Ernest Finds Success With ‘Nashville, Tennessee’

Big Loud’s esteemed visionary ERNEST is set to make his late-night debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! (4/23) this week as well as visit Access Daily (4/22) in promotion of his sophomore album, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, released April 12. 

ERNEST Celebrates Album Release "Nashville" Style

On the heels of his 2024 ACM Award nominations for New Male Artist of the Year and Artist-Songwriter of the Year, ERNEST released his 26-track project that pays tribute to his hometown, and the creatives that make up the fabric of Music City, to rave reviews. Billboard noted ERNEST’s “songwriting acumen has become a not-so-secret hitmaking weapon in Nashville’s songwriting circles, stealthily helping to fashion the sound of modern-day country music” and The Tennessean echoed more than any performer, ERNEST best represents how, in the next decade, the communal spirit driving country music in Nashville will likely redefine popular culture worldwide.

Joining Jan Crawford of CBS Mornings in Nashville for an in-depth profile on the project, the 2X Variety Hitmaker and CMA Triple Play Award winner spoke about his background as a songwriter of nine No. 1 singles for artists including Jelly Roll, Sam Hunt, Kane Brown, Morgan Wallen, and Chris Lane, as well as the process of creating NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. He also made his national TV performance debut onLive With Kelly and Mark (4/16) and joined The Kelly Clarkson Show (4/17) andABC News Live with Linsey Davis (4/16) to speak more about the project. Produced by Joey Moi, the project brings to life the musical vision of one the modern era’s most impactful country hitmakers, and has resonated equally with fans – with more than 5,000 people at his album release show in Nashville, breaking the attendance record at 6th & Peabody home of Ole Smoky Moonshine and Yee-Haw Brewing Co.

With over a billion global on-demand streams, the Pollstar cover star proves to be more than just a game changing behind-the-scenes force who helped define a generation, but also a maverick that “creates a sound all his own” (Pollstar). NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE is the follow up to ERNEST’s 2021 debut album, FLOWER SHOPS (THE ALBUM), which featured the 2X Platinum title-track “Flower Shops (feat. Morgan Wallen)” and gave fans a glimpse of ERNEST’s edgy artistic styling.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE Tracklist:

  1. “I Went To College / I Went To Jail (feat. Jelly Roll)” (Ernest Keith Smith, Chandler Paul Walters, Rivers Rutherford, Luke Bryan)
  2. “Ain’t As Easy” (Ernest Keith Smith, Dean Dillon, Jessie Jo Dillon, Chandler Paul Walters)
  3. “Why Dallas (feat. Lukas Nelson)” (Ernest Keith Smith, Chandler Paul Walters, Grady Block, Jordan Merrigan, Lukas Nelson)
  4. “One More Heartache” (Ernest Keith Smith, Chandler Paul Walters, Jessie Jo Dillon, Dean Dillon)
  5. “Hangin’ On (feat. Morgan Wallen)” (Ernest Keith Smith, Grady Block, Rhys Rutherford, Jacob Durrett, Rafe Tenpenny)
  6. “Did It For The Story” (Ernest Keith Smith, John Byron, Ryan Vojtesak, Blake Pendergrass)
  7. “How’d We Get Here” (Ernest Keith Smith)
  8. “Never Said I Love You” (Ernest Keith Smith, Chandler Paul Walters)
  9. “Would If I Could (feat. Lainey Wilson)” (Dean Dillon, Skip Ewing)
  10. “Honkytonk Fairytale” (Ernest Keith Smith, Rafe Tenpenny, Dallas Wilson, Brad Clawson)
  11. “Smokin’ Gun” (Ernest Keith Smith, Rhys Rutherford, Grady Block, Ryan Vojtesak, Blake Pendergrass)
  12. Twinkle Twinkle (Live At Fenway Park) [feat. Ryman Saint]” (Jane Taylor)
  13. “Life Goes On” (Ernest Keith Smith, Ashley Gorley, Ryan Vojtesak)
  14. “If You Don’t Know By Now” (Clint Daniels, Dale Dodson)
  15. “You Don’t Have To Die” (Clint Ingersoll, Chris Stapleton)
  16. “Redneck Sh*ttt” (Ernest Keith Smith, Mark Holman, Nicolle Galyon)
  17. “Small Town Goes” (Ernest Keith Smith, Grady Block, Cody Lohden, Ryan Vojtesak, Chandler Paul Walters)
  18. “Kiss Of Death” (Ernest Keith Smith, Andy Albert, Ryan Vojtesak)
  19. “Slow Dancing In A Burning Room” (John Clayton Mayer)
  20. “Ain’t Too Late” (Ernest Keith Smith, Grady Block, Chandler Paul Walters, Jordan Merrigan, Cody Lohden)
  21. “Sayin’ You Love Me” (Ernest Keith Smith, Mark Holman, James McNair)
  22. “Summertime Flies” (Ernest Keith Smith, Rafe Tenpenny, Grady Block, Jacob Durrett, Ross Portaro)
  23. “Ain’t Right Ain’t Wrong” (Ernest Keith Smith, Rhys Rutherford, Ryan Vojtesak)
  24. “Creep (feat. HARDY)” (Colin Greenwood, Jonathan Greenwood, Albert Hammond, Michael Hazlewood, Edward O’Brien, Philip Selway, Thomas Yorke)
  25. “Bars On My Heart” (Ernest Keith Smith, Mark Holman, Nicolle Galyon)
  26. “Dollar To Cash” (Ernest Keith Smith, Grady Block, Rafe Tenpenny, Brett Tyler)

All songs produced by Joey Moi

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE is available everywhere now. Listen HERE.

ABOUT ERNEST

Nashville’s most unpredictable hitmaker ERNEST is “The Charmer” (MusicRow), a triple threat talent and one of Music City’s on the rise artist/writers who is changing the status quo. The two-time ACM Award nominee (2024), CMA Triple Play Award winner, and 2022/3 Variety Hitmaker fuses influences ranging from Eminem to George Jones, crafting a twist-heavy verse style that’s become his signature, proving its mettle, and earning him nine No. 1 hits to date. The eccentric free spirit just released his highly anticipated sophomore album, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, whichfollows up his critically acclaimed debut album FLOWER SHOPS (THE ALBUM) and FLOWER SHOPS (THE ALBUM): Two Dozen Roses, the rebranded edition doubling its track list with 13 fresh cuts. Praised as one of Holler and The Tennessean‘s best albums of the year, FLOWER SHOPS showcased the more classically country side of his craft, and that “ERNEST creates a sound all his own” (Pollstar).

CONNECT WITH ERNEST

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About Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena is a freelance writer for both Country Music News and Country Music On Tour. Want to collab on some content? Email me. Want my rates for commercial promo work? Get them right here.