Riley Green shares brand new EP Midtown Sessions, officially out now, July 11th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new project below.
Riley Green has become both a fan-favorite country artist, as well as, a mainstay in the genre. The singer has melded his traditional yet modern sound to create a blend that is uniquely his own. Today, the artist surprises fans with an all-acoustic new EP, Midtown Sessions.
Midtown Sessions features five tracks, including fan favorite songs, “Change My Mind,” “Worst Way”, and “Jesus Saves.” While the first three songs on the project are new acoustic versions of his hits, the final two are new releases. “Cowboy In Me,” a once Apple Music only release is officially available to fans everywhere. A true standout on the project, Green’s rendition of Tim McGraw’s “Cowboy In Me” is almost as good as the original, paying tribute in the perfect way.
Finally, the fifth and final track on the project is a brand new song called, “Bartender In Destin.” Seemingly a true story, Green takes fans through a synopsis about a bartender that he most likely met in Destin, Florida, while romanticizing the meeting.
Midtown Sessions is the perfect project from Green. He continues to be unapologetically himself, and it always works. Listen to the new project now!
MidtownSessions EP Track List:
Change My Mind (Acoustic)
Worst Way (Acoustic)
Jesus Saves (Acoustic)
Cowboy In Me (Acoustic)
Bartender In Destin (Acoustic)
Riley Green shares brand new EP, ‘Midtown Sessions,’ out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Riley Green releases.
Midtown Sessions EP is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/riley-green-ep.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2025-07-11 00:17:412025-07-11 00:17:41Here Is Riley Green’s EP ‘Midtown Sessions’
Lanie Gardner shares new song, “High Divin'” out now, July 11th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new song below.
Rising star Lanie Gardner continues to make her mark on the world. With millions of views across social media and streaming platforms, her powerful voice and unique vibe is captivating. Since bursting on to the scene, Gardner has garnered a loyal fanbase, who beg for each and every release. Today, Gardner adds a new song to her growing catalog. “High Divin'” is out now!
“High Divin'” is a special song for Gardner. Fleetwood Mac’s legendary drummer and co-founder, Mick Fleetwood played drums not he song and produced the song for the songstress. According to Gardner, “High Divin'” is one of her most personal songs to date. “This is a song I’ve held close for a long time. Self-awareness is a journey, and this captures a piece of mine. It was written years ago, during a darker season I no longer live in — inspired by Fleetwood Mac, whose influence has always run deep in my music. It means more than I can explain, and it’s even more special now with Mick a part of it. What an honor.”
The new song is going to be a healing anthem for fans of the track. While heavy lyrically, the juxtaposition between the lyrics with the whimsical instrumentals add an unexpected, but incredible interest to the already poignant song. Lanie Gardner is the real deal! The songstress is primed for even more success heading into the rest of this year. Make sure to download “High Divin'” ASAP!
Lanie Gardner shares new song, “High Divin,” out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Lanie Gardner releases.
“High Divin'” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/lanie-gardner-high-divin.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2025-07-11 00:15:252025-07-11 00:15:25Lanie Gardner Shares Brand New Song “High Divin'”
Ella Langley goes number one at country radio this week with “weren’t for the wind.” Get all the details here!
Ella Langley’s future in country music is as bright as ever. The budding superstar has truly amassed millions of loyal fans. As she embarks on a new era of music, the singer-songwriter has earned herself another number one single at country radio. Her radio single, “weren’t for the wind” is officially the number one song this week!
Written by the songstress with Johnny Clawson and Joybeth Taylor, “weren’t for the wind” is the perfect mid-tempo, western song. Langley warns future boyfriends of her free-spirited nature, all while giving an anthem to fans that can relate to the honest lyrics. While Langley could not be any more appreciative for the number one, she shared a sentimental thank-you to her songwriting parter, Joybeth Taylor too via Instagram.
“There’s no one more deserving than you JBT. If you love my music, you also love Joybeth. I wouldn’t be the same without my sister in song and my favorite/best writing buddy. Sitting a on plane flying back to Nashville with tears rolling out of my eyes thinking about how much we’ve talked about this moment and what it means to actually have it together. We did it JB.”
“Yeah, if it was a different time // Might’ve been different in a different life // Maybe that plane wouldn’t ever take off // Maybe that dust wouldn’t fly off the drive // Maybe that tumbleweed and me // Wouldn’t leave every other sunrise // Maybe I’d settle down, dig in some roots // Find me a farmhouse, find me a you // Maybe I wouldn’t be already gone again // If it weren’t for the wind”
Congrats to Langley and her team on an impressive number one! Langley is a true superstar in the making!
