COUNTRY HITMAKER TO RELEASE ALL-NEW SONG “high school sweetheart” THIS FRIDAY (5/8)
NASHVILLE, TENN. – Today, country hitmaker Ashley Cooke kicks off a defining new chapter with the announcement of her self-titled sophomore album, due out via Big Loud Records on August 14 (watch here). This Friday (5/8), the singer-songwriter will give fans a sneak peek at ashley cooke with the premiere of her all-new song “high school sweetheart.” Gohere to pre-order/pre-save ashley cooke now.
The latest entry in an acclaimed catalog including her 2023 full-length debut shot in the dark — a 24-song stunner featuring the Gold-certified “never til now” and “your place” (a No. 1 hit on Country radio) — ashley cooke marks a major turning point for the fast-rising star. Built around a baby-blue palette and breezy denim aesthetic, the album follows the boldly personal ace —a 2025 project whose title comes from her longtime nickname. While ace offered a never-before-seen glimpse at the woman and artist behind that moniker, ashley cooke puts the complete picture into crystal-clear focus: confident, self-aware and fully in her own lane.
“This record feels like a coming-of-age record disguised as a relationship album. I wrote a lot of it dead in the middle of real-life situations where I learned quite a bit about myself, so you’re getting the real, unpolished, recently-realized-truths in 15 tracks,” shares Cooke. “It’s messy, self-reflective, indecisive, filled with honesty, double entendres and emotional duality (I’m a Gemini, duh). Overall, it’s my perception of love and allllll the chaos it entails.”
Co-written alongside luminaries like Liz Rose, Lori McKenna, and Ashley Gorley, ashley cooke came to life with esteemed producers like the legendary Dann Huff (Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift) and elite session players like guitarist Ilya Toshinskiy (Kelsea Ballerini, Tim McGraw). Across the LP, Cooke pairs her unfiltered storytelling with a sun-soaked coastal country sound — a perfect echo of her beachside roots and deep affinity for ’90s-era effortless cool.
Leading the way, “high school sweetheart” brings jangly guitar riffs, shimmering textures and feel-good rhythms to a sharp-witted takedown of someone who’s hopelessly stuck in teenage gossip mode. Along with the carefree yet cutting track, ashley cooke also includes standouts like the fan favorite “baby blues” (a recent No. 1 hit on SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown), “the hell you are” (currently climbing the country radio charts), and “xs” (a March release that inspired Country Swag to hail Cooke as “one of the most exciting rising artists in the genre today”). See below for a partial tracklist to ashley cooke.
As anticipation builds for her forthcoming album, Cooke is now getting set to co-host and perform at “ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash” — an Academy of Country Music Awards Week event slated for May 16 at Mandalay Bay Beach in Las Vegas, also featuring Flatland Cavalry, Tucker Wetmore, Braxton Keith, and more. (Go here for ticketing details.) This summer, Cooke will also take the stage at can’t-miss festivals like Hoofbeat (June 27 in Cadott, WI). For more info on all upcoming live dates, visit ashleycooke.com.
Tracklist for ashley cooke
1. 
2. “high school sweetheart” (Ashley Cooke, Boy Matthews, Cleo Tighe, Lauren Hungate, AFTERHRS)
3. “baby blues” (Ashley Cooke, Johnny Clawson, Joe Fox, Kyle Sturrock, Seth Ennis)
4.
5.
6. “excuses” (Ashley Cooke, Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock)
7.
8.
9.
10.
11. “the hell you are” (Ashley Cooke, Chase McGill, Emily Weisband, Seth Ennis, Joe Fox)
12.
13. “xs” (Ashley Cooke, Ashley Gorley, Emily Weisband, Will Weatherly)
14.
15.
ABOUT ASHLEY COOKE
One of country’s most magnetic young storytellers, Ashley Cooke made her unforgettable debut with 2023’s shot in the dark and soon scored her first Country radio No. 1 with “your place” — a Gold-certified, Billboard Hot 100-charting hit that later won a 2024 CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Female Video of the Year. With a voice that carries both tenderness and quiet confidence, she’s since garnered nominations for New Female Artist of the Year at the ACM Awards and Best New Country Artist at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. While building up an acclaimed body of work including 2025’s ace — a nine-song project featuring her country radio smash “the hell you are” and longtime fan favorite “baby blues” (a No. 1 hit on SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown) — Cooke has collaborated with major artists ranging from pop superstar Joe Jonas (“all I forgot”) to country hitmaker Brantley Gilbert (“Over When We’re Sober”). Known for her emotionally charged and high-energy live show, she’s also toured with heavy-hitters like Luke Bryan, Parker McCollum, Kane Brown and recently hit the road as support for Jon Pardi’s HONKYTONK HOLLYWOOD TOUR. As her profile continues to rise, Cooke made a cameo appearance in March on CBS’ Marshals (the newly launched spinoff of the blockbuster Western saga Yellowstone), just before heading overseas for C2C: Country to Country 2026 (including a performance at the iconic O2 Arena in London). With her self-titled sophomore album due out August 14, she’s now gearing up to take the stage at leading festivals like Hoofbeat (6/27 in Cadott, WI).
CONNECT WITH ASHLEY COOKE
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | X | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE
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Media Contacts
Jensen Sussman | Sweet Talk Publicity
Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud
corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com
