Who Is Abbey Cone? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

Who is Abbey Cone? The singer-songwriter joined us to chat about her journey to country music. Get to know the rising star here…

 
The Beginning:

Country Swag is big on championing women in the industry, and we were lucky enough to get to chat with the lovely Abbey Cone. She is an incredibly talented singer-songwriter, and if you don’t know her yet, you will soon.

Cone is from Texas, so it wasn’t like she ever discovered country – it was all she knew. “Country music wasn’t even really a choice. It was just what I grew up on and what made the most sense for me to sing… country chose me.”

Cone didn’t have a traditional childhood, though. She loved music so much that starting at age 12 she traveled to Nashville from her hometown of Texas to start pursuing a career. “It was so fun. I feel like I was really fortunate to meet some really good people early on that I trusted…back then, it felt like a big little town. So I really got to experience just the magic of the Nashville songwriting community”, she shared with us. “It was hard sometimes, just to be a young girl and basically begging people to take me seriously and try to maintain and find my voice. It helped me grow a lot.”

While her commitment to the genre has served her well when it comes to her artistry, and she is grateful for her opportunities, she notes that there is a lot of sacrifice involved with these decisions. “I didn’t really have a normal high school experience. I left high school when I was 15 after my freshman year and have been in Nashville full time pretty much since then. It was a unique thing to experience, but it just feels like my story.”

The Turning Point:

Cone earned her first publishing deal when she was 16, but when she started collaborating with her producer-turned-love Nathan Spicer, she found her sonic home within country music. This led to her signing a recording contract with Valory Music Company and the release of her debut single, “Rhinestone Ring”.

“I met Nathan in 2018. We got set up on a write together and we immediately hit it off as humans and co-writers. I was at the phase where I was wanting to find a producer… someone who was equally as hungry as I was. And that ended up being Nathan”, she explains to us.

“I cut 6 songs with Nathan and those are the 6 songs I shopped when I got my record deal. It feels like a bit of a blur… we found out that we wrote really well together, that we produced really well together, and that we got along really well… we started dating three years ago now.”

Today:

Flash-forward to now, Cone is a CMT Next Women of Country, releasing music, and set to head out on her first tour in support of Brittney Spencer. On the topic of her song “Rhinestone Ring”, she shares, “Rhinestone Ring’ is about these big plans about a wedding and then meeting the person you feel like you could marry and realizing you don’t need any of that. It paralleled the pandemic and I think a lot of people learned or maybe feel like they don’t need as much as they thought to feel peaceful.”

“This is my first official tour that I’m doing – 8 days with Brittney in January and February. My booking agent called me and told me there’s this opening you’d have to submit for, and I said ‘please submit me!’ I called Mickey Guyton and was like, ‘I love her, I have to do these shows!’ and they ended up going with me. I’m just so excited.”

In terms of what’s next, look out for more tour dates and more new music in the upcoming future from Cone. She is poised to be an absolute superstar with incredible lyricism and a clear vision as an artist.

Connect:

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Abbey Cone announcements and releases.

To keep up with Abbey Cone, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Abbey Cone’s music is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Thomas Rhett’s Unreleased Cuts That You Need to Listen To ASAP

Thomas Rhett has shown no signs of slowing down this year. Here are four Thomas Rhett unreleased cuts that you need to listen to ASAP.

 

“Half Of Me” (featuring Riley Green)

A couple of months ago, Thomas Rhett performed a song he wrote, featuring Riley Green on stage. Now, the singer-songwriter shared “Half Of Me” with fans on social media. The track is fun, smoldering, and enticing.

 

“Your Mommas Front Door”

Another unreleased song, “Your Mommas Front Door” is a sentimental song about Rhett’s wife, Lauren. The simple song conveys the side of the singer we love the most. The storytelling aspect and the honesty of this song is one of our favorite things about it.

 

“Untitled”

In this sweet clip with his daughter, Rhett shares an unreleased song that is currently untitled. The song appears to be a fun-loving track about a new love and all the things that accompany that budding romance.

 

“Slow Down Summer (piano version)”

Back in May of last year, Rhett shared a version of “Slow Down Summer” for the first time. More recently, the singer shared a piano-driven rendition. The new rendition is thought-provoking, heartfelt, and simply effortless in all the right ways and guess what – now the song is officially OUT! Listen to the recorded version here.

 

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Thomas Rhett announcements and releases.

