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Ashley Cooke: ‘Shot In The Dark’ Debut Album Review

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Ashley Cooke’s debut album, Shot In The Dark is out now, July 21st on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new music here.

With a voice that’s powerful yet personable and an approachable style of lyricism that hearkens back to the early days of Taylor Swift or Kelsea Ballerini, country newcomer Ashley Cooke offers her powerful debut, shot in the dark, out now.

Of the 24 tracks on her Big Loud/ Back Blocks Music release, Cooke co-penned all but four, collaborating with Nashville heavy hitters ranging from fellow artists like Colbie Caillat, Lainey Wilson, and Ryan Hurd to acclaimed songwriters like Josh Kerr, Nicolle Galyon, and Josh Osborne. 

For the Parkland, Florida native, who began gaining buzz on TikTok during the Covid pandemic, this album release is the logical next step. “The last year of my life has been crazy and wonderful in so many ways, but I think the next year might be even better…It’s been full of bucket list moments for me… I made my Opry debut, signed my first deals, went on tours with my heroes, and lived a lot of life in the moments in between. This album is about all of that — and it’s about the magic that can come if you really take risks in life and love,” shared the singer-songwriter. “I can’t wait for each of you to hear it. Thank you to everyone who helped get me here, and thank you for making me feel so safe to take a shot in the dark.”

The album’s title track is just one of many standouts, a simple ode to the path to a new love, found unexpectedly in a dark bar and aided by some liquid courage. “Last call, first kiss a little bit drunk // Who knew two straight tequilas on a debit card // Would wind us up right where we are,” She sings. “So here’s to, two strangers in the back of a bar // Taking a shot in the dark.”

Likewise, songs like “next to you,” “good thing going,” and “back in the saddle” also celebrate the bloom of new love and the excitement that comes along with it. “next to you” is an especially poignant and sparse ballad that finds Cooke celebrating the type of love she didn’t know existed. “I’ve been living dreams lately // but they don’t hold a candle to // waking up next to you.” Similarly, the wedding-ready “never ‘til now” finds Cooke trading verses with Brett Young as they celebrate the person that makes everything makes sense. “I never wanted to tap my brakes // I never wanted to settle down // I was always one foot out the door // I never thought about turning ’round // Never saw myself with a white picket fence dug into the ground // Never ’til now”

Other duets contribute stellar moments on Cooke’s debut, enlisting rising country stars like Nate Smith and Jackson Dean, in addition to Caillat. Smith joins the singer-songwriter on the double entendre, heartbreak-laden “see you around,” while Dean lends his raspy voice to ““what are you on fire about?,” which finds the pair musing that the flame between them has burned out.

Meanwhile, it’s her blistering duet with Caillat that enables her to make a statement, similar to that of Carly Pearce’s hit “Next Girl.” Here, the pair trade verses about a toxic ex, warning his new girlfriend to be cautious with her new beau.

“This ain’t me being mean, girl // I just hate to see a good heart hangin’ on a string, girl // It sure looks a lot like love // But what you don’t see girl // Is all those cards slid so far up his sleeve girl // When he says you’re the only one //  Take it from me, yeah it’s just another thing // That he doesn’t mean, girl // Aw that he doesn’t mean, girl”

That honesty continues throughout the album, weaving its way through songs like “getting into,”  “gonna get,” and “tryin’ to love you.” On the former, she’s warning a suitor to be prepared for a relationship. “Before you get into my car, into my bed, into my heart, my head,” She warns. “Know what you’re getting into.” Meanwhile, “tryin’ to love you” has her caught up with someone who is perfect on paper, but isn’t quite clicking. “It ain’t your fault // it’s hard to start a fire when you can’t make one spark fly // the trouble with trying to love you // is I shouldn’t have to try.”

Relationships ending are a prevalent theme throughout the LP, weaving its way through tracks like “tastes like,” “moving on with grace,” “i almost do,” “your place,” and “build a bridge.” What Cooke does brilliantly here is show every aspect of a relationship ending and the range of emotions. The album opener, “tastes like” finds her comparing whiskey to a former flame, while “i almost do” has her struggling not to reach out to an ex. On “moving on with grace,” Cooke cleverly finds solace at the bar, unapologetically drowning her sorrows in Jack Daniels, while her ex has moved on with a girl named Grace. 

