Nine Country Music Songs You Need To Hear This Week Featuring Parker McCollum, Ella Langley, Blake Whiten, Ashley McBryde & More

Parker McCollum - Parker McCollum

As the final notes of My Worst Enemy fade into silence, what lingers is not just a song, but a statement, a quiet, powerful testament to who Parker McCollum is at his core. This self-titled album doesn’t just showcase his growth as an artist; it reveals the man behind the microphone, unafraid to be honest, to be vulnerable, and to stand still in the mess and magic of it all. In an industry that often prizes polish over truth, McCollum’s willingness to lead with heart feels like a breath of fresh air. With every lyric, every late-night melody, and every unplanned moment that found its way into these songs, he offers listeners not just music—but something lasting, something real.

Check Out Our Interview With Parker!

Blake Whiten - Made For Goodbyes

Blake Whiten may hail from the tiny town of Six Mile, South Carolina, but his voice is making seismic waves far beyond its population of fewer than 800. At just 20 years old, the rising country powerhouse has officially signed with Enchntmnt / Warner Records, a defining moment for the small-town artist with a big-hearted sound. To celebrate the career-changing milestone, Whiten is sharing his major label debut single, “Made for Goodbyes," a gut-wrenching, emotionally scorched ballad that wastes no time proving why Nashville’s watching him closely. Haunted by heartbreak and grounded in lyrical honesty, “Made for Goodbyes” is a potent showcase of Whiten’s raw storytelling instincts and hard-earned emotional grit. It’s the kind of track that sticks in your ribs. And it’s exactly the kind of emotional transparency that has critics calling him the voice Music City has been waiting for. A self-taught musician and songwriter, Whiten has already carved out a distinct identity in the increasingly crowded country space. There’s something refreshingly unpolished about his delivery—not in its quality, but in its refusal to sugarcoat the tough stuff. He sings like someone who’s lived every lyric, and that truth bleeds through in every note. In “Made for Goodbyes,” Whiten doesn’t just write about heartbreak. He embodies it, wears it, and offers it up like a quiet prayer to anyone who’s ever hurt alone at 2 a.m. It’s a striking debut that hints at a deep well of artistry waiting to be tapped, and a bold first step into the major-label arena.

Ella Langley - Never Met Anyone Like You (feat. HARDY)

In a genre that thrives on heart, grit, and undeniable star power, Ella Langley continues to prove she’s one of country music’s most magnetic forces. The Alabama-born firebrand returns with her brand-new single, “Never Met Anyone Like You”, a high-octane collaboration with country-rock heavyweight HARDY and it’s a reminder that Langley isn’t just playing in the big leagues, she’s commanding them. From the moment the track opens, Ella sets an intimate tone. Her warm, vulnerable vocals glide effortlessly over an acoustic guitar, pulling listeners close before the song explodes into a full-throttle, country-rock confession. It’s a sonic slow burn that builds into a gut-punch chorus, a rush of emotion and adrenaline that perfectly captures what it feels like when someone completely flips your world upside down. Langley co-wrote the track alongside HARDY, the genre-defying hitmaker with over 16 No. 1s to his name and Nashville mainstay Jordan Schmidt, who also handled production duties. The result is a seamless blend of raw storytelling, irresistible hooks, and arena-sized energy. Never Met Anyone Like You” is more than just another love song. It’s a reminder of the power of chemistry, the chaos of unexpected connection, and the way Langley continues to stretch her creative boundaries. Her delivery is fearless, full of swagger and vulnerability in equal measure, a rare balance that sets her apart in today’s crowded landscape. If country music is built on storytelling, passion, and risk-taking, Ella Langley is not just part of the future, she’s actively redefining it. And with “Never Met Anyone Like You”, she’s given fans an anthem that’s both deeply personal and stadium-ready. The kind of song you crank with the windows down, shouting every lyric like you lived it.