To keep up with Thomas Rhett, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

For the latest releases in country music, check out our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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Blake Shelton: ‘Body Language Deluxe’ – Album Review

Country superstar, Blake Shelton released the deluxe version of his eleventh studio album Body Language on Friday (December 3), containing four new tracks including his current single “Come Back As A Country Boy.” Keep reading below as we discuss these tracks in more detail.

Blake Shelton has had a legendary career in country music, making him a celebrity inside the genre and out. With six platinum records, 28 number-one singles, and nine GRAMMY-nominations, Shelton will go down as one of the biggest artists in country music history. His ability to blend modern and traditional country sounds has allowed him to stay at the forefront of the genre.

Jordan Schmidt and HARDY received writing credits on the first two songs. “Come Back As A Country Boy” has a similar vibe to his 4x Platinum smash hit, “God’s Country,” paying homage to country life and the hard-working, small town folk. Like “God’s Country,” “Come Back As A Country Boy” contains backing steel-guitar and woodsy sounds. “Fire Up The Night” is tailgate party anthem which also features HARDY’s vocals. The two describe what needs to happen to get the good time started. Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley also helped pen this song, along with Bart Butler.

The other two songs are placed on the back of the record. “Throw It On Back” is another fun, drinking tune featuring iconic 90s country duo, Brooks & Dunn. They discuss the feeling they get when they revert back to old-school items, styles, and songs. The project concludes with a love song Shelton co-wrote with Craig Wiseman titled “We Can Reach The Stars.”  Shelton sings about how strong the love is between him and his romantic partner and how it allows them to overcome even the most difficult of times.

Body Language Deluxe Tracklist:

  1. Come Back As A Country Boy
  2. Fire Up The Night (feat. HARDY)
  3. Minimum Wage
  4. Body Language (feat. The Swon Brothers)
  5. Happy Anywhere (feat. Gwen Stefani)
  6. Now I Don’t
  7. Monday Morning Missin’ You
  8. Corn
  9. Makin’ It Up As You Go
  10. Whatcha Doin’ Tomorrow
  11. The Girl Can’t Help It
  12. The Flow
  13. Neon Time
  14. Bible Verses
  15. Throw It On Back (feat. Brooks & Dunn)  
  16. We Can Reach The Stars
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Blake Shelton releases the deluxe version of his album ‘body language’ out now.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Blake Shelton announcements and releases.

To keep up with Shelton, follow him on InstagramTwitter, and  Facebook.

Body Language Deluxe is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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Jason Aldean Surprises Fans with New Song “Whiskey Me Away”

Jason Aldean’s brand new song “Whiskey Me Away,” is out now, December 3rd on all streaming platforms. Learn more about the brand new track here.

As fans gear up in anticipation of GEORGIA, the second installment of Jason Aldean’s double album, the singer dropped the first song off the upcoming record. “Whiskey Me Away” comes just a few weeks after the release of MACON.

The new single was written by superstar Morgan Wallen with Rodney Clawson, Jeff Hyde, and Drive Williams. “Whiskey Me Away” tells the story of a guy falling for a girl unexpectedly. The budding romance is at the forefront of the country-rock slow-jam. Aldean continues to keep his southern charm on the track, keeping with his classic, signature sound.

“Throwing quarters down that jukebox // Play some old-school Alabama // You got the lonely I brought in here // Almost gone without a trace // I know I’ve had a few, yeah, but I’m buzzing on you // You’re a hangover I’d love to wake up to // So come on, baby, whiskey me away // Come on, baby, whiskey me away,”

With a few months left before Aldean drops his next album GEORGIAit will be interesting to see what new releases come down the pipeline next. Until then, make sure to stream the song below!

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Jason Aldean surprises fans with new song “Whiskey Me Away,” out now.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news and announcements about future Jason Aldean releases.

To keep up with Jason Aldean, you can follow him on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

“Whiskey Me Away” is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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HIXTAPE VOL 2. Featuring HARDY & Famous Friends

HIXTAPE VOL 1. was one of our favorite albums of 2019, but HIXTAPE VOL. 2 is truly giving it a run for its money. Learn more about the project below.

While volume one of HIXTAPE featured HARDY collaborating with guest artists on each and every song, the new installment of the project showcases the singer-songwriter sharing the spotlight with dozens of other artists teaming up on each individual track. Since Friday, September 10th, HARDY and his team have released one song a week off the one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

Songs like “Hometown Boys,” (Matt Stell, Dierks Bentley & HARDY) “Beer Song,” (Lainey Wilson, Chase Rice & Granger Smith) and “Small Town On It” (Chris Lane & Scotty McCreery) have already won over fans.

