Ashley Monroe, acclaimed singer-songwriter and one-third of Miranda Lambert’s Pistol Annies, has dropped her latest project, Dear Nashville, a concept album that arrives unexpectedly following 2025’s Tennessee Lightning.
The album, co-produced and co-written entirely with country veteran Luke Laird, grew from the candid emotions behind its opening track, “I Hate Nashville.” Monroe recalls: “I had a writing session on the books with Luke and I’d woken up that morning with a storm in my heart, like, ‘My gosh, have I done this all for nothing?’ When I got to Luke’s house that day, I knew I had to address my hurt feelings and get it out of my system. I told him the idea of ‘I Hate Nashville,’ and he loved it. That song put everything into motion. We felt the window of all the muses open, and decided that I’m going to say what I feel and make it a whole project.”
Laird adds, “This album started with Ashley bringing the title, ‘I Hate Nashville,’ to the room one day. The music is what brings most songwriters to this town – but when it comes to the business, that’s when people can get burned out. So Ashley and I talked that day about our love for country music, the songs and the people – we had such a good day talking about all of our favorite Nashville memories and what led us both here. I love how honest Ashley is in her writing and just how pure her singing is. She really is the triple threat: artist, songwriter, and producer. We had so much fun making this record. No rules… just what felt right.”
While deeply rooted in Monroe’s reflections on her relationship with Nashville’s music scene, the album also explores romantic longing. “The bottom line of the album,” Monroe explains, “is I wish you loved me like I love you.”
See the video for ‘I Hate Nashville’ – HERE
Stream the ‘Dear Nashville’ EP – HERE.
Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com
