Best New Country Songs

It's time for our weekly roundup of the biggest and best new releases from the world of country and Americana picked out especially for you by Holler. We're only two weeks into 2025 but it's already looking like being another vintage year for new music. Listen along to our Holler Best New Country playlist on Spotify, YouTube, Amazon and Apple Music.

This week's Best New Country cover star is Mackenzie Carpenter. One of our Holler 25 New Artists for 2025 is in two minds about a guy who has given her every reason not to fall for him in the first place with her brand new single, 'Dozen Red Flags.'

“This one’s for the girls who’ve ever fallen for the guy with more red flags than green," Mackenzie Carpenter says. "‘Dozen Red Flags’ is flirty, fun and all about knowing he’s trouble but diving in anyway - because let’s face it, he’s cute. The song covers a little heartbreak, a lot of lessons and a fun debrief with your girls.”

Written by Carpenter alongside award-winning singer/songwriter Nicolle Galyon and frequent collaborator Brandon Hood, 'Dozen Red Flags' is an anthem for the Country Queens who realise that they deserve to be knee-deep in red roses – not red flags – and have the courage to step away in search of something better.

'Dozen Red Flags' joins previous singles 'Boots On' and 'Only Girl' on Mackenzie Carpenter's new album Hey Country Queen out on March 7th.

"This album has been a long time coming, and I’m so excited to finally share these songs with you. I’ve lived with them for years, and now it’s time to set them free,” shares Carpenter. “Hey Country Queen captures the essence of girlhood, heartbreak and love, and I can’t wait for you to hear it."

Watch the video for 'Dozen Red Flags' below.

For anyone still feeling a little bit delicate and missing their families after the holidays, Lily Rose releases the emotional 'Let You Know When I Get There' and you might not want to stray too far from the Kleenex for this one. Written by Ben Stennis, Michael Tyler and Hunter Phelps, 'Let You Know When I Get There' takes listeners on a journey through life’s defining moments – late-night drives with a worried mom at home, lessons learned from a wise grandpa and bittersweet goodbyes.

“My favorite part of this new song is remembering the first day I heard it," Lily Rose told us. "It brought tears to my eyes at the end and I knew this was a story that I would not only love to tell, but a story that everyone can connect with in one way or another. I loved that we didn’t tease the song early on social media, and instead, played it on the entire fall tour as a ‘thank you’ to all the fans who show up and buy tickets that allow me to chase this dream. We quickly learned that it’s one of those songs where the whole room is so engaged with the story, you can hear a pin drop.”

Stephen Wilson Jr. gives his Holler Album of the Year from 2023, søn of dad, the deluxe treatment with two additional songs - the moving dedication to his late father 'I’m A Song' and a gripping reinterpretation of Ben E. King’s 'Stand By Me,' both recorded at his viral Live at the Print Shop performance - along with 10 acoustic reinterpretations of fan favourites from the original LP.

“A song can be a bookmark in a 10 million + page book that can take you right to the very paragraph and page," says Stephen Wilson Jr. about the song. "A story is what a song is and our species lives for stories. ‘I’m A Song’ was the song that made it all make sense for me. A cache I found along the trail that gave form to what I was chasing. My fathers’ favorite song, he told me. A song I couldn’t play for a while but one that came back to me when it was time. Time is the thread that is stamped along the way as our chosen path is woven for the length it is given. A path I chose because my father was a song and it demands to be sung.”

“In an attempt to continue the conversation after the release of søn of dad, we’ve been traveling all over the world playing these songs and watching them evolve with a few new welcome additions to the story," he explained about the deluxe edition of the album. "Playing them stripped down and in full band settings. Each performance is an opportunity to learn something new about the song. Here’s some additional data we collected along the way.”

Angel White releases the powerful 'SAVE SOME FOR ME,' a story about loving unconditionally no matter the situation.

“This song is an ode to the lost lovers," says Angel White. "It’s a letter to both my heart and to yours. A reminder that the flame is still lit, even despite a fallout. It’s easy to dismiss your feelings when you’ve been hurt, but it takes work to love through it all.”