However, the most highly anticipated song is slated to come out at the end of this week, Friday, December 10th, closing out the stellar project. HARDY collaborates with label-mate Morgan Wallen and Chris Shiflett on a sure to be smash hit!

Check out the full track-list of the fourteen songs below.

HIXTAPE VOL. 2. Track List:

  1. Home Town Boys (feat. Matt Stell, Dierks Bentley & Hardy)
  2. WD-40 4WD (feat. Sean Stemaly, Jimmie Allen & Justin Moore)
  3. In Love With My Problems (feat. Larry Fleet & Jon Pardi)
  4. To Hank (feat. Hardy, Brantley Gilbert & Colt Ford)
  5. Small Town On It (feat. Chris Lane & Scotty McCreery)
  6. Break our Own Damn Heart (feat. Midland & Marty Stuart)
  7. Drink Up (feat. Lee Brice, Randy Houser & Hardy)
  8. Jonesin’ (feat. Ronnie Dunn, Jake Owen & Jake Worthington)
  9. Red Dirt Clouds (feat. David Lee Murphy, Ben Burgess & Ernest)
  10. Beer With My Buddies (feat. Hardy, Josh Thompson & Travis Denning)
  11. One Of Ya’ll (feat. Hardy, Rhett Akins & The Cadillac Three)
  12. I Smoke Weed (feat. Ashland Craft & Brothers Osborne)
  13. Beer Song (feat. Lainey Wilson, Chase Rice & Granger Smith)
  14. Goin’ Nowhere (feat. Hardy, Morgan Wallen & Chris Shiflett)
collab-hixtape

HIXTAPE VOL. 2 features HARDY and famous friends on twelve original tracks.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news and announcements.

HIXTAPE VOL. 2  is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

dustin-lynch-mackenzie-porter

Dustin Lynch’s “Thinking ‘Bout You” with MacKenzie Porter Goes #1

Dustin Lynch’s song, “Thinking ‘Bout You” with MacKenzie Porter officially goes number one on the country radio charts.

This week, Dustin Lynch scores his eighth number one song with “Thinking “Bout You.” For his collaborator, MacKenzie Porter, while she has three number one songs on Canadian country charts, the single marks Porter’s very first US number one hit.

Back in March, Lynch released a new version of the song as a single featuring pop-country vocalist, Porter on the track with him. The push-pull of the two distinct voices create an interesting dynamic on the already enticing tune. It was just a matter of time before the track became a hit with fans and radio alike.

“I was just thinkin’ ’bout that weekend out on Cumberland Lake // And that one time in Baton Rouge when we made out in the rain // Where we went chasin’ fallin’ stars on a hill at your daddy’s farm // Don’t be sorry for callin’ me up out of the blue // I was was just thinkin’ ’bout you // Oh, I was just thinkin’ ’bout you”

It is always exciting to see an established entertainer collaborate with a rising artist. It is even more exciting to see the song hit the number one spot! Congrats to Lynch and Porter and their teams on their success!

Join our Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Dustin Lynch and MacKenzie Porter announcements and releases.

To keep up with Dustin Lynch, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

To keep up with MacKenzie Porter, follow her on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

“Thinking ‘Bout You” is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

who-is-nessa-lea

Who Is Nessa Lea? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

Who is Nessa Lea? The singer-songwriter joined us to chat about her journey to country music. Get to know the rising star here…

who-is-nessa-lea
The Beginning:

We love bringing you new artists, and today we get to do just that. Our spotlight shines on newly signed Curb Records artist, Nessa Lea. Her story is unlike anyone else’s, and we chatted with her about where she started and where she is now.

Born and raised in Tennessee, just south of Nashville, Lea recalls her childhood being very special. I grew up playing in creeks and catching lightning bugs and all that. I have a very musical family, so music has always been in my life that way,” she shared.” Her family dabbled with different instruments and connections to music throughout her early life.

Finally, when she was in middle school, Lea got the urge to play music too. “I didn’t start really playing myself until I was eleven years old,” she begins, “I was inspired by Taylor Swift, so I started playing guitar and writing my own songs at eleven, I wanted to be like her.” Despite a true love for music, like many of us, the singer was unsure of the path. She added later, “As I grew up I figured music probably wasn’t going to work for me, but I enjoyed it as a hobby, so that’s kind of where I kept it.”

She decided to put music on the back burner, until her boss and mentor encouraged her to go for it.