Ashley McBryde - Rattlesnake Preacher

Country music’s reigning rebel queen, Ashley McBryde, returns with a vengeance. Her scorching new single “Rattlesnake Preacher” is out now, and it’s everything fans have come to love about the GRAMMY-winning artist, raw, unapologetic, and rooted deep in the Southern soil that raised her. Released following overwhelming demand from fans who first heard the song during McBryde’s electrifying live shows, “Rattlesnake Preacher” isn’t just a track, it’s a full-blown sermon. Produced by John Osborne (of Brothers Osborne fame), the song harnesses the spitfire intensity McBryde delivers on stage, thanks in large part to her road-tightened band, Deadhorse, who joined her in the studio to cut it live. The result is a sonic thunderstorm: blistering fiddle, white-hot electric guitar, and McBryde’s unmistakable, gravel-edged vocals tearing through every line like a Southern storm. The song is a powerful testament to generational grit, faith, and contradiction. It paints a vivid picture of a larger-than-life paternal figure, equal parts prophet and outlaw, whose pulpit was as much the backwoods as it was a church. It’s a gospel-rock barn burner that’s both reverent and rebellious, blurring the lines between salvation and sin. With a title like “Rattlesnake Preacher,” the track was bound to raise eyebrows, but McBryde leans in with full conviction. Her vocals are drenched in Southern swagger as she sings. McBryde has long been one of country’s most fearless storytellers, and “Rattlesnake Preacher” proves she’s only getting bolder. From "Girl Going Nowhere" to Lindeville and beyond, she’s built a career on authenticity, spinning truth into art and lighting fire to whatever box Nashville tries to place her in. With this release, she doesn’t just preach, she testifies. “Rattlesnake Preacher” is not only a nod to the faith-fueled ferocity of Southern culture, it’s also a declaration of artistic freedom. It’s the kind of song that could only come from someone unafraid to rattle cages and speak their truth. Ashley McBryde isn’t just back, she’s baptizing country music in gasoline and striking a match.

Kolton Moore & The Clever Few - When We Were Young

Texas-born and road-seasoned, Kolton Moore & The Clever Few are back—and they’ve got something real to say. The beloved five-piece outfit has officially announced their sixth studio album, A Place That I Call Home, due out September 26. The project marks a new chapter for the band as they reckon with the gravity of growing older, all while keeping their boots firmly planted in the red dirt roots that shaped them. Produced by GRAMMY-winning sonic craftsman Matt Ross-Spang, known for his work with Jason Isbell and Margo Price, the record promises to be a thoughtful meditation on change, nostalgia, and the hard-won clarity that only comes from life lived on the road and in the real world. It is a record about knowing where you’re from and finally understanding what that means. Alongside the announcement, the band dropped their first taste of the upcoming project: “When We Were Young.” Clocking in at 3 minutes and 24 seconds, the single is a soaring, soul-sparking ode to youth and the kind of freedom that can only be seen clearly in hindsight. With a blend of Americana warmth and country grit, it’s a track that doesn’t need flashy gimmicks to hit hard. Real instruments. Real stories. Real heart. From the first harmonica-soaked note to the final chorus, it’s an anthem for anyone who’s ever looked back at their wild years with a grin and a sigh. While A Place That I Call Home is a record rooted in personal reflection, it is also a universal soundtrack for anyone learning how to grow up without losing touch with where they started. With Ross-Spang behind the board and the band’s signature raw storytelling front and center, the album promises to be a landmark moment in Kolton Moore & The Clever Few’s journey, a record that embraces maturity without ever sounding like it gave in.

Old Dominion - Man Or The Song

In a music world often enamored with glitz, hits, and viral moments, Old Dominion’s newest single “Man or the Song” peels back the rhinestones and reaches for something far more vulnerable: the truth. Written by a dream team of Nashville’s finest, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Brad Tursi, Ross Copperman, and Shane McAnally, the track is a haunting, honest meditation on the cost of a life spent making music. With a melody that leans on the edge of melancholy and a chorus that aches with raw uncertainty, “Man or the Song” stands as one of the most introspective releases of Old Dominion’s career. From the opening line, “When I’m lookin’ in a mirror / I see a man on fire” it’s clear this isn’t a party anthem. Instead, the band holds a mirror to themselves, confronting the duality of artistry and identity. Are they the poets their fans adore or just skilled illusionists spinning stories into songs? It's a question that lingers long after the track fades. “Man or the Song” isn’t just another radio-ready single. It’s a gut-punch wrapped in a melody, a poetic reckoning with fame, artistry, and the deeply human need to be loved beyond the spotlight. In the hands of Old Dominion, one of country music’s most thoughtful and consistent bands, vulnerability becomes its own kind of bravado. And if this single is any indication of what’s to come, the next chapter of their story won’t just be heard, it’ll be felt.

