"Ashes by Now" is a song written by Rodney Crowell. It has since been recorded several by times by various musical artists in the country music format. The song was first recorded by Crowell himself, eventually releasing it as a single in 1980. It was notably covered by Lee Ann Womack in 2000 and her version became the most commercially successful after also being issued as a single.

Crowell originally recorded "Ashes by Now" in January 1978 in Los Angeles, California. The recording session featured musician Ricky Skaggs playing the fiddle, among other prominent session musicians of the period.

Before its release as a single, it served as the b-side to his 1978 single "Elvira." The song was later re-released in April 1980 as the A-side single via Warner Bros. Records. The song became a minor chart hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Hot 100 that year. The album was included on Crowell's 1980 studio album But What Will the Neighbors Think.

The song was covered by Crowell's fellow collaborator Emmylou Harris on her 1981 album Evangeline.

Womack's rendition of the song was released in October 2000 as the second single from her third studio album, I Hope You Dance, and peaked at number 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, as well as number 45 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

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