Cooke also shines on ballads, including “enough to leave,” which finds her knowing she’s not right for someone and loving them enough to move on. Meanwhile, “it’s been a year” is a poignant look at how fast time passes and how much things can change in one year. “And I ain’t sayin’ it ain’t been a good one // It’s been a did a lot more than I thought I could one // It’s been three hundred sixty five of record lows and record highs // Loving and losing, fun and confusing, praying and shifting gears // For the minute you got, it’s probably a lot, more than you wanna hear // So all I’ll say is, it’s been a year”

The album’s closing track is one of its strongest standouts, as “state i’m in” is an especially poignant ballad that has her grappling with being a young touring artist while also comparing herself to her peers. With her pristine voice shining over twangy guitars, she examines her place in life.

Speaking to Whiskey Riff, she revealed of the song, “I was in a tour van, touring around the country as we do as young artists, and I was scrolling through Instagram and I was seeing so many of my friends posting that they’re getting married, or having babies, and all these exciting things in their life. And I was just so excited for them.  And I took a deep breath and I realized, like, ‘Wow, I’m so excited for them and I’m so happy for me that I’m in such a different phase of my life than they are.’ And it’s beautiful that we can have such different lives at the same age…”

On Shot In The Dark, Ashley Cooke is unfiltered and unfettered, positioning herself as a powerful female country artist for the next generation.

Country Swag Picks:

  1. see you around (with Nate Smith)
  2. mean girl (with Colbie Caillat)
  3. shot in the dark
  4. moving on with grace
  5. state i’m in
  6. enough to leave

Shot In The Dark Track List:

  1. tastes like (Ashley Cooke, Jordan Minton, Emily Weisband, Corey Crowder)
  2. it’s been a year (Ashley Cooke, Will Weatherly, Brett Tyler)
  3. see you around (feat. Nate Smith) (Ashley Cooke, Brett Tyler, Will Bundy)
  4. shot in the dark (Ashley Cooke, Jordan Minton, Emily Weisband, Corey Crowder)
  5. moving on with grace (Ashley Cooke, Rocky Block, Jake Mitchell)
  6. getting into (Ashley Cooke, Emily Weisband, Will Weatherly)
  7. enough to leave (Ashley Cooke, Matt Roy, Lauren Weintraub)
  8. i almost do (Ashley Cooke, Trevor Rosen, Josh Osborne)
  9. mean girl (feat. Colbie Caillat) (Ashley Cooke, Colbie Caillat, Nicolle Galyon, Jimmy
  10. Robbins)
  11. running back (Ashley Cooke, Emily Weisband, Will Weatherly)
  12. good thing going (Ashley Cooke, Matt Dragstrem, Brett Tyler, Geoff Warburton)
  13. next to you (Ashley Cooke)
  14. good to be back (Ashley Cooke, Hunter Phelps, Jameson Rodgers, Alysa Vanderheym)
  15. what are you on fire about (feat. Jackson Dean) (Lainey Wilson, Jason Nix, Luke  Dick)
  16. say no more (Devin Dawson, Donovan Woods, Travis Wood)
  17. tryin’ to love you (Ashley Cooke, Hillary Lindsey, Chase McGill, Jimmy Robbins)
  18. back in the saddle (Josh Kerr, Jordan Reynolds, Jordan Minton)
  19. your place (Ashley Cooke, Jordan Minton, Mark Trussell)
  20. dirt on ’em (Ashley Cooke, Jessi Alexander, Aysa Vanderheym)
  21. build a bridge (Sasha Sloan, Ryan Hurd, Geoff Warburton, Henry Agincourt Allen)
  22. get you (Ashley Cooke, Jacob Durrett, John Byron)
  23. never til now (Ashley Cooke, Matt Roy)
  24. gonna get (Ashley Cooke, Sasha Sloan, Blake Pendergrass, David Garcia)
  25. state i’m in (Ashley Cooke, Emily Weisband, Jordan Reynolds)
Ashley-cooke-debut-album

Ashley Cooke’s debut album, ‘Shot In The Dark’ is officially out now.

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

To keep up with Ashley Cooke, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

A Shot In The Dark 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.

Ashley-cooke-three-new-songs

Ashley Cooke Drops Three New Songs Ahead of Upcoming Album

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Ashley Cooke drops three new songs, including, “mean girl,” “shot in the dark,” and “tastes like,” out now on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new tracks below.

Superstar in the making, Ashley Cooke just shared some exciting news with her fans! Cooke’s debut album, Shot In The Dark is officially dropping on July 21st, featuring 24 brand new songs. In celebration of the news, the singer-songwriter is sharing three new songs with fans including a collaboration with Colbie Caillat called, “mean girl,” the title track, and a song called, “tastes like.”