A couple whose unconditional love just keeps getting stronger and stronger, Mackenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge, AKA Thelma & James, give us the first taste of their brand new project with ‘Happy Ever After You.'

Launching with its own Instagram page last week, the husband-and-wife team have unveiled Thelma & James through a wistful montage of Porter and Etheridge captured at the beach. "Thelma & James" is inspired by the duo's birth-names, with Porter's full name being MacKenzie Lea Thelma Porter and Etheridge's being James Calvin Etheridge.

Fans have been calling for MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge to join forces ever since their snippet of ‘Happy Ever After You’ spread like wildfire across TikTok in December, with Porter admitting the forlorn, intricate offering was the first song they'd penned together in ten years, and now it's out in the world for everyone to enjoy.

Shortly after confirming that they'll be dropping two studio albums in 2025, Muscadine Bloodline give us the first taste of more music with two brand new songs, 'The High Horse vs The White Horse' and 'Ain't For Sale' featuring Josh Meloy, a collab with the 'Porch Light' singer that they teased last week on Instagram.

Of the song, the duo shared, “‘Ain't for Sale’ is about a battle between temptation and integrity. The song portrays the struggle of a man awake at 3 am, struggling with moral choices, symbolized by the snake and the forbidden fruit. It’s a self-analyzing journey through the night, where the lyrics ask for strength to fight the devil’s temptations, while realizing the importance of his soul over materialistic things.”

Muscadine Bloodline aren't the only ones teaming up with their buddies on this week's playlist. Low Gap get together with Brendan Walter on their new single, 'If A Song Could Change Your Mind,' Ringo Starr is collaborating with Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle and Larkin Poe on his new album, Look Up, and fresh from his Ryman Auditorium debut in December with Wyatt Flores, Evan Honer releases 'Waiting Ain't Easy' featuring Michal Leah.

"I've been a huge fan of Michal for a while now and I'm honored to have worked on this song with her," Evan Honer told us. "I couldn't imagine anyone else's voice on this track once I heard her sing it for the first time and we both related heavily to writing about this track as we both have been or are in long distance relationships. The production is straight to the point and really let's the lyrics and our voices shine through which I think makes it super special."

Back in 2017 indie-folk artist Will Oldham, recording as Bonnie “Prince” Billy, released an album of Merle Haggard covers called Best Troubadour that still gets spun on a monthly basis around these parts, and now his love for The Hag and classic country seems to have led him down another similarly fruitful avenue.

Working with a number of different songwriters for the forthcoming Bonnie “Prince” Billy album, The Purple Bird, one of them just happened to be Nashville legend John Anderson, who helped pen the eco-ballad 'Downstream' and in addition to co-writing the track, Anderson - who was first nominated for a Grammy in 1982 for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and was recently inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame - joins Oldham in singing it as well and it's one of our absolute favourite new songs out this week.

“One of my favorite recorded John Anderson performances is a duet he sang with Merle Haggard called 'The Winds of Change' on Merle’s 1996 record," Oldham says. "It’s a minor-key ballad about climate change and over-development, the compromise of our environment’s integrity at the hands of humans. 'Downstream', though in a major key, hits on the same ideas. I don’t know how to explain how it felt to witness this master of song bring, beautifully and humbly, his experience and expertise to bear on this little recording we were making. Anderson’s singing on the final verse has weight in it and concern and love."

The Purple Bird is released on Domino on 31 January, and Will Oldham isn't the only one feeling the influence of The Hag. Aaron Watson has got a bad case of the 'Haggard Blues' on his new single.

Another one of our favourite songs of the week comes from Madison Hughes. She releases the beautiful 'Nobody Knows Your Love,' featuring our old favourite Brent Cobb and written by Lucie Silvas, Daniel Tashian, John Jenkins, Abe Stoklassa, and Ryan Griffin. Her upcoming album, All That I Am, is due in April and was produced by the heavy-hitter songwriters and producer duo Lera Lynn and Todd Lombardo.

