Diamond Rio Celebrates 35 Years of Country Music History With New America Works EP
The four-song project arrives November 13, led by a powerful title track centered on service, sacrifice and the strength of community.
Thirty-five years after “Meet in the Middle” launched Diamond Rio into the country music history books, the GRAMMY-winning group is proving its story is far from finished.
Diamond Rio will release its new four-song EP, America Works, on November 13 through Rio Records 2.0 and One Riot Records. The band offers the first glimpse of the project with its title track, “America Works,” a heartfelt tribute to the everyday people who continue to show up for one another.
A Celebration of Service and Sacrifice
Written by Diamond Rio guitarist Jimmy Olander alongside Jeffrey East, “America Works” finds its power in service, sacrifice and simple acts of selflessness. Instead of relying on grand declarations, the song celebrates the people quietly doing their part to make their families and communities stronger.
The accompanying music video brings that message to life through three individuals navigating different stages and challenges. Filmed in part at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the visual features military personnel alongside the band’s family members, friends and crew.
Diamond Rio drummer Micah Schweinsberg stepped behind the camera to direct the video, which will premiere on The Heartland Network’s Country Music Today. The band will also host a Facebook Live ahead of the premiere to answer fan questions and discuss the new project.
“We started at Fort Campbell getting shots of our military on the base,” Schweinsberg shared. “I’ve always respected our military, but seeing them train and function reinstated my respect for their willingness to sacrifice in order to keep our freedom in this country.”
For Olander, keeping the production close to home added another layer of meaning to the finished video.
“Other than a few soldiers at Fort Campbell, every cast member in the video is connected to us personally,” he said. “It made the whole thing feel incredibly meaningful.”
Celebrating 35 Years of Diamond Rio
The EP arrives during a landmark year for Diamond Rio. The group is celebrating the 35th anniversary of both its self-titled debut album and breakout single, “Meet in the Middle,” which was recently certified double Platinum by the RIAA.
The song made country music history when Diamond Rio became the first country group to send a debut single to No. 1.
Two more of the band’s defining hits, “Beautiful Mess” and “One More Day,” have also received new Platinum certifications, underscoring the enduring connection Diamond Rio has built with listeners across multiple generations.
“Other Side of the World” Tells a Family Story
The next preview of America Works will arrive October 16 with “Other Side of the World.”
Written by Olander, lead vocalist Marty Roe and Heather Morgan, the deeply personal song was inspired by Roe watching his eldest daughter move to Australia after high school to study music at Hillsong College.
“The inspiration was trying to create a special piece of music that tells some of Marty’s pride and heartbreak as his daughter moved to Australia,” Olander explained. “Marty was very open and transparent when we wrote it, and things got emotional a time or two.”
Carson McKee Steps Into the Spotlight
“Other Side of the World” also opens an important new chapter for the band, marking the first Diamond Rio song to feature newest member Carson McKee on lead vocals.
McKee joins Roe for the emotional duet, bringing her own experience of leaving home to the performance. Only 24 when she recorded her vocals, McKee had recently graduated from college and spent about a year living away from her family in Nashville.
“This was emotional for me,” McKee admitted. “I was homesick, and there’s a line in my verse, ‘I miss you Dad like you’ll never know.’ I remember having to cut it over and over because I couldn’t sing it without crying. It’s a powerful song, and getting to sing it as a duet with Marty was really special.”
McKee will once again take the lead on “Pink Guitar,” which arrives alongside the complete EP on November 13. Written by Olander, Hayley McLean and Josh Shilling, the song represents another significant milestone for Diamond Rio’s newest vocalist.
A Familiar Sound With a New Sense of Possibility
The four-song collection is rounded out by the previously released instrumental “The Kick,” which introduced listeners to Diamond Rio’s two newest members for the first time.
Produced and co-written by Olander, America Works balances the musicianship and unmistakable harmonies that built Diamond Rio’s legacy with a renewed sense of possibility.
More than three decades into its career, the band is not simply looking back at its accomplishments. Diamond Rio is continuing to build upon them, one song, one story and one meaningful connection at a time.
Listen to “America Works” and watch the official music video here. Fans can also pre-save the America Works EP ahead of its November 13 release.
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