Join our Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Ella Langley announcements and releases.
“weren’t for the wind” 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ella-langley-still-hungover.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2025-07-06 23:27:302025-07-06 23:27:30Ella Langley Goes Number One at Country Radio with “weren’t for the wind”
Who is Jacob Hackworth? The singer-songwriter joined us to chat about his journey to country music. Get to know the rising star here…
Jacob Hackworth
Quick Facts:
Full name – Jacob Hackworth
Birthdate – 01/18/1997
Hometown – West Plains, Missouri
Current city – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical influences – Jason Aldean, Justin Bieber, Rascal Flatts
Current Project – “When I Don’t” (as of date of article: 6/30/2025)
The Beginning:
Country music is filled with elite vocalists and songwriters. With Nashville being the hub for the latest and greatest, today’s incredible artist fits that bill. Jacob Hackworth, the writer behind number one songs “Rock And A Hard Place” and “This Heart”, as well as, Morgan Wallen’s heartbreaking new song, “Jack and Jill,” is currently taken the country world my storm, emerging as his own artist.
“I grew up in southern Missouri, like 30 minutes from Arkansas, way down there. Grew up in a normal, small-town type thing, and I sang in church,” began the singer-songwriter. “My grandma played the piano, so I’d sing with her, and that led to be singing in school and choir. Then in fifth grade or so is when I started singing some solos and stuff in choir. My choir teacher said I was really good at this and [encouraged] me to keep the thing going.”
Hackworth was enamored with music, falling in love with songs from artists like Billy Gilman and Rascal Flatts from an early age.“Off the bet, I’ll go way back when I was five years old, around that time, there was a guy named Billy Gilman, and he had put an album out, and there was a song called “One Voice,” on that record, and that was probably the first thing I remember singing, where I thought it was awesome,” he shared, adding, “It led into Rascal Flatts and definitely Justin Bieber, I had a big Justin Bieber era. […] I would sit in my room and sing all the runs he could do for hours, and then weirdly enough, I became a [Jason] Aldean fan. Then it was just a big melting pot of different stuff from then on.”
Throughout school, Hackworth continued to spend time in choir, working on his singing voice, all while juggling sports at the same time. “After school, I would work on some stuff. I started really doing that, and I was playing sports at the same time also, and I was still scared to death singing those solos, so I was slowly getting into it,” he shared. “I sang through middle school, and by high-school, I was like “I really like to sing,” and everybody kind of new me as the guy who could sing, I joined choir in high-school, and I did that for three years, and then my senior year, I ended up dropping out of it, and ended up playing football, and I wanted to do that.”
The Turning Point:
Upon graduating high-school, Hackworth was ready to put school behind him and start his career. He got a job with the railroad, where he was gone often and typically housed up in hotel rooms. This is how guitar entered his life for the first time. “I had started positing some videos and stuff on Instagram and Facebook, just singing with friends who played guitar. […] Nothing crazy and nothing was popping off or anything, but I slowly became the guy who sang in my hometown, even more than I already was,” he shared, adding, “I had a lot of downtime at work, so I bought a guitar, and I’d play guitar, and then three and a half, four years of doing the railroad thing, I decided to hang it up and quit traveling and get a job in town.”
Once back in his hometown, Hackworth began playing local shows with a group of buddies around his hometown. Additionally, the singer dabbled with songwriter, as he became a better guitar player. While still apprehensive about the longevity for music career, the singer knew that it was what made him feel most fulfilled.
Shortly after moving back home, his mom introduced him to a high-school friend, Travis Smith, who was a songwriter in Nashville. Smith took Hackworth under his wing, and brought him to Nashville for the first time to write with other writers in town. “He brought me town and booked me some writes, and it took about two days of me being in Nashville to say, “I’m moving.”,” he shared, adding, “I definitely always wanted to be an artist.”
At just 22 years old, Hackworth made the move to Music City, and cut his teeth as a songwriter in town, landing a publishing deal after his independent song, “Rock And A Hard Place” earned him his first number one single as a songwriter.
“We were all independent writers, and we just rode the wave, and signed a publishing deal, and next thing you know, I’m getting booked with writers I’ve wanted to write with for three or four years, who are legends. And you start writing better songs and we just kind of saw it as a really good thing, and the artist thing can happen at any time.”
