"This Song's For All the Dads": Jon Pardi Debuts Heartfelt, Unreleased Tune 'She Drives Away' at CRS 2025
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Mr. Saturday Night is turning over a new leaf.
Jon Pardi, now a proud father, is singing about more than just drinking beer and flirting with girls at parties. In fact, during the esteemed UMG Nashville luncheon at Country Radio Seminar 2025, the California native showcased a brand new track that delves deep into his feelings about fatherhood.
Dubbed 'She Drives Away,' the tune follows the singer as he embarks on a first date with the girl who will end up being his wife, including the rite of passage of talking to the girl's father before their evening together.
As the song progresses, the conversations with her father evolve into getting his permission to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage, also underscoring the father's perspective and his profound sadness at watching his little girl grow up and spread her wings.
"She drives away / And he's scared to death / You hold her hand / He holds his breath," Pardi sings, backed by a pair of acoustic guitars and a lonesome fiddle. "It feels like yesterday / He drove her home / Now she drives away."
As the song nears its end, we find that the singer has now taken on the role of the dad, reminiscing on his own journey and experiences as he watches his daughter grow up in real time.
For the final chorus, the lyrics deftly change to embrace this new perspective, saying, "Now I've been up all night in Room 203 / It's like they took out my heart and wrapped it in pink / Yeah, it just kind of hit me with tears on my face / Haven't even got in the car seat and I'm dreading the day / That she drives away / And I'm scared to death."
Understanding that her growing up and paving her own path are things that he can't fight, Pardi ends by sweetly crooning, "16 years from now it's gonna feel like yesterday / When I drove her home and she drives away."
In some ways feeling familiar to Jordan Davis' smash hit, 'Next Thing You Know,' the unreleased Pardi tune is one of those simply little slice of life songs that are so synonymous with country music.
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No doubt bound to be a first dance song at weddings for country music fans all over the globe, 'She Drove Away' is expected to be included on Pardi's forthcoming project, Honkytonk Hollywood, slated for release on April 11.
The 17-track project, which marks the follow-up to the star's acclaimed 2022 release, Mr. Saturday Night, is poised to showcase the star's modern honky tonk sound turned up a notch, given a new spark as he enters this new chapter.
As ever, the annual CRS 2025 features a plethora of panels, showcases and writers rounds in Music City, with members of the country industry gathering to toast another successful year, as well as looking ahead to what's next for the genre.
Elsewhere during the week, attendees were treated to Jordan Davis’ brand new song, 'Bar None;' a stunning performance from Sam Barber and Avery Anna; an enlightening look into Ella Langley and Riley Green's smash hit, ‘You Look Like You Love Me;’ thrilling performances of unreleased songs from Eric Church, Tucker Wetmore, Parker McCollum and more.
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