The Turning Point:

While working at Nashville’s infamous Chaffin’s Barn, a local dinner-theater restaurant, Lea caught the attention of the restaurant’s owner. “The owner there, she found out I could sing and wrote songs and she asked me to play something for her.” After hearing her sing, the owner offered her a chance to play dinner music at the barn before the show every night. Lea obliged, and was happy to have music in her life even more.

Eventually, the owner offered to pay for recording time for Lea, truly showing her how much she believed in her undeniable talent. “We started recording and Don Cusic ended up sending my songs over to Mike Curb unbeknownst to me and Mike ended up offering me a record deal a couple of weeks in,” she shared of the whirlwind experience. “So I signed with them early January of this year and I cannot be more thankful and excited to have an opportunity like this.”

Having all these people in her corner truly inspired Lea to go for her dreams. “I’ve always had this love for music and it’s been my safe place with writing and playing. It was something I enjoyed by myself and kind of being in Nashville and having so many friends that were trying to pursue a musical career, ya know sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t, and I never really had the confidence,” she shared. “Now I have people telling me “I can,” so I’m trying to believe them!”

Today:

Flash forward almost a year later, Lea is living her dream! She made her debut with her single “Bad Boy” in October, and it is truly just the beginning. Taking her love for her artists like Loretta Lynn, Lana Del Ray, and Queen, the singer was able to craft music that speaks to her both as an artist and as a songwriter.

“’Bad Boy’ is my first single and actually on the note of confidence, that song really is about having the confidence to tell someone in a relationship that I can be what you want but if you want me, you have to treat me right.” Lea also added, “Singing “Bad Boy” actually gives me some confidence in myself and I really hope it does that for other girls, […] I hope that other people will listen to it and it will give them the little kick that they need, that little kick of confidence.”

If her single is anything like what’s to come, fans are in for a real treat! Lea lets us know that she has several other songs recorded and more music coming out in 2022. Her goal though is to make meaningful connections with fans. “Now I just really want to give music my all and not disappoint the people that helped me to get here. I’m just really thankful and excited to share my music and hope that it can reach people the way it has me.”

Connect:

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Nessa Lea announcements and releases.

To keep up with Nessa Lea, follow her on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

Nessa Lea’s music is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

zbb-same-boat

Zac Brown Band’s “Same Boat” Goes Number One

Zac Brown Band’s latest single, “Same Boat” officially goes number one on the country radio charts, marking their fourteenth hit song.

For over a decade, Zac Brown Band have been entertaining fans across generations. Hit songs like “Chicken Fried,” “Toes,” and “Homegrown” remain mainstays in their catalog and during their live shows. This week, ZBB earn another hit song with their single, “Same Boat.”

Penned by Zac Brown with Ben Simonetta and Jonathan Singleton, “Same Boat” is a true ZBB classic. We knew the song would become a hit from first listen. It truly is an undeniable instant jam. Upbeat and fun, “Same Boat” is simply about the human experience. We all have unique moments in our lives, but life, in general, is something we all go through. In a time where life can feel chaotic and people can feel at odds, ZBB reminds us all that we are all merely humans trying to make sense of life.

“We’re all in the same boat // Fishing in the same hole // Wondering where the same time goes // And money too // Tryna fix the same broke hearts // Wishing on the same stars // We’re all hoping hope floats // And we’re all in the same boat”

Congrats to Zac Brown Band and their team on another number one song! It will be fun to see how ZBB follow up this incredible feat.

Join our Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Zac Brown Band announcements and releases.

To keep up with Zac Brown Band, follow them on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

“Same Boat” is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

who-is-chase-wright

Who Is Chase Wright? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

Who is Chase Wright? The singer-songwriter joined us to chat about his journey to country music. Get to know the rising star here…

who-is-chase-wright-jason-myers

Photo Credit: Jason Myers

The Beginning:

This week we are highlighting an Indiana-born artist that we are loving lately! Chase Wright is an up and coming singer-songwriter, who will captivate any country music lover. We chatted with the Nashville-transplant about his story, his brand new record, and much more.

“Music was always present growing up,” begins Wright. “My mom was a music education major and her mom sang professionally back in the 40s or 50s.” The singer recalls singing at a 9/11 memorial, when he was five years old and picking up the trumpet in 6th grade. Besides that though, the artist admits that his musical journey did not really take off until college, besides being an avid fan throughout his life.