Today:
Flash forward to today, Hackworth has two number ones as a songwriter to his name already at country radio. He is also finally showing off his artistry through his own music. Recently, the singer accompanied Tucker Wetmore on tour and shared his latest song, “When I Don’t.”
“The day that we wrote that song, we all thought it was sick. I love the melodies in the song. I love to sing and getting to showcase my artistry was already something that I already liked in this song. Early on we sent the song around and pitched it, and it never caught, and it kinda fell between the cracks, and it wound up back in our pockets. […] I thought about how Tucker [Wetmore] was about to take me on tour with him, and everything fell in to place really quick, and that song just cut through, and I became a big fan of it. That’s why we went with it.”
“When I Don’t showcases Hackworth’s incredible vocals, as well as, his ability to craft a catchy and honest song. The song came at the perfect time for the emerging artist.
It is only just the beginning! Hackworth is currently in the studio working on more new music and slowly but surely making a name for himself as an artist in country music. Stay tuned!
Connect:
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Jacob Hackworth announcements and releases.
Jacob Hackworth’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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/who-is-jacob-hackworth.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2025-07-02 15:49:472025-07-02 15:53:10Who Is Jacob Hackworth? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music
Corey Kent goes number one at country radio with his latest single, “This Heart.” Get all the details and listen to the song here.
Rising artist Corey Kent officially has his second number one single to at country radio! Kent earned his first number one with his platinum-selling, debut single “Wild As Her”. Now, the singer is adding to his accomplishments with “This Heart” topping the country radio charts.
Written by Thomas Archer, Blake Bollinger, Jacob Hackworth, and Michael Tyler, “The Heart” is the lead single of Kent’s album, Black Bandana released last year. According to the singer, “This Heart” is a special kind of song. “There’s so much backstory on this song. Felt like the devil himself wanted to keep this from going to the top. Would’ve been easier to wave the white flag… but that ain’t the black bandana way. In December of last year, I sat outside my house in Texas & threw my hands up. I said “God, I’m done trying to outwork you. I’ll never give up. But if you want something to succeed, it will. This song, my career, my life, my family… it’s all in your hands.”
“Wish I could just drop it but I got a problem // And it ain’t even you, no, it ain’t even you // Damn this heart and everything that comes with it // Damn this missin’ you every night feelin’ // I’d rip it out, girl, if I didn’t need it // If you’re gonna break it, why don’t you keep it? // It ain’t doin’ nothin’ but keepin’ me up // I can’t help it, it just loves what it loves // It hurt like hell when you tore it apart // But I didn’t know that it would take it this hard // But damn this heart, mm-hmm”
Congratulations to Kent and his team on another number one single!
Join our Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Corey Kent announcements and releases.
“This Heart” 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/corey-kent-number-one.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2025-06-30 21:49:202025-06-30 21:49:20Corey Kent Goes Number One with “This Heart”
Parker McCollum shares his brand new self-titled album, Parker McCollum, officially out now, June 27th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.
For Parker McCollum, the release of his self-titled studio album marks a seismic shift in his career. McCollum traded Music City for New York City, enlisting legendary producers Frank Liddell and Eric Masse to push him beyond his wildest expectations. “It is the best thing I’ve ever done,” McCollum shares. “This record is honest, this record is raw, this record is one thousand percent authentic, Parker, and it feels really good to get back to writing and recording songs like I always wanted to.”
Recorded at the historic Power Station studio, home of Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA, Parker McCollum draws influences from ‘the Boss,’ among others. Featuring fourteen new tracks, the Texas native co-wrote all but a cover of “Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues,” alongside a slew of Texas and Nashville’s biggest names. The liner notes here include the likes of Lori McKenna, Mar Kearney, Randy Rogers, Hillary Lindsey, Natalie Hemby, Wade Bowen, and more, each adding a distinct touch to the collection.
On the follow up to 2022’s Never Enough, which marks his fifth LP and third with MCA, the Austin native truly embraces authentic storytelling, raw emotion, and rootsy musicianship. It’s much more Isbell and Childers than Aldean and Wallen, leaning into lyrical stories and lush instrumentation, as opposed to chasing radio play.
Female background vocalists punctuate a lot of the songs, adding an unusual and much-welcomed ethereal quality, while acoustic guitars and Springsteen-meets-Mayer melodies permeate the LP. From the opening notes of “My Blue,” the album feels different. It feels raw and stripped and live, less polished in the best ways possible.