In a recent press release, Cooke shared, “It’s been full of bucket list moments for me… I made my Opry debut, signed my first deals, went on tours with my heroes, and lived a lot of life in the moments in between. This album is about all of that — and it’s about the magic that can come if you really take risks in life and love.”

The first new song released today is one of the few collaborations on Cooke’s upcoming record. “mean girl” featuring Colbie Caillat is a beautiful reminder of the power of sisterhood. While the song is melancholy in nature, it is a reminder to the girlfriend of your ex to pay attention to the signs in the relationship. Heartbreaking, yet beautiful, “mean girl” is one of Cooke’s best songs to date. Cooke and Caillat are truly the pair we never knew we always needed!

“Where there’s some, there’s always a fire // and he’s got the lighter // this ain’t me being mean girl // I just hate to see a good heart hanging on as string, girl // It sure looks a. Lot like love, but what you don’t see, girl // is all those cards slid so far up his sleeve, girl // when he says you’re the only one take it from me // it’s just another thing // that he doesn’t mean, girl”

As for the title track, “shot in the dark,” Cooke leans deeper into her songwriting prowess. “shot in the dark” depicts what it is like to find a love interest in the bar and feeling the rush of a first kiss. The song feels hopeful and alluring.

Finally, “tastes like” is a fun, party song. While Cooke is known for her personal lyrics, Cooke’s entertainer-side is on full display on this track. “tastes like” is a cheeky, summer-ready tune that is sure to get a lot of playing time during the singer-songwriter’s live shows this summer.

These three songs are proving that Cooke’s album is one to look out for. She is truly on the brink of superstardom, so if you are not yet a fan, now is the time to jump on the bandwagon!

Ashley-cooke-three-new-songs

Ashley Cooke shares three new songs, ahead of upcoming album, slated for release this July.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Ashley Cooke and Colbie Caillat releases.

To keep up with Ashley Cooke, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

To keep up with Colbie Calliat, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.

Ashley Cooke’s new songs are 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.

Ashley-cooke-new-songs

Ashley Cooke Releases Two New Songs “running back” & “dirt on ’em”

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Ashley Cooke’s new songs, “running back” and “dirt on ’em” are out now, November 18th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new songs below.

Ashley Cooke is here with not just one but two brand new songs for us. “running back” and “dirt on ‘em” are being added to the incredible catalog that we have heard from Cooke this year alone,  alongside songs like “back in the saddle”, “getting into”, and “Never Til Now”. 

“running back” was written by Cooke and Emily Weisband. It reveals unresolved feelings and ‘what if’s’ about her football-star high school sweetheart and confesses she would still go ‘running back’ to him if he asked. 

“I’ve had a few somebody news // Thought about forever too // But I run away when it gets close to that // ‘Cause no matter how far down the road // The crazy thing is I know // If you called and said you’re missin’ what we had // I’d come running back”

“dirt on ‘em” was written by Cooke, Jessi Alexander, and Alysa Vanderheim. Here Cooke admits she tends to like guys who are rough around the edges and knows enough to expect that that also means they might come with a messy reputation. 

“501s look better with some mud on ‘em // And those hands feel better with work on ‘em // And I ain’t afraid of a little whiskey stain // On your name going round this small town // I don’t mind a little static on the station // A little nitty gritty with a messy reputation // Drives in 35’s // Trouble in their eyes // something ’bout a guy // with some dirt on ‘em”

Both of these songs portray the lyrical and vocal talent that Cooke continues to bring to the country music scene. Coupled with her transparent persona and relatability, it is no wonder why she has experienced the success she has over the past couple of years. 

Cooke is one of the most exciting rising country artists to watch. From viral Tik-Tok fame as an independent artist during the pandemic, to signing with Big Loud earlier this year, this has been Cooke’s biggest year yet and there is still more to come. This past month alone she made her Grand Ole Opry debut and stepped on the Ryman stage for her sold-out two-night debut on Cole Swindell’s Down to The Bar Tour.

In July, she made her national TV debut on The Bachelorette with her re-imagined version of her hit song “Never Til Now” with Brett Young – which continues to climb the charts at country radio. As Cooke puts it herself, “this is only the beginning”, and we could not agree more. We can not wait to see “running back” and “dirt on ‘em” enter the world, and will be anxiously waiting for even more new music before the end of the year. 

