Hayden Silas Anhedönia (born 24 March 1998), known professionally as Ethel Cain, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and model. Her work is associated with ambient and Southern Gothic influences. She began releasing recordings under various aliases before issuing several extended plays, including "Inbred" (2021), which included the single "Crush". Anhedönia released her debut studio album, "Preacher's Daughter" (2022), to critical acclaim, and it developed a cult following. Following its vinyl release in 2025, the album debuted at number ten on the US Billboard 200, making her the first openly transgender artist to reach the top ten of the chart. In 2025, she released the studio project "Perverts", which incorporated elements of drone music, followed later that year by her second studio album, "Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You", a lyrical prequel to her debut. Anhedönia was born in Tallahassee, Florida, and raised in Perry. She is the eldest of four children in a Southern Baptist family. Her father served as a deacon, and she participated in church choir activities from a young age. She began studying classical piano at the age of eight and was influenced by Christian music as well as artists such as Florence Welch. Music formed a central part of her early life, and she left the church at the age of sixteen. She was educated at home. Anhedönia began making music in 2017, initially producing and sharing recordings online under different monikers. Under the name White Silas, she released material influenced by Gregorian chant on platforms such as SoundCloud and Tumblr. In 2019, she adopted the name Ethel Cain as her primary project, selecting it for its traditional American connotations and its reference to the biblical figure of Cain. She released her first extended play under this name, "Carpet Bed", on 13 September 2019, followed by "Golden Age" on 1 December 2019. After these releases, she received support from Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, who highlighted her songwriting and melodic approach. In 2020, Anhedönia was introduced to the publishing company Prescription Songs through rapper Lil Aaron and subsequently signed with them. Her debut single under this arrangement, "Michelle Pfeiffer", featuring Lil Aaron, was released in February 2021 and incorporated elements of alternative rock, folk, pop, and country. It was followed by the single "Crush", released on 18 March 2021, both of which appeared on the EP "Inbred", issued on 23 April 2021. The EP was noted for its ambient folk and slowcore elements. Later that year, a stripped version of "Crush" was released. In March 2022, she recorded a cover of "Everytime" for a Spotify Singles release. On 17 March 2022, she released the single "Gibson Girl" and announced her debut album, "Preacher's Daughter", which was released on 12 May 2022 through her label Daughters of Cain. The concept album presents a narrative centred on the character Ethel Cain and was positively received by critics. It was preceded by the singles "Strangers" and "American Teenager". In support of the album, she undertook the Freezer Bride Tour in 2022 and the Blood Stained Blonde Tour in 2023, and also performed as a supporting act on tours by Florence and the Machine and Caroline Polachek. In 2023, Anhedönia performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. During a performance at the Sydney Opera House in June 2023, she fainted on stage, resulting in the cancellation of the show, but returned to performing the following day. She also appeared at Reading Festival and performed at Gunnersbury Park alongside Boygenius and Muna. That year, she released the song "Famous Last Words (An Ode to Eaters)", inspired by the film "Bones and All", and contributed guest vocals to "Dying Star" by Ashnikko and "222" by Angel Diaz. Anhedönia was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for music in 2024 and served as a supporting act on Mitski’s tour for the album "The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We" (2023). On 14 February 2024, she released the song "من النهر" ("From the River"), which she described as a prayer for Palestinians. In September 2024, she released a cover of "For Sure" as part of the tribute album "American Football: Covers", and later performed the song live with American Football. In 2025, Anhedönia released the experimental project "Perverts", preceded by the single "Punish". Following the vinyl release of "Preacher's Daughter", the album entered multiple charts internationally, including the US Billboard 200, and reached number one on the Top Album Sales chart. Her second studio album, "Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You", was released on 8 August 2025 and was preceded by the singles "Nettles" and "Fuck Me Eyes". The album functions as a narrative prequel to "Preacher's Daughter" and was supported by the Willoughby Tucker Forever Tour. Studio albums Preacher's Daughter (2022) Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You (2025)