"When we were working on the album, my producers suggested including a duet, which sent me on a mission to find the perfect partner," Hughes says. "I’ve admired Brent for so long, so I took a chance and asked if he’d sing with me - and he said YES! For this track, we chose an outside cut. The writers on this tune are incredible. Todd, one of my producers, brought the song in, mentioning that one of the writers, Abe, was his dear friend. Abe sadly passed away last year before we could release it. The song felt deeply personal, resonating so much with my own love life at the time. I’m so grateful to have this opportunity to sing this tune that feels so personal with another artist I respect so much!”

Vincent Mason is 'Waitin' On You To Wear Off' and Caylee Hammack is having a lie in in a 'Bed of Roses' on the title track to her forthcoming album, plus we've got the first single from one of country's most singular new voices, Gabrielle Hope. She releases 'me and you' out into the world today with this message for her fans.

"YALL!!! my first single ever is out NOW!!" she posted on Instagram along with a flurry of caterpillar and heart emojis, "and i am so incredibly excited and grateful i truly had no idea any of this was possible when i wrote this tune :,) i have so many thanks i barely know where to begin!!! first! thank you to the kind soul who told me to turn my tik tok comments on, that truly changed my life... thank you to all of you kind souls who have supported me on this journey :,) it’s been a long time coming and i’m so so so excited to share more."

Another one of our top tips for 2025, Ty Myers delivers a ballad for those nursing a romantic hangover. His new single, 'Drunk Love,' captures the coming-down phase of an intoxicating connection. Part of the Austin native’s highly anticipated debut album, The Select, is one of the project’s 12 solo writes, a gently swooning ballad about coming to a romantic realisation too late in the day.

Kameron Marlowe gets reacquainted with an old friend to help him get over a painful break up where beer, gin, weed, wine and tequila just weren't up to the job on 'Hello Whiskey' as he gives us another taste of his forthcoming Sad Songs for the Soul album due out on 21st February. Sadly Zach John King is having no such luck on 'Slow Down.' Not even whiskey can help drown out the painful memories of his recent break up. He's even taken her photo of his dashboard and thrown out everything of hers he had, but he just can't get her off his mind.

Kip Moore has announced his biggest and most ambitious album to date, Solitary Tracks, for February 28th. His sixth studio album features 23 songs split over four sides, a resonant opus from beginning to end, and a testament to Moore’s wanderlust drive to pave his own path and explore new horizons. He also shared today the official video for his new song 'Bad Spot,' a dreamy, piano-led confession that reveals a weathered soul finally growing up.

“I’m never going to cheat by just trying to write what I think people want to hear, or hold onto a sound that worked for me,” Moore shared. “I’m going to always be authentic with myself, with every record, and all I ever hope is that people find a little solace. This project is a journey in itself, so I hope it helps people navigate their own life.”

Watch the video for 'Bad Spot' below

Alt-country prog Americana supergroup alert! A new Nashville collective featuring Spencer Cullum, Andrew Combs, Jordan Lehning and Dominic Billett has been forged into existence and now gives birth to its second offering ‘Blood Moon’, ahead of their forthcoming self-titled debut album Echolalia in February.

An ode to appreciating beauty in all its forms, no matter how routine, ‘Blood Moon’ perfectly displays the band’s Americana expertise. Weaving with the delicate hums of Spencer Cullum’s famed pedal steel, Dom Billet’s comforting melody recalls a blood moon night in West Virginia after having “indulged in too much of a particular product”, gazing into a star-lit sky.

“I went onto the roof deck to watch the sky’s performance”, Dom Billett says of the inspirational experience. “After about 45 minutes of looking into the night, enamored by its beauty, I realized that I was gazing in the wrong direction. The blood moon was behind me and I was staring into a hyper-clear, star-lit sky, which was also beautiful. So this little mantra of sorts came about, kind of reminding myself that beauty and wonder are about in all forms - and not only in the most direct and in-your-face sort of ways. Sometimes some peaceful time to appreciate what is around, no matter how routine, can be the peace that we’re looking for.”

