nash traveled to New Zealand for the annual [[Parachute Music Festival]], where she performed acoustic covers of Sixpence None the Richer hits "Kiss Me " and "[[There She Goes (The La's song)|There She Goes]]". In late 2008, Nash toured with Delerium.

Nash has since rejoined Sixpence and worked on a new EP ''[[My Dear Machine EP]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://us.collect.myspace.cn/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=20635264&blogID=348592969 |title=myspace.cn Blogs – I Have Pink Eye and Other Stunning News (p.s. Happy New Year!) – Leigh Nash MySpace Blog |publisher=Us.collect.myspace.cn |access-date=March 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002232555/http://us.collect.myspace.cn/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=20635264&blogID=348592969 |archive-date=October 2, 2011 }}</ref> and the Christmas album ''[[The Dawn of Grace]]''. Guitarist Tess Wiley returned to the band to support them on a European tour.

Nash joined Open Wings-Broken Strings tour in late 2009, along with [[Ed Kowalczyk]] of [[Live (band)|Live]] and [[Art Alexakis]] of [[Everclear (band)|Everclear]]. In 2011 she released a worship album entitled ''Hymns and Sacred Songs'', and in August 2012, she released ''[[Lost in Transition]]'', her sixth studio album with Sixpence None the Richer.{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}}

On September 18, 2015, Nash released her album: ''[[The State I'm In (Leigh Nash album)|The State I'm In]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/6627177/leigh-nash-state-im-in-song-premiere |title=Leigh Nash Heads Home on 'The State I'm In': Exclusive Song Premiere|author=Chuck Dauphin |date =July 10, 2015 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> She writes for BMG.<ref>{{cite web |title=Leigh Nash Signs Publishing Agreement With BMG in Nashville |url=https://musicrow.com/2015/12/leigh-nash-signs-publishing-agreement-with-bmg-in-nashville/ |website=MUSICROW |date=December 7, 2015 |access-date=January 19, 2020}}</ref>

In 2018, Nash released a cover of [[the Pretenders]]' 1986 single "[[Don't Get Me Wrong]]". In an interview, Nash stated that new music will be coming soon and will be crowd-funded.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2018/06/02.LeighNashDebutsNewSingleDontGetMeWrong.asp|title=JFH News: Leigh Nash Debuts New Single, "Don't Get Me Wrong"|website=www.jesusfreakhideout.com|access-date=January 4, 2019}}</ref> On August 25, 2021, Nash announced ''The Tide'', a six-song project, would be released September 24 and would feature collaborations with [[Vince Gill]], [[Tanya Tucker]], [[CeCe Winans]], [[Ruby Amanfu]], [[Raul Malo]] and [[Stephen Wilson Jr.]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://musicrow.com/2021/08/leigh-nash-teams-with-vince-gill-tanya-tucker-cece-winans-more-on-new-collection/|title=Leigh Nash Teams With Vince Gill, Tanya Tucker, CeCe Winans, More On New Collection|date=August 25, 2021}}</ref>

In July 2023, it was announced that Nash would be joining [[10,000 Maniacs]] as their new lead singer.<ref name="tpj">{{Cite news |newspaper=[[The Post-Journal]] |date=2023-09-16 |title=10,000 Maniacs Add New Singer, Guitarist; To Perform At JCC |language=en-US |first=Michael |last=Zabrodsky |department=Top Stories |url=https://www.post-journal.com/news/top-stories/2023/09/10000-maniacs-add-new-singer-guitarist-to-perform-at-jcc/}}</ref> In January 2024, it was announced that Nash would be leaving 10,000 Maniacs, with [[Mary Ramsey (musician)|Mary Ramsey]] returning to the band as lead singer.

== Inspiration ==
Nash has two distinct poles of inspiration: her work with Sixpence in the Christian music sphere and her childhood fascination with older female country artists like [[Tanya Tucker]], [[Loretta Lynn]], and [[Patsy Cline]].

"I started singing country music and learning old country songs on the guitar when I was 12. I was really, really shy but just had this desire to get on stage and started calling clubs myself to ask if I could come down and sing," says Nash, who grew up in the [[Texas Hill Country]] town of New Braunfels.<ref>[http://www.newreleasetoday.com/artistdetail.php?artist_id=389 Leigh Nash Artist Profile] New Release Today</ref>

Before long, the adolescent Nash was singing Loretta Lynn and Tanya Tucker songs like "You Ain't Woman Enough to Take My Man" and "Texas When I Die" on alcohol-free, open mic Sunday nights, backed by a middle-aged band of town locals. Later in life her interest in pop acts like [[the Sundays]], [[Innocence Mission]], and [[the Cranberries]] provided more formative material for her songwriting and singing.