“Growing up, when I was younger, it was definitely a lot of different things,” shared Wright. “I was listening to 3 Doors Down, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Goo Goo Dolls, Matchbox Twenty, Usher.” The singer adds later, “There were so many different things growing up that I was listening to, but when I got to college, it was pretty much only country.”

College was really, when Wright started to chase the music dream. “I went to college at a small school in Indiana called DePauw University and studied economics,” shared the singer. “I mentioned to my dad how I wanted to learn how to play guitar, so he brought me a guitar he bought at garage sale. […] He said if you learn how to play on this and you really want to do it, we can get you one nicer.”

The Turning Point:

Following the footsteps of a new artist at the time, Sam Hunt, the singer started dabbling in playing shows and learning guitar. During his junior year of college, the singer worked in the corporate world, and quickly realized that corporate life was not for him.

“I didn’t really see my life going in that direction, so I really dove into music in 2017, which was my junior year in college.”

Upon graduating college, Wright set his sights on playing gigs and developing a social media presence. The singer recalls posting everyday and playing covers of songs both in person and online. “After about 5-6 months in doing that, that was when my now manager reached out and he wanted to get me to come to Nashville to do this songwriting workshop for ASCAP.” Taking a leap of faith, Wright went to the workshop and the rest was history.

Now a Nashville resident, Wright dedicates his time to his artistry. Over the years, the singer has crafted his talent as a songwriter and learned to infuse his eclectic influences throughout his music.“Country music has changed sonically so much, but what has held through, through all of those changes is really the meaningful lyrics.”

Today:

Fans can rejoice in Wright’s growth, as his debut record Interwined was just released in early November. The record features ten enticing songs that all showcase the incredible talent the singer has, truly laying the groundwork for what’s to come next.

“I just want to make music that I love and I genuinely love it and will listen to it on repeat,” shared Wright, talking about the album. “I really hope that fans and people listening will feel the same about it.”

Despite the fact that the singer would cut songs by other songwriters, all, but one song on the record were co-written by Wright. When discussing the song he did not write, the singer shared, “‘Missing You’ was exactly the song I was looking for and what I wanted to say.”

Similarly, one of his favorite songs off the project, “Wish You’d Miss Me,” was just as vulnerable.“The one that I have the most emotional attachment to is probably “Wish You’d Miss Me,” for a number of reasons. “One, it was just the first time I felt like I was truly honest when I was writing something where I needed to say something and I said it the way I wanted to say it,” shared Wright.

When asked about the title track collaboration with Canadian-Pop artist, Delaney Jane, Wright cannot say enough good things about the process.“We wrote half of it in January and then came back a couple of months later and I was like guys, what if this was a duet,” shared Wright, adding later, how extremely talented Jane truly is.

As fans immerse themselves into Intertwined, Wright predicts more music and more shows on the horizon in 2022. He makes no promises, but one thing is for certain, the singer is here to stay!

Connect:

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news and announcements about future Chase Wright releases.

To keep up with Chase Wright, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Chase Wright’s music is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

new-song-can't-do-without-me-chayce-beckham-lindsay-ell

Chayce Beckham & Lindsay Ell Team Up for New Song “Can’t Do Without Me”

Chayce Beckham and Lindsay Ell team up for new Song “Can’t Do Without Me,” out now on all streaming platforms. Learn more about the brand new track here.

American Idol winner Chayce Beckham released his debut song “23” during the finale. Since then, he has been honing his craft as a singer-songwriter, continuing to take the country music industry by storm. Beckham teams up with songstress Lindsay Ell for his newest release, their collaborative track, “Can’t Do Without Me.”

The new song is sultry and steamy – perfect for a duet. Ell brings the soulful component to the song, while Beckham’s gravely vocals are the perfect complement. “Can’t Do Without Me” is both romantic and sexy, a combination that is often hard to master. Moreover, the song draws listeners in to the story and the magic of the duet.

“Baby I’m dying to catch that lighting I only find from your fingertips // I’ve been missing and wishing to feel your kiss // And your hands all on my skin // It won’t be long ’til we are burning up them sheets // And doing all those things that you can’t do without me”

We love a good collaboration! It is exciting to see a new artist like Beckham and a rising artist like Ell bring their voices together for an epic duet.

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Chayce Beckham and Lindsay Ell collaborate on their new song “Can’t Do Without Me,” out now.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news and announcements about future Chayce Beckham and Lindsay ell releases.

To keep up with Chayce Beckham, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

To keep up with Lindsay Ell, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Can’t Do Without Me” is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.