‘Blood Moon’ follows the album’s first single, ‘Odd Energy’, an intricately growing and experimental track written by Spencer Cullum. Together, the two songs begin to build out the fabric of the record - four songwriters bringing four of their own songs for all to collaborate on.

Kat Luna follows up 'That Girl' from last year with the Spanglish version of 'Happiest I've Ever Been' and Tyler Rich delivers on his 2024 promise to his fans by continuing to release new music each month with 'Give Up to Get It.'

Co-written by Rich alongside Steven Lee Olsen and Blake Bollinger, the song explores the bittersweet balance of chasing your dreams while missing out on key moments at home, capturing the emotional sacrifices that come with pursuing a career, highlighting both the highs of achievement and the lows of being away from loved ones.

“‘Give Up to Get It’ is about the sacrifices we make when we’re dedicated to a dream or career,” Tyler Rich says. “I think it’s something anyone who works away from home can relate to - whether you’re a musician on the road, a truck driver, a soldier, a doctor or a nurse. It’s about missing family milestones, trading date nights for long hours on the job, but also about how those sacrifices can feel worth it when you’re doing something that truly matters. This song is a thank you to our fans and families for filling those tough moments with light and supporting us as we chase these dreams.”

The Jayhawks' Gary Louris announces his third solo album Dark Country, releasing next month on Valentine’s Day. It’s both inspired by and dedicated to his wife Stephanie (who also appears on the cover), and it features some of Gary’s most intimate and romantic songwriting to date. He also just dropped the first single, an acoustic song called 'Getting Older' about the courage it takes to move out of the grey area and pursue real happiness.

Watch the music video for 'Getting Older' below

From one of alt-country's elder statesmen to one of its greatest modern day torch bearers. Canadian Americana singer songwriter Kyle McKearney announces his third studio album and shares the title track 'To the River,' the follow up to recent hit 'Tomorrow,' which was co-written with the help of rising star Noeline Hofmann and jtook centre stage in the season finale of CBC’s Heartland, where McKearney made a special guest appearance for a full band performance.

Elsewhere Redferrin releases the poetic 'Pourin' in Nashville' from his forthcoming Some City Somewhere project, Warren Zeiders is wondering how much more 'Can A Heart Take' on his new single - as he announces a new album, Relapse, Lies and Betrayal, for March 14th - and Julia Michaels and Maren Morris are reunited on 'Scissors.'

The mighty Parmalee are trying their best to get us out on the dancefloor this January with the rousing party starting anthem 'Cowgirl.' It's been hard enough just to get out of bed this last week, but if anything's going to get us out of the house it's going to be Parmalee.

If you still need convincing that life is worth getting out of bed for, The War And Treaty release another new song off their highly anticipated album, Plus One, due out February 14th via Mercury Nashville. On 'Save Me' the husband-and-wife duo, Michael and Tanya Trotter, express a heartfelt plea for love and redemption, finding salvation and true happiness through their deeply cherished connection.

Sara Jean Stevens has announced her forthcoming sophomore EP, Lovesick, suitably released on February 14th.Featuring Bassist Matt Patton (Drive by Truckers) and Guitarist Taylor Hollingsworth (Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band), she gives us another taste of the EP with a wonderful cover star Gene Watsons’ 'Fourteen Carat Mind,' a song Stevens is “obsessed with."

Watch the video for 'Fourteen Carat Mind' below.

Young Foolie follows up 'Losing Game' from just before Christmas with the reflective and moving '35.'

"This song is deeply personal to me," she says. "Inspired by the loss of my grandmother and reflecting on how fast life can fly by. It’s about cherishing the moments that matter while navigating the bittersweet emotions of love, loss, and time passing."

Plus we've got new ones from Demps, Chancey Williams, Early James, Nolan Taylor, Dalton Dover, Julia Cole, Old Crow Medicine Show, Mo Pitney and Johnny Myer, Jonathan Peyton, Raleigh Keegan and loads more.

Check out this week's new country and americana song releases and listen to the full playlist below:

1. 1.

   Dozen Red Flags

   Mackenze Carpenter

2. 2.

