“Earl walked so Carl could die… I mean run.”
There is nothing that butters my biscuit quite like a good murder ballad to kick off the weekend, and Willow Avalon nailed that perfectly with her brand new single “Hypothetically Speaking” featuring Kaitlin Butts.
“Hypothetically Speaking” comes off the heels of her sophomore record announcement, Pink Pocket Pistol, and the release of her stunning duet with Jason Isbell, “Cardinal Sin.”
Willow Avalon was one of those female stars in the making who turned heads last year with the release of her impressive debut record Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell. Sounding somewhere between Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn with a modern edge, Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell received incredibly high praise and was named as one of our top country albums of 2025 here at Whiskey Riff.
Because of how well-received her debut project was, fans were thrilled that she got back in the studio quickly to record Pink Pocket Pistol, and she even teased the possibility of two records coming out this year. While she’s yet to announce one… It is just May, so there is plenty of time…
According to Avalon, the formation of this project was very organic, as it was cut in just a week. Building off the momentum she laid down with Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell, Avalon reveals to fans that the wit and charm they know and love about her is going nowhere on this LP, but they can also expect an eerie and mysterious vibe at parts.
“Pink Pocket Pistol is a mix of the lyricism and sassy storylines I’ve continuously written, with more darkness, mystery and a ‘60s country feel. I went in with an idea in my head, and we walked out a week later with it fully executed. Every single person in the room was on the exact same page. It felt wonderful hearing the record out of speakers—after really, intensive, hard work—exactly what I heard in my head.”
Avalon added in the social media caption announcing the record:
“This record is the beautiful and sweet fruit of years of heartache, revenge plots and a little pinch of everlasting love. I’ve never been more in love with something I’ve created and this record process was one of the most special and fulfilling experiences I’ve ever been a part of.
Thank you to everyone who played on this record. Thank you to my band, my team and all the people who recorded it. Thank you to RCA for having us. I love this record soo much, I can’t wait for y’all to hear it.”
Avalon leaned into that darkness she touched on with “Cardinal Sin,” falling for someone outside of her marriage. And with this new release, “Hypothetically Speaking” leans into that darkness in a comedically sinister way. “Hypothetically Speaking” is the modern-day “Goodbye Earl,” as Avalon and Kaitlin Butts run through the possibilities of how to dispose of a body… hypothetically speaking, of course.
Penned alongside Konrad Snyder, Kaitlin Butts, Max Thomas and Jacob Kasher Hindlin, the plotline takes place between Avalon and Butts having a phone call. Butts, who stars as LeAnne, is married to a bad man named Carl, and after being yelled at while cooking for him, Butts loses it and bashes his head in with a cast-iron skillet. Butts shares that Avalon is the first person she thought to call, and Avalon takes no time to run through how to hide a body and get away with the murder, once again… “hypothetically speaking.”
Sonically, the tune follows the same talking-style lyrics as “You Look Like You Love Me,” with the moan of a steel guitar in the background, creating an old western soap-opera feel. Personally, I think Wanda and Mary Anne would greatly approve of “Hypothetically Speaking.”
This new cheeky tune, alongside “Easy On The Eyes” and “Cardinal Sin,” is a stellar preview of the duality of seriousness and wit that we will see from Avalon on Pink Pocket Pistol. June 26 can’t get here soon enough.
Check out the music video before you go. It brings the lyrics to life flawlessly.
WILLOW AVALON TOUR DATES
May 27—Nashville, TN—Nashville Municipal Auditorium*
June 4—Nashville, TN—CMA Festival
June 7—Lexington, KY—Railbird Festival
June 20—Boyne, City, MI—Lavender Hill Farm
June 28—Aztec, NM—Tico Time Country Fest
July 18—Beech Mountain, NC—Party On The Mountain
July 23—Cheyenne, WY—The Lincoln Cheyenne
July 25—Three Forks, MT—Headwaters Country Jam
July 26—Calgary, AB—Commonwealth
July 28—Vancouver, BC—Commodore
July 29—Seattle, WA—Showbox
July 30—Portland, OR—Wonder Ballroom
August 1—Camino, CA—Folk on The Farm
August 2—San Francisco, CA—August Hall
August 4—Los Angeles, CA—The Fonda
August 5—San Diego, CA—House of Blues
August 6—Phoenix, AZ—Crescent Ballroom
August 8—Salt Lake City, UT—The Grand
August 9—Denver, CO—Gothic Theatre
August 11—Omaha, NE—Waiting Room
August 12—Minneapolis, MN—Fine Line
August 13—Kansas City, MO—The Truman
August 15—Oklahoma City, OK—Beer City Music Hall
August 16—Houston, TX—The Heights Theater
August 18—Austin, TX—Scoot Inn
August 19—Dallas, TX—Granada Theatre
September 8—Atlanta, GA—Terminal West
September 9—Carrboro, NC—Cat’s Cradle
September 11—Richmond, VA—The Broadberry
September 12—Washington, D.C.—9:30 Club
September 14—Pittsburgh, PA—Thunderbird Music Hall
September 16—Toronto, ON—Phoenix Theatre
September 17—Montreal, QC—Beanfield Theatre
September 18—Boston, MA—Royale
September 20—New York, NY—Webster Hall
September 22— Philadelphia, PA—The Foundry
September 24—Clarkston, MI—Pine Knob Music Center†
September 25—Grand Rapids, MI—Acrisure Amphitheatre†
September 26—Green Bay, WI—Resch Center†
October 6— Charlotte, NC—Amos’ Southend
October 7—Charleston, SC—Music Farm
October 9—Sanford, FL—Tuffy’s Music Box
October 10—St. Petersburg, FL—Jannus Live
October 12—Jackson, MS—Duling Hall
October 13—Fayetteville, AR—George’s Majestic Lounge
October 14—St. Louis, MO—Delmar Hall
October 16—Rosemont, IL—Joe’s Live
October 17—Cleveland, OH—Roxy at Mahall’s
October 18—Indianapolis, IN—Hi-Fi Annex
October 20—Louisville, KY—Mercury Ballroom
October 22—Knoxville, TN—Bijou Theatre
October 25—Columbus, OH—King of Clubs
*supporting Marcus King
†supporting Brooks & Dunn
