LISTEN HERE
NEW ALBUM, DEEP BLUE, OUT MAY 1
PRE-ORDER DEEP BLUE VINYL HERE
ERNEST RAISES OVER $207K FOR SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK AT 3RD ANNUAL ERNVITATIONAL
NASHVILLE, TENN. – Today, GRAMMY®-nominated tastemaker and triple threat talent ERNEST unveils “Time Is A Thief” feat. Lukas Nelson – listen here.
Written by Matt McKinney, Rivers Rutherford and Jimmy Yeary, the closing track of the 4X CMA Triple Play winner’s forthcoming album Deep Blue (out May 1) is a stunning reflection on life’s most precious and fleeting asset. Unfolding over a dream-like bed of plucked acoustic, electric and steel guitars, ERNEST and Nelson duet seamlessly:
It’s like a penny (like a penny)
On a busy sidewalk
Stepped over and ignored
It don’t mean nothin’ (don’t mean nothin’)
Nothin’ to ya
‘Til you’re a penny short
“This is one of my favorite songs on the album,” ERNEST shared last week on social media. “I had the pleasure of getting to sing it with my friend Lukas Nelson. We recorded it in one day, and the vocal you hear on the record is the vocal we sang down as the band played it that day. I told Lukas to take a pass down on guitar, and that’s what you hear… one pass from Mr. Lukas.”
“ERNEST has a great knack for recognizing great songs,” Nelson adds. “Loved being able to collaborate with him on this one.”
“So much of who I am comes from my time in the Islands,” ERNEST says. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them. I found myself in that Caribbean water and will always call it home away from home.”
“Time Is A Thief” feat. Lukas Nelson joins early favorites “Boat Named After You,” “Lorelei,” Toby Keith cut “End Of The Night” and title track “Deep Blue” in previewing ERNEST’s third full-length studio album, a tribute to the sounds and spirit of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Deep Blue harkens back thematically to ERNEST’s first-ever project, Locals Only (2019 via Big Loud Records), but showcases seven years’ worth of growth against the backdrop of a tropical escape. The record takes the listener out to sea on a nostalgic, sentimental trip.
Earlier this week (4/13), fresh off the day-of announce sell out of his Stars for Second Harvest benefit concert in June, Nashville native hitmaker ERNEST doubled down on his commitment to the community, raising over $207,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank at the third annual ERNvitational Golf Tournament. See photos here.
ERNEST is touring now, wrapping up the final two weekends of his Live From The South Tour, before playing fairs and festivals all summer long. In August, ERNEST joins Ian Munsick at Red Rocks, before a run of support dates with Thomas Rhett this fall. Full list of tour dates below – buy tickets here.
For more information or tickets, please visit ernestofficial.com.
Deep Blue Tracklist
All songs produced by ERNEST & Jacob Durrett
Pre-order / pre-save / pre-add Deep Blue here.
ERNEST 2026 Tour Dates
4/17 – Bettendorf, IA – Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center
4/18 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue #
4/23 – Knoxville, TN – The Mill & Mine #
4/24 – Cullman, AL – Alabama Strawberry Festival 2026
4/25 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel #
4/26 – Chattanooga, TN – The Signal #
5/2 – Key West, FL – Key West Songwriters Festival 2026
5/5 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry
6/13 – Atlanta, GA – Braves Country Fest 2026
7/1 – Trois-Rivières, QC – Festivoix 2026
7/7 – Calgary, AB – Calgary Stampede 2026
7/10 – Fort Loramie, OH – Country Concert 2026
7/11 – Youngstown, OH – Y-Live
7/12 – Rhinelander, WI – Hodag Country Festival 2026
7/18 – Paso Robles, CA – California Mid-State Fair 2026
7/24 – Avon, OH – Country Rising Festival Cleveland 206
7/25 – Marysville, OH – Union Country Fairgrounds
8/8 – Arcadia, WI – Ashley For The Arts 2026
8/25 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre *
10/2 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center ^
10/3 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center ^
10/9 – Albuquerque, NM – Financial Credit Union Amphitheater ^
10/10 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre ^
10/17 – Mesquite, NV – I-15 Country and Rock Music Festival 2026
11/20-22 – St. Petersburg, FL – St. Pete Country Fest 2026
# supported by Rhys Rutherford
* supporting Ian Munsick
^ supporting Thomas Rhett
ABOUT ERNEST
Nashville’s most unpredictable hitmaker ERNEST is “The Charmer” (MusicRow): a triple threat talent who “creates a sound all his own” (Pollstar) and one of Music City’s defining artist-writers who continues to push and challenge the artistic status quo. A 4X CMA Triple Play Award winner, 2X Variety Hitmakers honoree, and GRAMMY / ACM / CMA Award nominee, ERNEST fuses influences ranging from Eminem to George Jones. Crafting a twist-heavy verse style that’s become his signature, his songcraft carves out country’s sonic landscape, proving its mettle and earning him 13 #1 hits as a songwriter, including all-genre #1 “I Had Some Help” (Post Malone), as well as a #1 at country radio himself.
ERNEST is currently headlining his Live From The South Tour, playing originals from his EP of the same name. Nashville’s most dynamic talent will release his third full-length studio album, Deep Blue,on May 1, previewed by “Lorelei,” “Boat Named After You,” “End Of The Night” and more.
CONNECT WITH ERNEST
WEBSITE |TIKTOK | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE
ABOUT LUKAS NELSON
Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Lukas Nelson has become one of the most respected voices in music today. In the midst of a landmark year, Nelson released his Grammy-nominated album, American Romance, last summer to widespread acclaim. Produced by Grammy Award-winner Shooter Jennings (Brandi Carlile, Tanya Tucker), American Romance cements Nelson as a singular artist and led Billboard to praise, “it brims with the insightful songwriting and grizzled voice he’s known for,” while Forbes calls it “a collection of rich, detailed songs that chronicle restless life lessons and open-hearted adventures” and Whiskey Riff declares, “a masterful effort both sonically and lyrically, and Nelson’s songwriting abilities shine through more so than ever.” In celebration of the new music, Nelson will continue his extensive headline tour through the summer in addition to dates with Tedeschi Trucks Band and Zach Top.
Throughout his esteemed career, Nelson has also established himself as a highly sought-after collaborator both in the studio and on the stage, teaming up with rising stars and music veterans alike such as Lainey Wilson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Ernest, Miranda Lambert/Pistol Annies, The Travelin’ McCourys, Sierra Ferrell and more. Known for his captivating live performances, Nelson has sold out countless headline shows and been featured at renowned festivals such as Stagecoach, Ohana Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, and Farm Aid, in addition to appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Howard Stern Show, The Joe Rogan Experience and more. Additionally, Nelson co-produced the music for the acclaimed 2018 film A Star is Born, in which he also appeared. The soundtrack won a Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and a BAFTA Award for Best Original Music.
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ERNEST MEDIA CONTACTS
Jess Pettigrove + Izzy Siddons | The Lede Company
jess.pettigrove@ledecompany.com, izzy.siddons@ledecompany.com
Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud
corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com
LUKAS NELSON MEDIA CONTACT
Asha Goodman | Sacks & Co.
