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One month into 2023, country music fans have already had a chance to dig into tons of new music.
Several artists kicked off the year with repeat-worthy singles and teasers for soon-to-release albums. Some artists who released new songs last month include Old Dominion (four new tracks in time for the band’s “No Bad Vibes Tour”: “Easier Said With Rum,” “Ain’t Got A Worry,” “Freedom Like You” and “Memory Lane”), Hunter Hayes (“Sober” and “Someone Will”), Jake Owen (“My Boots Miss Yours”), RaeLynn (“It’s Happening Right Here”), Gabby Barrett (who joined Colton Dixon on a new version of his inspiring anthem, “Build a Boat”), Cole Swindell (“Drinkaby”), Caroline Jones (a solo artist who also became the first female member of Zac Brown Band, debuted “Keep it Safe,” a duet with Alyssa Bonagura) and more.
Other artists dropped full-length projects, including Tyler Hubbard, who made his solo debut after rising to fame with duo partner Brian Kelley in Florida Georgia Line. Hubbard released his long-awaited 18-track album on January 27, sharing that he “poured my heart and soul into this album, and I’m so excited to finally share it with y’all.”
On the same day, Elle King released Come Get Your Wife, a highly-anticipated album packed with everything from high-energy party anthems to heartfelt tributes. Some of the first tracks fans got to hear from the album included “Worth A Shot,” feat. Dierks Bentley, and “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home),” with Miranda Lambert.
Earlier in the month, Margo Price debuted her powerful, barrier-breaking album, Strays, taking listeners on a psychedelic journey throughout the 10-track project. Price previously shared that she explored the idea for her album after asking her partner an emotional question, “What if I burn all my bridges, and can never find my way home again?,” and hearing in return: “You belong to no one.”
HARDY unleashed his half country, half rock album, the mockingbird & THE CROW, on January 20, blending genres with inspiration from tons of influences (including Soundgarden, Puddle of Mudd, Pink Floyd, Stone Temple Pilots, Linkin Park, Matchbox 20 and other artists HARDY has listened to throughout his life). He also included collaborations with Lainey Wilson and Morgan Wallen.
Wallen has dropped a few songs of his own, teasing his highly-anticipated, 36-track album that’s set to release just in time for his massive world tour. Among others, Wallen is bringing HARDY on tour, along with ERNEST, who is weeks away from unveiling his new project.
Tons of new music is on the horizon from some of the biggest artists in country. Keep tabs on new music coming in 2023 here (we’ll update this list as additional songs/projects are announced):
February
- February 3 — Shania Twain, Queen of Me: Let’s go, girls… The global superstar is kicking off her Queen of Me era with her highly-anticipated new album on Friday, February 3: “I’ll be Queen Of Me – you be Queen of YOU! 👑”
- February 3 — Dierks Bentley, “Cowboy Boots” feat. Ashley McBryde: Bentley revealed a snippet of the unreleased track on social media to announce that the collaboration would be the next song to release from his 10th studio album, Gravel & Gold.
- February 9 — Hunter Hayes, “Normal” and “Lonely Loves Me”: Hayes is releasing two new songs from his upcoming Red Sky era, which he considers the “two most vulnerable” tracks (just in time for Valentine’s Day).
- February 10 — ERNEST, Two Dozen Roses: ERNEST is adding 13 new songs to the previously-released 11 tracks on Flower Shops (The Album), extending the “same old, sad story” with Two Dozen Roses.
- February 10 — Hannah Ellis, “Someone Else’s Heartbreak”: Ellis will debut the breakup ballad, “Someone Else’s Heartbreak,” a song that she said she’s “wanted to share this one for a while” as she teased the first snippet on Instagram.
- February 10 — Chase Rice, I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell: Rice is set to drop his long-awaited album — his first one since 2017 — as a tribute to his late father, whose photo appears on the album cover art. Rice previously told iHeartRadio that the album “got really personal,” and “much more vulnerable than any other music I've made.”
- February 10 — Priscilla Block, Welcome To The Block Party Deluxe: Block is extending her smash-hit album with a deluxe edition, adding new music to the fan-favorite 12-track collection. Block is known for “My Bar,” “Off The Deep End” and other anthems.
- February 17 — Jordan Davis, Bluebird Days: The “What My World Spins Around” artist will release his highly-anticipated album, and previously explained the meaning behind its title: “A ‘Bluebird Day’ is, not a cloud in the sky, sun shining, north wind, hot coffee, ducks are flying, which I’ve kind of rolled into this kind of moment in my life which feels like that.”
- February 24 — Dierks Bentley, Gravel & Gold: Bentley reflected on a 20-year journey (and the process of creating the project, including re-recording it) when he finally announced his 10th studio album: “It had to be the best country music I’ve ever made.”
March
- March 3 — Morgan Wallen, One Thing At A Time: “This announcement has been a long time coming,” Wallen said as he revealed details about the highly-anticipated project. His next album is packed with 36 tracks, including “You Proof,” “Thought You Should Know” and more.
- March 10 — Brian Falduto, Gay Country: Falduto, who played Billy in School of Rock (starring Jack Black) two decades ago, is releasing his debut album, inspired by 90s and early 2000s country and the genre’s unmatched ability to tell impactful stories.
- March 24 — Luke Combs, Gettin’ Old: The 18-track project follows Comb’s Growin’ Up, which released in 2022. Gettin’ Old captures “the stage of life I’m in right now,” Combs previously explained. The album was set to drop just before Comb’s massive world tour.
April
- April 28 — Cole Swindell, Stereotype Broken: Swindell is extending his smash-hit 2022 project with a deluxe edition, Stereotype Broken, which will include three new tracks. Swindell shared the first one, “Drinkaby,” explaining that it’s “a breakup song, I guess, but it also sounds like a party song.”
- April 28 — Nate Smith, Nate Smith: Smith is set to release his long-awaited debut album after announcing a delay earlier this year. The “Whiskey On You” star said his new project would drop in time to perform at Stagecoach and join Thomas Rhett on tour.