Colbie Caillat Feat Ryan Hurd - Can't Say No

Colbie Caillat has never needed to shout to be heard. With a career defined by breezy melodies, platinum records, and heartfelt honesty, the GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter returns with a collaboration that feels both fresh and familiar. Her latest single, “Can’t Say No,” pairs her unmistakable warmth with Ryan Hurd’s effortless cool, creating a cinematic, emotionally charged duet that lingers long after the final note. Released via her own Blue Jean Baby Records, “Can’t Say No” taps into the quiet ache of old flames and unfinished chapters. Written by Caillat, Hurd, and producers Eric Arjes and Jimmy Robbins, the song explores the vulnerability of answering a late-night call you know you shouldn’t. It’s a theme that resonates: the tug-of-war between what we know is best for us and what our hearts refuse to let go of. “Don’t call me when you’re drunk / Cause I can’t not pick it up,” Caillat sings, her voice floating somewhere between resignation and longing. It’s a lyric that doesn’t beg for sympathy, only understanding. In response, Hurd’s laid-back vocals add depth and tension, grounding the song in the kind of lived-in realism that only two seasoned storytellers could deliver. Musically, “Can’t Say No” doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, it doesn’t have to. It thrives in restraint, favoring acoustic textures and subtle production that give space for the vocals to shine. It’s the kind of song that slips into your life like a familiar memory, echoing the best of Caillat’s sun-kissed sound while embracing a more mature emotional edge. With “Can’t Say No,” Colbie Caillat proves once again that her artistry lies in capturing the unspoken, the silences between the words, the pause before a decision, the sigh after a misstep. Joined by Ryan Hurd, she’s found a creative partner who matches her sensitivity note for note. Together, they deliver a modern country-pop ballad that doesn’t just pull at the heartstrings, it plucks them with precision.

Chase McDaniel - Lost Ones

Chase McDaniel is back and reaching straight for the heartstrings. Out today, “Lost Ones” is the deeply emotional title track from his upcoming debut album (Lost Ones drops September 19), and it’s a raw, soul-baring reminder of why McDaniel’s music continues to resonate with so many. Wrapped in a haunting piano melody, steel guitar, and a waltz-like tempo, “Lost Ones” is McDaniel at his most introspective. Co-written with Chris LaCorte and Josh Miller, the track explores the quiet pain people carry and the invisible battles they fight every day. “They come outta nowhere from all around / hurting so loud but they don’t make a sound,” he sings, giving voice to the broken, the overlooked, and those just trying to hold on. But “Lost Ones” doesn’t dwell in darkness. Instead, it offers hard-won hope: “Take the pain and overcome it, turn it into something.” It’s a song that reminds you you’re not alone and that sometimes, just being understood can be enough to help you keep going. Chase McDaniel doesn’t just write songs. He writes lifelines. “Lost Ones” is yet another example of his unique ability to blend emotional depth with commercial appeal. He is a true artist creating space for people to feel seen, heard, and healed.

WHYNOT - THE END

In a town brimming with musical dreams and big-name collaborations, Nashville mainstays WHYNOT are proving that something truly special happens when family ties meet fearless artistry. The sibling trio, Jenna, Ben, and KK Johnson, may be best known behind the scenes as hitmakers for the stars, but with the release of their new EP The End, the spotlight is squarely where it belongs: on them. From the grounded and evocative “Willow and Oak,” which opens like a breeze through Southern pines, to their own haunting reinterpretation of “Liar," a track they originally penned for Jelly Roll, The End showcases the trio’s ability to pour emotion into every note while pushing genre boundaries in subtle yet meaningful ways. But make no mistake: this isn’t a case of session writers turning performers just for show. All three Johnsons are multi-instrumentalist songwriters whose fingerprints are already all over the modern music landscape. Their resume reads like a Billboard honor roll, boasting credits on No. 1 songs across country, pop, and beyond, from Morgan Wallen and HARDY to David Guetta, Justin Timberlake, Charlie Puth, Bebe Rexha, and Big X tha Plug. It’s a staggering body of work that speaks volumes about their versatility, precision, and instinct.

Still, when they join forces under the WHYNOT banner, something entirely different takes hold. The blend of their voices, bound by blood and shaped by years of shared history, brings an unmatched depth to their storytelling. These aren’t just songs; they’re lived-in stories laced with grit, grace, and soul.