   Let You Know When I Get There

   Lily Rose

3. 3.

   I'm A Song

   Stpehen Wilson Jr.

4. 4.

   Can A Heart Take

   Warren Zeiders

5. 5.

   Nobody Knows Your Love

   Madison Hughes and Brent Cobb

6. 6.

   Hello Whiskey

   Kameron Marlowe

7. 7.

   Ain't For Sale

   Muscadine Bloodline and Josh Meloy

8. 8.

   Drunk Love

   Ty Myers

9. 9.

   Waitin' on You to Wear Off

   Vincent Mason

10. 10.

    Happy Ever After You

    Mackenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge

11. 11.

    SAVE SOME FOR ME

    Angel White

12. 12.

    Look Up

    Ringo Starr and Molly Tuttle

13. 13.

    Slow Down

    Zach John King

14. 14.

    Pourin' In Nashville

    Redferrin

15. 15.

    Bed of Roses

    Caylee Hammack

16. 16.

    Bad Spot

    Kip Moore

17. 17.

    Downstream

    Bonnie "Prince" Billy and John Anderson

18. 18.

    me and you

    gabrielle hope

19. 19.

    Waiting Ain't Easy

    Evan Honer and Michal Leah

20. 20.

    I Care What You Think

    Demps

21. 21.

    Happiest I've Ever Been (Spanglish Version)

    Kat Luna

22. 22.

    Fourteen Carat Mind

    Sara Jean Stevens

23. 23.

    Darkness

    Nolan Taylor

24. 24.

    Save Me

    The War and Treaty

25. 25.

    Haggard Blues

    Aaron Watson

26. 26.

    If A Song Could Change Your Mind

    Low Gap and Brendan Walter

27. 27.

    Headed Out the Holler

    Luke Trimble

28. 28.

    Blood Moon

    Echolalia

29. 29.

    Spangled

    Fust

30. 30.

    Nothing Surprises Me Anymore

    Early James

31. 31.

    Bear Creek Clay

    Pitney Myer

32. 32.

    Give Up To Get It

    Tyler Rich

33. 33.

    Cowgirl

    Parmalee

34. 34.

    Day Late & a Buck Short

    Julia Cole

35. 35.

    Ain't It Strange

    Old Crow Medicine

36. 36.

    Ain't It Easy

    Dalton Dover

37. 37.

    West of Fort Worth

    Grant Gilbert

38. 38.

    Getting Older

    Gary Louris

39. 39.

    To the River

    Kyle McKearney

40. 40.

    When I'm Dead

    Eddie and The Getaway

41. 41.

    Love Outlaws

    Trey Lewis

42. 42.

    Dope Boy

    Rvshvd

43. 43.

    Scissors

    Julia Michaels and Maren Morris

44. 44.

    In Stone

    Joe Jordan

45. 45.

    Hold On

    Fin Pearson

46. 46.

    You Won't Let Me

    Mike Parker

47. 47.

    I Am

    Brandon Davis

48. 48.

    Here Lately

    Noah Thompson

49. 49.

    You Didn't Hear It From Me

    James Barker Band

50. 50.

    Leave Me Lonely

    Brooks Hoffman

51. 51.

    Running My Mouth

    Austin G

52. 52.

    Dust

    Anna Vaus

53. 53.

    Helluva High

    Neon Union

54. 54.

    Drinking & Driving

    Rachel Lee Roberts

55. 55.

    I Don't Wanna Be Right

    Dusty Black

56. 56.

    Chemical Reaction

    Christie Huff

57. 57.

    Sunrise

    Jonathan Peyton

58. 58.

    Turned 22

    Raleigh Keegan

59. 59.

    The Ballad of Uncle Don

    Chancey Williams

60. 60.

    Enough's Enough

    Nate Good

61. 61.

    Horses Back

    Melissa Livingstone

62. 62.

    I See Jesus in Your Smile

    Anointed Family

63. 63.

    35

    Young Foolie

64. 64.

    Mobile

    Logan Ryan Band

65. 65.

    The High Horse vs. The White Horse

    Muscadine Bloodline

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