With backwoods bathed vocals and bona fide southern swagger, Payton Howie is leading the next generation of redneck women. "Country Before Me" honors the women who paved the way for today’s women in country music – their struggles, their triumphs, and even their music. COWGIRL sat down to chat with Payton about the new single, her inspiration, and future plans.

"Country Before Me" was written in honor of the trailblazing women of country music that paved the way for female artists like Payton to have the ability to stand up on a stage, behind a mic, or tell the stories of their own lives. Payton wants people to hear the stories of these bold women and share her appreciation for their attitude, showmanship, and perseverance that’s made the industry what it is now.

"This song is a change of pace from the more rowdy songs I’ve put out before and shows a side of my artistry that I haven’t shared with my listeners till now," she says. "This single allows me to show my gratitude and respect for the women of country that went before me and changed the course of country music history."

The recording process of "Country Before Me" was very surreal for Payton. "I was honored to be in the studio tracking this song with musicians that play with some of the greats mentioned in the lyrics like Reba, Dolly, Tanya Tucker, and many more. It was honestly crazy to think about hearing them all play this song and how it’s come full circle to honor these women."

Keep your eyes out for an acoustic performance of "Country Before Me" on January 28th! Payton's debut EP will also be released on February 18th. "Each track on this project is a piece of who I am and I’m so grateful for each person I’ll get to share it with." 

Make sure you connect with Payton, she loves hearing from her fans, friends, and our COWGIRL family!

Cowgirl Hotlist

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  |