SHEMEKIA COPELAND'S BLAME IT ON EVE TOPS DOWNBEAT CRITICS POLL
Blame It On Eve Named Blues Album Of The Year
In "The Largest Critics Poll In The History Of Jazz" (DownBeat)
"Her voice is strong and soulful, her message comes from the heart" —Mavis Staples
“Shemekia Copeland is the greatest blues singer of her generation.” —The Washington Post
“Shemekia Copeland has established herself as one of the leading blues artists of our time. Profound and truly powerful.” —NPR Music
Legendary music publication DownBeat, in its August 2025 issue, announced the winners of the 73rd Annual Critics Poll. The magazine honored multi-GRAMMY-nominated blues, roots and soul singer Shemekia Copeland with the coveted DownBeat Critics Award for Blues Album Of The Year for her Will Kimbrough-produced 2024 release, Blame It On Eve.
With over 250 critics participating, this is, according to DownBeat publisher Frank Alkyer, "the largest and most comprehensive Critics Poll in the history of jazz."
Copeland could not be more excited, saying, "Timing really is everything. The entire Blame It On Eve album addresses issues important for many women today, and evidently for a lot of men too. And winning the DownBeat Critics Award proves that. I'm really grateful."
The GRAMMY-nominated album has become a fan and media favorite, winning a slew of “Album Of The Year” awards, including the Living Blues Readers' and Critics' Awards and the Album Of The Year Blues Music Award. Additionally, Copeland won Living Blues and Blues Music Awards for Artist Of The Year.
Blame It On Eve was recorded in Nashville and produced by instrumentalist/songwriter Will Kimbrough (who also produced her previous three albums). The songs tackle subjects as important as a woman’s right to choose and climate change, but also leave space for Copeland to have fun and unwind. From the autobiographical, rocking blues boogie Tough Mother (featuring Luther Dickinson), to the anthemic Blame It On Eve’s good-humored but serious focus on reproductive self-determination to the happy hour of Wine O’Clock, Copeland is inspired throughout. The passionate, charismatic, joyous and at times confrontational Blame It On Eve has already become among the most celebrated releases of Copeland’s impressive, still-unfolding career.
Shemekia Copeland is beloved and honored worldwide for the fearlessness, honesty and humor of her revelatory songs, as well as for her winning, engaging personality. The Chicago Tribune says, “Copeland is the greatest female blues vocalist working today. There’s no mistaking the majesty of her instrument, nor the ferocity of her delivery."