Ashley-cooke-new-songs

Ashley Cooke drops two brand new songs, “running back” and “dirt on ’em,” out now.

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

To keep up with Ashley Cooke, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“running back” and “dirt on ’em” 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.

Ashley-cooke-new-song

Ashley Cooke Shares Personal New Song “Back In The Saddle”

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Ashley Cooke’s new song, “Back In The Saddle,” is out now, September 16th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new, personal track below.

One of our favorite rising artists, Ashley Cooke’s star continues to rise with each and every release. She released her single, “getting into,” last month, and now she is adding another single to her growing catalog. Cooke’s new song, “Back In The Saddle” is officially out now.

The new song was written by Jordan Minton, Josh Kerr, and Jordan Reynolds. Although the track was written by three men, it is hard to imagine anyone other than Cooke singing it and bringing it to life. Lyrically, “Back In The Saddle,” is an anthem for anyone who is having a tough time dealing with a break-up. It provides hope and relatability throughout the lyrics.

“Getting back in the saddle // Putting boots in the gravel // leaving her memory in an ole dust cloud // You ditching this missing him merry go round // Baby what we say // We been drinking and we ain’t // Trying to ride off into the sunset // No this is just and me trying to forget // Getting back in the saddle”

While it is hard to choose a favorite Cooke song, “Back In The Saddle” is definitely a top contender!

Ashley-cooke-back-in-the-saddle-new-song

Ashley Cooke’s new song, “Back In The Saddle” is out now.

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

To keep up with Ashley Cooke, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Back In The Saddle” 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.

Ashley Cooke Drops New Song “getting into” Out Now

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Ashley Cooke’s new song, “getting into,” is out now, August 12th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new, personal track below.

This is going to be Ashley Cooke’s year! The newly signed Big Loud Records recording artist is moving full steam ahead. Her single with Brett Young, “Never Til Now” has won fans over with its romance and vulnerability. Today, Cooke drops another new song that fans fell in love with immediately when she teased it on social media. “getting into” is officially out now.

The new song is a songwriting dream. Cooke has a natural talent for flipping phrases and euphemisms on an axis. “getting into” is all about warning a potential love interest of all the weird and quirky things that they are going to eventually find out about you if you choose to be together. Cooke’s honesty and vocals shine on the superb single.

“You’re into the way I take // My whiskey neat // You’re into the face I make // When you say something mean // You’re into the color of my eyes // Into the way I socialize // For your sanity’s sake, you should know some things // I can burn it down be a dive bar closer // Sunday sitting in a pew hungover // I want love, but I don’t know how”

“getting into” might be our favorite song by Cooke so far. She is a natural talent that is primed to go far in this industry. Country music lovers will continue to support her, as her fame skyrockets with each and every new much deserved opportunity.

Ashley Cooke’s new song, “getting into” is out now, August 12th

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

To keep up with Ashley Cooke, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“getting into” 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.

Here is Ashley Cooke and Brett Young’s song, “Never Til Now” from ‘The Bachelorette’

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Newly signed Big Loud Records artist, Ashley Cooke adds Brett Young on the new rendition of her song “Never Til Now”, out everywhere April 1st. Listen to the track below.

In the weeks since she left our Babes, Booze, and Brunch event in NYC on March 20th, where she performed an acoustic set for us, Ashley Cooke has been making big waves in the country music world.

On the very long list of accomplishments, in a short amount of time, Cooke revealed the news that she signed her first record deal to Big Loud Records / Back Blocks Music. Prior to this deal, Cooke had reached major success as an independent artist, gaining over 30 million streams and reaching a TikTok following of 900K+. Another announcement Cooke was able to share with fans was several tour announcements including dates with Jordan Davis, Cole Swindell, and Brett Young. Then finally came the big reveal that Ashley Cooke would be adding Brett Young to her already popular love song, “Never Til Now”.

“Never Til Now” is written by Ashley Cooke and Matt Roy. The original release of “Never Til Now” is part of Cooke’s debut EP, Already Drank That Beer – Side A, released in August of 2021. The song went viral on TikTok and digital streaming platforms, gaining over 46K+ user-generated videos and over 15 million streams.

The combination of these two artists’ incredible vocals brings the song to an entirely new level. To one where two people’s lives changed in the same way on a night they just so happened to walk into the same bar and prove each other wrong about a kind of love they never thought was possible. This song is about falling in love when you least expect it, and the story is made even more special when two people who were in the same place in life find each other and change everything about what you thought you wanted.

