NEW TRACK NOW AVAILABLE
Current Radio Single “What Took You So Long” Hits Top 45
| NASHVILLE, Tenn– – Record-breaking singer-songwriter Jacob Hackworth today releases the reflective ballad “Mess That Marlboro Made,” which is now available now via MCA/Goat Island Sound. The track explores how a single, seemingly insignificant decision can alter the course of a life forever. What begins as a nostalgic look back at the youthful trouble a pack of cigarettes once caused—like getting grounded by his mom—unfolds into a much deeper reflection on fate, love, and heartbreak. The song traces the ripple effect of one chance encounter sparked by a single purchase, leading to a relationship that changed everything and the painful ending that followed. It’s a moving meditation on the “what ifs” that linger after love is lost, wondering how differently life may have unfolded if one small moment had never happened. Anchored by warm, acoustic-driven instrumentation and an understated production by Jacob Durrett, the track leaves plenty of room for Hackworth’s raw, emotionally charged vocals to take center stage, making every lyric feel deeply personal. Written by Hackworth, Josh Phillips and Jordan Schmidt, “Mess That Marlboro Made,” delivers a poignant and contemplative look at the sum of life’s littlest moments. Listen to “Mess That Marlboro Made” HERE Watch the lyric video for “Mess That Marlboro Made” HERE“Mess That Marlboro Made” follows last month’s release of “Help Yourself,” which bookends the relationship outlined in his current Top 45-and-climbing radio single, “What Took You So Long,” which upon going to radio in April, broke the record for the most first-week adds ever. The history-making track introduced listeners to a whirlwind romance that burned bright before unexpectedly crashing out. Both tracks were inspired by the real-life breakup that motivated Hackworth to move to Nashville and pursue music full-time. If “What Took You So Long” is Chapter One, “Help Yourself” is the Final Chapter…and “Mess That Marlboro Made” is the epilogue. “What Took You So Long” chronicles the confusion and heartbreak stage, while “Help Yourself,” finds Hackworth much further along in the healing process. With enough time in between them, the roles have reversed, the wounds have scarred over and now he’s vindicated and the one delivering the goodbye. “There is such a strong storytelling element to songwriting, especially in Country so a lot of my songs feel like they have been pulled directly from the pages of my life. As I’ve written these individual songs and stories, I’ve realized they’re coming together to tell a larger one, and with each release, listeners can begin to see the bigger picture. We started rolling them out starting with the initial heartbreak, then the sort of resolution of it all so it made sense to share this almost as a look back at that time period as a whole,” shared Hackworth. “I’ve always turned to music to make sense of my own experiences and I hope to pay that forward with these tracks…that’s kind of why I tend to write about some of the tougher moments in life, to be there for someone in the way that music was there for me when I needed it most.” He is currently on the road with ACM New Male Artist of The Year (and his frequent collaborator), Tucker Wetmore for their third run together. Shows will run through the fall and will include the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre in October. For more information follow along on his website, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube. Listen to “What Took You So Long” HERE ABOUT JACOB HACKWORTH: Jacob Hackworth is a rising force in Country music. Already established as a chart-topping songwriter, the powerhouse vocalist and live performer is now stepping out as an artist in his own right. Hackworth caught the attention of the industry with his three releases, “When I Don’t,” “You Ain’t” and “Bad As I Do” which landed him on a slew of “Artist To Watch” lists including Country Now, Country Minute, Fort Nash, and more as well as a label deal with MCA Records in collaboration with Goat Island Sound. His first signed single “What Took You So Long” is climbing through the Top 45 on Country radio now and broke records as the largest new artist debut add day in history. Earning a reputation for rough-hewn honesty and raw storytelling, Hackworth mixes real life experience with Country, Pop and R&B elements to create a refreshing new voice in the genre. Growing up on the gravel roads of West Plains, MO, Hackworth has been singing since before he could reach his grandma’s piano bench. He participated in choir as a kid and began writing songs in high school, eventually forming a local band that would perform on his days off from working on the railroad. Encouraged by the reaction, in 2019 he left his small town life to pursue music in Nashville. To make ends meet, he worked at some of Nashville’s most renowned bars, Amazon and even on a party boat DJing while he found his musical footing. In 2022, Hackworth signed a publishing deal and has been on a creative tear ever since, attaining roughly 60 major label cuts and releases as a songwriter (with more on the way), including Bailey Zimmerman’s six-week No.1 hit, “Rock and a Hard Place,” Corey Kent’s No. 1 hit “This Heart,” three songs from Jelly Roll’s GRAMMY-winning No. 1 album Beautifully Broken, Morgan Wallen’s “Jack and Jill,” Vincent Mason’s single “Damned If I Do,” six songs from Tucker Wetmore’s debut album including the career-launching smash “Wine Into Whiskey” and many more. As a songwriter he amassed more than a billion streams in 2025 alone. He recently began his third tour with Wetmore this summer which includes stops at Red Rocks in October and is currently working on new music. For more information follow along on his website, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.### |
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Music Matters Magazine 