While “Big Sky” hints at classic McCollum, it’s more Texas than Nashville, with its radio ready chorus about being a man unable to stay in one place for too long.
“I fly and I nevеr land It’s a big sky // I’m a lonely man If you’re lookin’ for me // Just know that I’m free // And thеre ain’t no tellin’ where I might be”
“What Kinda Man” is thematically similar, a harmonica-laced two-stepper that finds him wondering what kind of woman could settle with a man like him, while “Hope That I’m Enough” finds him grappling with his own insecurities in a relationship. Inspired by his wife, he says the song holds a special place in his heart. “It’s how I’ve always genuinely looked at her and [my] relationship,” He shares toBillboard. “She’s just as good as God can make a woman. I don’t know if I’m worthy of anything I’ve gotten to do in my career or the woman I’ve gotten to marry or any of this stuff. It’s just a very authentic feeling. I was sitting next to her, playing guitar, and this song started to just fall out. She’s an easy person to write songs about.”
Songs like “Solid Country Gold” and “Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues” pay homage to the heyday of country music. On “Gold,” the music is breezy and lush, name dropping the likes of John Prine and Guy Clark, while McCollum muses, “I try to hang with the kids these days, but the kids swear I ain’t hip.”
Likewise, a song like the 1960’s hit “Good Time Charlie” should feel out of place in 2025, but fits in perfectly on the LP. Originally recorded by Danny O’Keefe, McCollum turns the classic into a duet with fellow Texan, Cody Johnson. “I’ve always wanted to cut it. I’ve listened to it for 15 years, and I’ve always thought of Cody when I heard that song,” McCollum says. “I just always thought he was so, so crazy talented and such a good singer, and just so passionate about his business and how it goes about his life, and I just admire that so much. He comes in and just kills it.”
“Permanent Headphones” is a standout for the fact that it was originally penned when McCollum was just fifteen, while “Sunny Days” is a breezy look back at those simpler times of his youth.
Songs like “Come On,” “Watch Me Bleed” and “Enough Rope” show various sides of the singer-songwriter, with “Come On” leaning into gritty bluesy country while “Watch Me Bleed” feels inspired by the alt-rock of the late 90’s and early 2000’s. “Killin’ Me” is a twangy, dancehall romp celebrating undeniable attraction, while “New York is On Fire” is a John-Mayer-esque slow burner, chock full of reverb and soulful vocals.
The LP ends on a contradictory note with “My Worst Enemy,” upbeat musical optimism grappling with lyrical self doubt. It’s a unique and fitting album closer for an LP that’s unlike anything McCollum has done before. “It really eats at me to put out music that hits you where music hits me,” he says of the project. “I really enjoy that chase and that journey of, ‘Am I going to write songs that are good enough?’ … I’m trying to find those answers.”
Country Swag Picks:
Big Sky
What Kinda Man
Hope That I’m Enough
My Worst Enemy
Parker McCollum Track List:
My Blue (Parker McCollum, Scooter Carusoe)
Big Sky (Parker McCollum, Charlie Magnone, Jarrod Morris)
Solid Country Gold (Parker McCollum, Jon Randall, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)
Watch Me Bleed (Parker McCollum, Lori McKenna, Mat Kearney)
Killin’ Me (Parker McCollum, Monty Criswell, Randy Rogers)
Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues Featuring Cody Johnson (Danny O’Keefe)
Sunny Days (Parker McCollum, Tony Lane, Lee Miller, Randy Montana)
Permanent Headphones (Parker McCollum)
New York Is On Fire (Parker McCollum, Nick Bockrath, Adam Wright)
Come On (Parker McCollum, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose)
What Kinda Man (Parker McCollum, Natalie Hemby, Jeremy Spillman)
Hope That I’m Enough (Parker McCollum, Jessi Alexander, Matt Jenkins)
Enough Rope (Chris Knight, Austin Cunningham)
My Worst Enemy (Parker McCollum, Wade Bowen)
Parker McCollum shares brand new self-titled album, out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Parker McCollum releases.
For tour dates and more, visit Young’s official website here.
Parker McCollum is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/parker-mccollum-self-titled-album.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2025-06-27 10:55:382025-06-27 10:55:38Parker McCollum: Self-Titled Album Review
Naomi Johnson releases new song “Come Take A Walk,” out now, June 27th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.
Naomi Johnson continues to center her story at the heart of her new music as a solo artist. While Johnson has always been a pure talent in the industry, 2025 is slated to be the year that she steps out in her true authenticity. Today, the songstress continues to share her honest music with the world. “Come Take A Walk” is out now!