The beautiful track landed Cooke her very first song to go to country radio. If that’s not enough, Cooke received the exciting news that her and Young would be performing the duet on the hit show, ABC’s The Bachelorette. Watch the full performance of “Never Til Now” on Monday, July 18th’s episode of The Bachelorette, here. Learn more about Ashley Cooke and her journey to country music in our spotlight interview, here.

“I never wanted to tap my brakes // I never wanted to settle down // I was always one foot out the door // I never thought about turning around // I never saw myself with a white picket fence dug into the ground // Never Til Now”

Ashley Cooke and Brett Young team up on “Never Til Now,” out now.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Ashley Cooke and Brett Young releases.

To keep up with Ashley Cooke, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

To keep up with Brett Young, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Never Til Now” 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.

brett-young-ashley-cooke-bachelorette

Ashley Cooke and Brett Young Perform “Never Til Now” on The Bachelorette

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Ashley Cooke and Brett Young performed, “Never Til Now” on ABC’s ‘The Bachelorette’ on Monday night, July 18th, during one of the special date nights.

On the heels of releasing the new rendition of their romantic love song “Never Til Now,” Ashley Cooke and Brett Young were invited to perform on ABC’s hit show ‘The Bachelorette.” The original version of the track blew up on Cooke’s social media. When Young was later added to the track, it was clear that the song was something special, even marking Cooke’s first song to country radio.

The singer-songwriter teased that she was about to perform on a huge television show. She later shared that it was going to be “awkward.” Although the performance was flawless and romantic, the date between the show’s lead and a contestant did not go according to plan. Bachelorette, Rachel was seen sending one of her suitors home, while the producers edited the performance around those scenes.

What could have been a super awkward performance as the two serenaded Rachel alone with a love song, instead became a powerful and emotional moment of the show. Watch the full performance here. Learn more about Ashley Cooke and her journey to country music in our spotlight interview here.

“I never wanted to tap my brakes // I never wanted to settle down // I was always one foot out the door // I never thought about turning around // I never saw myself with a white picket fence dug into the ground // Never Til Now”

Ashley Cooke joins a long list of country artists, who performed on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette franchise respectively, including Young, who performed previously. Both Restless Road and Laine Hardy were recent guests on the shows. We wonder who will be next to join the list!

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

To keep up with Ashley Cooke, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

To keep up with Brett Young, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Never Til Now” 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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Who Is Ashley Cooke? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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

Ashley-cooke-music
The Beginning:

This week we are sharing an artist with you that you should already know! Since the very beginning of her young career, we have proudly championed the talented singer-songwriter, Ashley Cooke. Today, we are sharing with you all about her journey, straight from Cooke herself!

“I grew up kind of all over the country, to be honest. I started playing music and writing songs when I was eleven years old,” began Cooke. “In moving around all the time, music was kind of the only constant I ever had.” Although she coins, Parkland, Florida as her ‘hometown,’ the singer’s childhood helped her find her way into music at an early age.

“I started writing songs kind of as a coping mechanism and I loved poetry even as a kid. […] I started writing poems down in journals and really was obsessed with lyrics, and poems, and rhyming and that kind of stuff,” shared Cooke.

Despite her parents not listening to country music when she was young, she knew it was the right fit for her when she discovered it. “Lyrics have always been my passion and my love for music, and honestly that’s kind of how I found myself in country too,” said the singer, adding, ” I really got to find country was, one, through Taylor [Swift], but also through the songwriting and the storytelling that came from that genre.”

Both Swift and Rascal Flatts were some of Cooke’s early influences in the country genre, both inspiring her to write music that made someone feel something.

At eighteen years old, instead of pursuing music, the singer headed to Nashville for a different reason. She attended Belmont University to study communications and marketing, a degree that would later help her in her blossoming career.

The Turning Point:

During her senior year at Belmont, Cooke entered a contest called ‘Country Showcase,’ on a whim. According to the singer, the contest was a huge deal for emerging artists. “It’s like the end of senior year milestone goal, where they choose 4 artists to play, and you play 2 originals and 1 cover song. […] People like Brad Paisley, and Florida Georgia Line, and Chris Young have won this competition.”

Cooke went on to win the competition, catapulting her to focus solely on music immediately upon graduation. Armed with a desire to cut her teeth in Nashville starting in 2019, she found herself without gigs to play, when the pandemic hit in 2020.

