COOKE CELEBRATES ALBUM RELEASE WITH the cities that made me tour,
KICKING OFF IN NASHVILLE TODAY (8/14)
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MAJOR MEDIA MOMENTS STACKING UP WITH FEATURES FROM
AMERICAN SONGWRITER, THE TENNESSEAN, PEOPLE, SOUTHERN LIVING & MORE

NASHVILLE, TENN. (August 14, 2026) — Today, Country hitmaker Ashley Cooke shares her much-anticipated self-titled sophomore album. One of the summer’s most talked-about releases, ashley cooke explores the beautiful mess of modern love across 15 fiercely self-aware songs — including her heart-racing new anthem “dance around it.” Go here to stream/download ashley cooke now.Released via Big Loud Records/Back Blocks Music, ashley cooke was written in real time as the Nashville-based artist navigated the blossoming and eventual unraveling of a relationship — ultimately documenting every moment exactly as she lived it. Mainly produced by the legendary Dann Huff (Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift), the album mirrors its emotional complexity with an eclectic sound spanning from her signature Coastal Country to moody piano balladry to the Motown-inspired soul of her current Country radio hit “baby blues.” In a recent in-depth feature in The Tennessean, Huff praised Cooke’s clarity of vision and noted that, despite her young age, she knows exactly who she is as an artist. “If I’m betting on someone, I’m betting on Ashley,” he declared.Another glimpse into the gorgeously layered landscape of ashley cooke, “dance around it” takes the form of a bittersweet but high-energy Country-Pop stunner shot through with shimmering guitar tones and hypnotic beats. As she tells the tale of two people delaying their inevitable farewell for one more night together, Cooke instantly channels a heady collision of desire and heartache and impending regret (the opening lines: “you smelled like California and casamino’s / when you walked in the door / same one you taped a note on saying goodbye / just three weeks before”). Written by Cooke, Jacob Durrett, Trevor Rosen, and Emily Weisband, “dance around it” fully captures the irresistible thrill of denying reality and letting the truth wait until morning. WATCH “dance around it” VISUALIZER HERE Along with “baby blues” (a chart-climbing smash that’s amassed over 55 MILLION global streams to date), Ashley Cooke features previously released fan favorites like her Country radio hit “the hell you are,” “high school sweetheart,” and “xs” (a no-regrets breakup song that inspired Country Swag to hail Cooke as “one of the most exciting rising artists in the genre today”). Last month, she further previewed the album with the dual release of the witty “famous to Frances” and wistful “johnny ‘n June,” together praised by Country Now as “perfect examples of Cooke’s ability to dive into complicated emotions that come with heartbreak.” See below for the full tracklist to ashley cooke.A defining statement from one of Country’s most compelling young stars, ashley cooke arrives during an extraordinary two-year stretch that’s included racking up nominations for New Female Artist of the Year at the ACM Awards and Best New Country Artist at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, touring with superstars like Kane Brown and Parker McCollum, and earning a major pop-culture moment by making a cameo on CBS’ hit series Marshals.Cooke’s latest chapter has also drawn a wave of high-profile media attention, with recent appearances on podcasts like Southern Living’s Biscuits & Jam and American Songwriter’s Off The Record (with the latter also featuring Cooke in its print and digital editions), along with coverage from leading publications like PEOPLE. The highly awaited successor to her 2023 debut album shot in the dark (featuring the GOLD-certified “never til now” and Country radio No. 1 hit “your place”), ashley cooke follows her soul-baring project ace (a 2025 release that “epitomises why Cooke has cemented herself as a key figure in the contemporary country music landscape,” according to Holler).With the arrival of her second full-length, Cooke also kicks off the cities that made me tour — a run of special acoustic performances presented by Surfside. A celebration of the most personal music of her career, the weeklong pop-up experience will crisscross the country with performances of songs from ashley cooke, fan meet-and-greets, and exclusive merch in places that helped shape Cooke throughout her life. The festivities begin today (8/14) at 12:30 p.m. CT at Nashville’s PopUp Bagels (226 11th Ave S #6), where Cooke will treat fans to an intimate acoustic performance and unveil her very own “baby blues” schmear. At 4 p.m. CT, she’ll head to imogene + willie (2601 12th Ave S) for an exclusive vinyl signing and meet-and-greet, complete with a photo booth, Daddy’s Dogs, Blue Monkey Shaved Ice, and drinks provided by Surfside. From there, the tour heads to Milwaukee (her birthplace) and eventually wraps in West Lafayette, IN (where Cooke’s parents met). Go here to RSVP and check out the full list of tour dates.Next month, Cooke will take her latest triumph on the road by launching the baby blues world tour — a global headline run beginning on September 17 at Globe Iron in Cleveland, with dates currently scheduled through February 25 at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The 28-date trek includes stops in major cities throughout the US and UK, including 9:30 Club in Washington, DC (September 18), Irving Plaza in New York City (September 24), El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles (October 8), and Koko in London (January 29). For more info, visit ashleycooke.com.Tracklist for ashley cooke:“if i’m being honest” (Ashley Cooke, Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock) ^“high school sweetheart” (Ashley Cooke, Boy Matthews, Cleo Tighe, Lauren Hungate, AFTERHRS) *“baby blues” (Ashley Cooke, Johnny Clawson, Joe Fox, Kyle Sturrock, Seth Ennis) *“famous to frances” (Ashley Cooke, Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock) *“johnny ‘n june” (Ashley Cooke, Lauren Hungate, Emily Weisband, Will Weatherly) *“excuses” (Ashley Cooke, Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock) *“dance around it” (Ashley Cooke, Jacob Durrett, Trevor Rosen, Emily Weisband) #“sleepless in seattle” (Ashley Cooke, Lauren Hungate, Matt Roy, Johnny Clawson) *“man behind the glass (feat. JP Saxe)” (Ashley Cooke, JP Saxe, Emily Weisband, Scott Krueger) + ♡“i’m up and i’m down” (Ashley Cooke, Jordan Minton, Jordan Reynolds, Mark Trussell) *“the hell you are” (Ashley Cooke, Chase McGill, Emily Weisband, Seth Ennis, Joe Fox) *“between the lines” (Ashley Cooke, Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose) *“xs” (Ashley Cooke, Ashley Gorley, Emily Weisband, Will Weatherly) *“when we’re 30” (Ashley Cooke, Will Weatherly, Kyle Sturrock) *“the girl who cried wolf” (Ashley Cooke, Emily Weisband, Lauren Hungate, Joe Fox) ~ ♡Produced by Dann Huff * Produced by Will Weatherly ^ Produced by Jacob Durrett # Produced by Joe Fox ~ Produced by Spacecamp + Produced by Ashley Cooke ♡

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). Following the release of her self-titled sophomore album, she’s now gearing up to embark on the baby blues world tour — a 28-date global headline run launching on September 17 and continuing through February 25 at the legendary Ryman Auditorium.