“Come Take A Walk” paints a more vivid picture of Johnson’s upbringing and the stories she has lived throughout her life. The song perfectly melds an eclectic groove with a lyrical journey of self-reflection and resilience. The song captures the essence of the influence of one’s past on their future. In Johnson’s case, the new song further gives listeners’ an inside look at her unconventional upbringing and the beautiful life she has forged for herself.
“Come Take A Walk is another great addition to Johnson’s growing catalog of music. With each and every release, the songstress continues to open he curtain and allow fans to see all facets of her life. Music is a powerful healing modality and whether fans can find themselves in her songs or not, they will find a story of resilience and an appreciation for the art she is cultivating.
Naomi Johnson shares new song, “Come Take A Walk,” out now on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Naomi Johnson releases.
“Come Take A Walk” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/who-is-naomi-johnson.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2025-06-27 10:52:372025-06-27 10:52:37Naomi Johnson Shares Brand New Song “Come Take A Walk”
Who is Colin Stough? The singer-songwriter joined us to chat about his journey to country music. Get to know the rising star here…
Colin Stough // Photo credit: David Bradley
Quick Facts:
Full name – Colin Stough
Birthdate – 07/28/2004
Hometown – Gattman, Mississippi
Current city – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical influences – Lynyrd Skynyrd, Steve Ray Vaughn, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Paycheck, Elvis Presley
Label – 19 Recordings/BMG Nashville
Current Project – “White Trash” (as of date of article: 6/23/2025)
The Beginning:
This week we reconnected with singer-songwriter, Colin Stough to catch-up with him about the trajectory of his music career. We first chatted with the entertainer back in 2023, shortly after his stint on American Idol, where he placed third in the competition. Keep reading to check-in with the singer and learn more about his story!
“I grew up in a little town in Mississippi, Gattman, Mississippi. There’s about 73 people there,” began the singer. “Growing up, I got my first guitar when I was probably eight years old, and I bought it out of a pawn shop. I just kind of always played music, and I went through some rougher things in life in my teenage years, and I just kind of turned to [music] as a coping mechanism.”
Music became Stough’s solace during unpredictable times in his youth. “I had a very troubled, different childhood growing up. We had hard times, we had good time, and we had times that were plain-out fucked up to be honest with you. I just kind of learned to write about how I felt, and that’s where it all started. “
Stough looked up to artists who were great songwriters, as well as, legendary guitar players. “My number one influence is Lynyrd Skynyrd, and then Waylon Jennings, Guns N’ Roses, Jimi Hendrix, pretty much all of your main guitar players and all your great lyricists too. […] There’s a lot of Conway Twitty in there too because my grandma loved Conway Twitty too.”
Despite loving music, Stough never thought he’d end up where he is now. “I’ve always dreamed of doing this. It’s so surreal for me because I never thought I’d actually do it,” he shared. “I kind of bought that guitar with that little dream in my pocket and I never thought that it would kind of come true, but we’re here, and we’re rocking out.”
The Turning Point:
As Stough got older, he continued to rely on both his horses and music for comfort; however, his mother encouraged him to chase his dreams, ultimately signing him up for American Idol. “My mom signed me up for Idol, and I went on to do that. Stough impressed all three judges, during his audition, singing an emotive cover of the Lynyrd Skynryd song, “Simple Man.” His incredible vocal tone and heart proved his staying power from day one.
After American Idol, the singer-songwriter thought he was just going to go back home to work. “I was like well I guess I’m going back home to work. They called me two days after I got home, and they were like, we need you in Nashville,” he shared, adding, “I heard some rumors about a bunch of people wanting to sign me, so with American Idol, I got to go with BBR/BMG and 19 of course, and it’s just been amazing. We have a great team, and I finally just now, getting dialed in, where I’ll only write with certain people because you figure out something that starts working, you don’t break it, you don’t try to fix it.”
Ultimately, he signed his record deal shortly after and began working and dare I say, outworking many of his peers in Music City. “I had two big challenges whenever I moved to Nashville. When you go on a show like American Idol, you gain what they call “TV fame,” but when you get off that show, and you start doing music, you have to flip that, and you have to do it quickly to music fame. We’re still doing that. My second biggest challenge was I have a physical work ethic that is not matched. There’s not another person in this town that will out work me, and that’s just how I was raised. But you have to swap that physical work ethic for a mental one. […] It’s probably just now, in the last six months, I’ve been able to flip that.”