Like many of us, Cooke went home to Florida to quarantine with her family. It was then that she discovered a little app called TikTok. “I started posting on TikTok genuinely out of boredom during the pandemic,” shared the singer.

“The first video that I posted was called the ‘lay me down challenge.’ […] I was one of those weird anomalies where my very first video went viral. It got over 2.7 million views, seemingly overnight.”

She spent the rest of quarantine using her degree to really learn the platform and give her new fanbase the music they were all begging for. “For the first time in music history it feels like, labeled artists were on the same playing fields as unsigned artists because we all had the same ways of sharing our music and breaking new songs.”

At the end of the pandemic, as an independent artist, Cooke met her now manager, Rakiyah Marshall, and started releasing music and booking tours that all artists would dream of, including Cole Swindell tour and a Jimmie Allen feature.

Today:

Flash forward to today, Cooke is a newly signed Big Loud Records recording artist! “I only signed my record deal with Big Loud three weeks ago, ” the singer shared at the time of our interview. It is truly incredible how much Cooke has worked hard to accomplish in her young career.

Most recently though, the singer announced that she is going on tour with Brett Young, who is also featured on the new version of her hit, “Never Til Now.” “I wrote the song with my friend Matt Roy, who also has written a bunch of other stuff on my project,” shared Cooke, when asked about the song. “We wrote the song just me and him, powering it out in my living room. He pitched the idea originally, and I was going through a really tough break-up at the time. I was like, ‘honestly, all I want is the kind of love that you are talking about. It just catches you off guard, real, not cheesy, just someone that loves you and is there for you.’”

Originally, Cooke posted a TikTok video of her simply pointing to the romantic lyrics slide by slide. Little did she know, the song would soon go viral and fans everywhere were using the beautiful song as their first dance and wedding song.

Because she always heard a feature on it, Cooke asked her produced Jimmie Robbins, who would be a good fit. He suggested Brett Young, and the rest was history. “I felt like adding another voice to it would really elevate it.”

Cooke’s staying power is only going to increase over the next year and many more to come. She is here to stay and we are proud to have named her a 2022 Artist to Watch. Catch the songstress on tour with Young, as well as, at most major country music festivals this festival season. We also anticipate more new music coming soon!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Ashley Cooke, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Ashley Cooke’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.

Ashley Cooke Collabs with Brett Young on New Rendition of “Never Til Now”

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Newly signed Big Loud Records artist, Ashley Cooke adds Brett Young on the new rendition of her song “Never Til Now”, out now April 1st. Listen to the brand new track below.

In a week of several major announcements for rising star, Ashley Cooke, a collab with Brett Young is only a piece in the puzzle for all of the exciting things happening for the artist right now. Just after she left our Babes, Booze, and Brunch event in NYC on March 20th, Cooke started teasing major news that was coming her way in the next couple of weeks.

First, and perhaps the biggest of the slew of announcements, was the news that Cooke signed her first deal to Big Loud Records / Back Blocks Music, making this new release her first as a signed artist. Prior to this deal, Cooke had reached major success as an independent artist, gaining over 30 million streams and reaching a TikTok following of 900K+. Another announcement Cooke was able to share with fans this week is that she will be joining Jordan Davis on tour beginning in April after she wraps up her run on Cole Swindell’s ‘Down To The Bar Tour’.

On top of all of this, Cooke also revealed that Brett Young would be joining her for a duet on a new rendition of her song “Never Til Now”, written by Cooke and Matt Roy. The original release of “Never Til Now” is part of Cooke’s debut EP, Already Drank That Beer – Side A, released in August of 2021. The song went viral on TikTok and digital streaming platforms, gaining over 46K user-generated videos and over 15 million streams. Therefore, it was only right that Cooke and Young announced their version of the song on TikTok this past Sunday, where they also gave fans a little taste of the new track.

The combination of these two artists’ incredible vocals brings the song to an entirely new level. To one where two people’s lives changed in the same way on a night they just so happened to walk into the same bar and prove each other wrong about a kind of love they never thought was possible. This song is about falling in love when you least expect it, and the story is made even more special when two people who were in the same place in life find each other and change everything about what you thought you wanted.

“I never wanted to tap my brakes // I never wanted to settle down // I was always one foot out the door // I never thought about turning around // I never saw myself with a white picket fence dug into the ground // Never Til Now”

Ashley Cooke and Brett Young team up on “Never Til Now,” out now.

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To keep up with Brett Young, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Never Til Now” 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.