MADE TODAY SHOW DEBUT ON WEDNESDAY (4/29) WITH PERFORMANCE OF “BOAT NAMED AFTER YOU”
“WHAT’S A LITTLE RAIN” OFFICIAL VIDEO OUT NOW
NASHVILLE, TENN. – Today, Nashville-native, GRAMMY®-nominated tastemaker and triple threat talent ERNEST releases his third full-length studio album, Deep Blue – listen here.
Inspired by the sounds and spirit of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Deep Blue takes the listener out to sea on a nostalgic, sentimental trip. Full circle and reminiscent of ERNEST’s 9-song, 2019 entry Locals Only, the buoyant, laidback collection finds the “writer of hit songs and an emerging star in his own right” (The New York Times) centered and self-assured in “a sound all his own” (Pollstar). HITS praises ERNEST’s signature as “aesthetically smooth country of a certain vintage…there’s a freshness to all of it that captures the ear and makes the past vital and now, instead of retro.”
Across its star-studded credits, listeners will find a rolodex of Music Row legends contributing to Deep Blue, like2026 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Paul Overstreet, David Lee Murphy, Tony Lane, Scotty Emerick, Rivers Rutherford, Jimmy Yeary, Rodney Clawson, David Garcia, Nathan Chapman, Clint Daniels, and many more.
The album marks several historic firsts within ERNEST’s esteemed catalog – his first time co-producing one of his own albums (alongside longtime collaborator Jacob Durrett), and first time including four outside cuts on any project.
To pair with the album’s release today, ERNEST also dropped the official music video for “What’s A Little Rain” – watch here. Directed by Corey Miller, the official clip was shot over a day in St. Thomas with ERNEST, perfectly-timed rainstorm and boat ride included.
Celebrating the record this weekend with several performances across the 30th Annual Key West Songwriters Festival, including a headlining, full-band set tomorrow night on the Duval Street Stage, ERNEST will also host an album release party in Key West at local staple Irish Kevin’s, with a Cadillac Music writers round to boot.
Next week, ERNEST returns to the Grand Ole Opry’s hallowed Circle, treating fans with performances of songs from the new record before a summer full of fair and festival appearances and support dates with Eric Church and Thomas Rhett. Full list of ERNEST upcoming tour dates below, get tickets here.
For more information or tickets, please visit ernestofficial.com.
Deep Blue Tracklist
All songs produced by ERNEST & Jacob Durrett
ERNEST 2026 Tour Dates
5/2 – Key West, FL – Key West Songwriters Festival 2026
5/5 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry
5/24 – Chester, CT – Chester Meeting House
6/2 – Nashville, TN – Stars For Second Harvest
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 – Country Concert 2026
7/11 – Youngstown, OH – Y-Live
7/12 – Rhinelander, WI – Hodag Country Festival 2026
7/15 – Stateline, NV – Lake Tahoe Amphitheatre At Caesars Republic !
7/16 – Stateline, NV – Lake Tahoe Amphitheatre At Caesars Republic !
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
! supporting Eric Church
^ supporting Thomas Rhett
* with Ian Munsick
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 just wrapped his headlining Live From The South Tour. He will embark on a slate of fair and festival appearances this summer before touring with Eric Church and Thomas Rhett later this year. Nashville’s most dynamic talent is out to sea, taking fans on a breezy, sentimental trip with third full-length studio album, Deep Blue, out now.
CONNECT WITH ERNEST
WEBSITE |TIKTOK | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE
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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