Today:
Flash forward to today, Stough has found his signature sound in the industry, all while growing up.“We’re doing something that’s honestly in a different lane than everybody else, and I love that,” he shared, adding, “I’m putting my actual feelings in a song, and I tell everybody that’s what I do this day. I never write about a story that didn’t happen, and it’s just something that I love. That’s the reason that I do this. Music and writing have brought me closer to the good Lord, to my family, andbrought me closer to my own self.”
Most recently Stough released arguably his best single to date, “White Trash,” a song that truly shows his songwriting prowess. When he was young and he and his mother were called ‘White Trash,’ Stough stored it a way as a compliment. “I kind of took it as a compliment because that put me different than everybody else. I graduated and got a bunch of tattoos, and stuff like that. It was always something that I was proud. […] I knew there were other people in the world that was like that too.”
Eventually “White Trash” became a song. “I thought it would be a killer song title […]. One of my buddies was over here, and I kept saying that I was white trash, and I took that as a sign from the Lord to write that because it just kept popping in my head. I went in with Jamie Collazo and Kenny Whitmire and we sat with the song for probably an hour and a half, and we did a demo on it, and I thought it was one of those songs that was going to sit in a folder, but that’s not how it was at all.”
The song is an anthem for the misunderstood. Referred to as a “battle cry for the outcast” in a recent press release, the new song showcases Stough’s gritty and piercing vocals. “White Trash” unapologetically captures how the feeling of confidence; despite, what naysayers may say. It also firmly showcases Stough’s unique country-rock music.
“For a couple of months I was chasing the mainstream stuff and what was going to work, and I can do that, and I’d probably have a successful career, but at the end of the day, I just wasn’t happy when I’d get home from writing, and so now, we’re dialed in, and we put “White Trash” out, and all the songs that we are wanting to put out are really just me,” he shared, finally adding, “We’re staying as authentic as possible, as stripped-back as possible, and I’m just happier.”
Stay tuned for more music from Stough soon!
Connect:
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Colin Stough announcements and releases.
Colin Stough’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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/who-is-colin-stough.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2025-06-22 18:03:282025-06-22 18:03:28Who Is Colin Stough? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music (2025)
Kane Brown earns the number one song at country radio with his incredible song, “Backseat Driver.” Get all the details here.
Kane Brown is a bonafide superstar in the country music genre; despite, clearly showing talent across different genres of music. Brown has hits with ballads, more traditional country song, cross-genre collaborations, and everything in between. This week the singer earns his thirteenth number one single at country radio with “Backseat Driver.”
Written by Jacob Davis and Jordan Walker, “Backseat Driver” is one of those special songs that was looking for the write artist to cut it. Kane Brown was the right artist. A father of three, including two baby girls, “Backseat Driver” feels like a love letter made specifically to his daughter; despite, the fact that Brown didn’t co-write the song. “Backseat Driver” is a tearjerker and nostalgia wrapped up in a a pretty pink bow. This song deserved to go number one at country radio!
That’s when I heard her ask // “Hey, Daddy, who was that?” // And before I could answer back // She said // “Daddy, look, there’s a plane in the sky // Are we there yet? Did you just see that dog run by? // Do squirrels have houses in the trees? // Why’d God put stingers on honeybees?” // It’s crazy all the things she sees on the side of the road // Out of that window beside her // I wish I could be more like her // My little dangling feet, pretty in pink, backseat driver”
Congrats to Brown on his thirteenth number one single with “Backseat Driver.”
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Kane Brown releases.
“Backseat Driver” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/kane-brown-katelyn-brown-body-talk.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2025-06-22 15:34:312025-06-22 15:34:31Kane Brown Earns Number One at Country Radio with “Backseat Driver”
Here are all of the new country songs that you need to know this week. Check-out the full list of incredible new songs that came out this new music Friday.
Ryan and Rory collaborate with Jamey Johnson on this beautiful new song, “Together Again.”
“This Side of Heaven” – Max McNown
Singer-songwriter, Max McNown gives Kansas another taste of his upcoming album with his new song, “This Side of Heaven.”
“EASY ON ME” – Graham Barham
Graham Barham continues to create his new song with his brand new song, “EASY ON ME,” out now.
Join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news, announcements and releases.
Check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music‘ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/New-Music-Friday-Blog-Cover.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2025-06-20 02:13:522025-06-20 02:20:30Here Are The New Country Songs You Need To Know This Week (6/20)