== Personal life ==
Nash is the younger of two sisters. In May 1996, she married [[PFR (band)|PFR]] drummer Mark Nash, whom she met while both bands were performing at the [[Cornerstone Festival]] in [[Illinois]]. They have a son together, who was born in 2004. The couple divorced in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myspace.com/leighnash/blog/302894348 |title=Saints And Sinners – Leigh Nash's Blog |publisher=Myspace.com |date=August 24, 2007 |access-date=March 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105161838/https://myspace.com/leighnash/blog/302894348 |archive-date=November 5, 2012}}</ref> Nash married musician Stephen Wilson Jr in 2011.

== Discography ==
{{Main|Leigh Nash discography}}
{{See also|Sixpence None the Richer discography}}

* ''[[Blue on Blue (Leigh Nash album)|Blue on Blue]]'' (2006)
* ''[[Fauxliage]]'' <small>(collaboration with [[Delerium]])</small> (2007)
* ''Hymns and Sacred Songs'' (2011)
* ''[[The State I'm In (Leigh Nash album)|The State I'm In]]'' (2015)
* ''The Tide'' (2021)

=== Other appearances ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Title
! Year
! Album
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Innocente (Falling in Love)]]"<br /><small>([[Delerium]] featuring Leigh Nash)</small>
| 2000
| ''[[Poem (album)|Poem]]''
|-
! scope="row"| "With Every Breath"<br /><small>([[Dan Haseltine]] and Leigh Nash)</small>
| 2000
| rowspan="2" | ''[[City on a Hill: Songs of Worship and Praise]]''
|-
! scope="row"| "Precious Jesus"<br /><small>([[Derri Daugherty]] and Leigh Nash)</small>
| 2000
|-
! scope="row" | "Run for It"<br /><small>(Delerium featuring Leigh Nash)</small>
| 2003
| rowspan="2" | ''[[Chimera (Delerium album)|Chimera]]''
|-
! scope="row" | "Orbit of Me"<br /><small>(Delerium featuring Leigh Nash)</small>
| 2003
|-
! scope="row" | "I Sought the Lord"<br /><small>([[Bifrost Arts]] featuring Leigh Nash and Megan Roderick)</small>
| 2009
| ''Come O Spirit!''
|-
! scope="row" | "Good"<br /><small>([[Matthew West]] and Leigh Nash)</small>
| 2011
| ''[[Music Inspired by The Story]]''
|-
! scope="row" | "After All"<br /><small>([[The Choir (alternative rock band)|The Choir]] featuring Leigh Nash)</small>
| 2012
| ''[[The Loudest Sound Ever Heard]]''
|-
! scope="row" | "Still Kill"<br /><small>(Delerium featuring Leigh Nash)</small>
| 2012
| ''[[Music Box Opera]]'' (Bonus track)
|-
! scope="row" | "Baby, It's Cold Outside"<br /><small>(The Choir duet with Leigh Nash)</small>
| 2013
| ''[[Peace, Love & Light]]''
|-
! scope="row" | "Under the Gun"<br /><small>([[Conjure One]] featuring Leigh Nash)</small>
| 2013
| ''[[Holoscenic]]''
|-
! scope="row" | "Breathe Baby"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/Derri-Daugherty-The-Color-Of-Dreams/release/12210528 |website=Discogs |access-date=January 12, 2019 |title= Derri Daugherty – The Color of Dreams |ref=13}}</ref><br /><small>([[Derri Daugherty]])</small>
| 2018
| ''The Color of Dreams''
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website}}

{{Leigh Nash|state=expanded}}
{{Sixpence None the Richer}}
{{10,000 Maniacs}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nash, Leigh Bingham}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century American women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:People from New Braunfels, Texas]]
[[Category:Singers from Nashville, Tennessee]]
[[Category:American women country singers]]
[[Category:American country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American women pop singers]]
[[Category:American women rock singers]]
[[Category:American pop rock singers]]
[[Category:American performers of Christian music]]
[[Category:Musicians from New Braunfels, Texas]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Texas]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Tennessee]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Texas]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Tennessee]]
[[Category:New Braunfels High School alumni]]
[[Category:10,000 Maniacs members]]