The next era of Ashley McBryde is here.
She will release the first song from her forthcoming (unofficially announced) fifth studio album next Friday, January 23rd, which is called “What If We Don’t” and was written by Ashley along with Terri Jo Box, and Randall Clay.
And to longtime Ashley McBryde fans, the song might sound familiar: It was first released on her independently-released debut EP, Jalopies & Expensive Guitars, back in 2016, before Ashley had a record or publishing deal.
The song is described as an “anthemic, larger-than-life plea” which dares listeners to live without regret, and Ashley says it’s about learning to live with the consequences of life regardless of the outcome:
“‘What If We Don’t’ came to me, Terri Jo Box, and Randall Clay sitting around a fire pit on a back porch, reminiscing on all the moments that we could’ve made a different choice and wondering if we should’ve.
It’s about the leaps of faith that you do or don’t take, and having to learn to live with those consequences either way.”
It will also serve as her next official country radio single, and impacts on February 23rd. She shared the news on Instagram along with a look at the single artwork:
“This one is for anyone who doesn’t want to look back and wonder.”
I can’t wait to hear this new version:
Just a couple weeks ago, Ashley shared a tearful video about the new music she has coming hopefully sooner rather than later, and it’s clear just how much this next batch of tunes means to her.
While driving around in her car, McBryde was crying as she recorded a video she initially sent to her team about her immediate reaction to hearing some of the rough mixes of the songs she has recorded for her next project.
She explained that even though she’s written and been through every stage of the process with these songs, it still felt brand new and had her in tears, and she said that it was like she had never heard the music, or the artist:
“I just listened to ‘—‘ for the first time. It’s a rough mix, it’s not even mixed. And I had just listened to ‘Hand Me Downs,’ and I wrote the damn thing, me and Jessie Jo and Laura, I knew what was in that song.
And then I listened to it, and I kept staring at the dash, like, why would you do that to me? I’ve been here for every note, every syllable, every breathe of this record.
And I’m listening to the mixes and it’s like I’ve never heard this record. It’s like I’ve never heard this artist.”
Ashley has shared some about her sobriety journey, even opened her own non-alcoholic bar called Redemption inside of Eric Church’s Chief’s Bar on Broadway in Nashville. I have to imagine that could be a theme in at least some of the songs, and if you’re a fan of her music, then you already know how authentic and honest it is so I’m sure you can expect that too.
It seems like we’re getting close to an album announcement with the announcement of this new single, so stay tuned on that front…
She also launched her Light On Fund last month, which will focus on mental health of veterans, rehabilitation resources for the creative community, helping children in the foster care system, championing ASL interpretation at live music events, and much more, and it will announce a new charitable focus each quarter starting 2026.
In terms of live shows, McBryde will return to Eric Church’s Chief’s on Broadway for several shows in 2026, and hopefully, she’ll have some new tour dates for the new year coming soon too.
