Every few years, Arkansas quietly sends another reminder that some of the best country music is being made far outside the Nashville machine. Abbey Pierce is the latest example, and her debut album Don’t Call Me Darlin’ feels like a statement that arrived right on time.
Following in the footsteps of fellow Natural State standouts like Mae Estes and Ashley McBryde, Pierce represents a wave of artists developing their voices on their own terms. There’s grit here, confidence here, and a sense that the music comes from lived experience rather than trend-chasing.
Released January 2, 2026, Don’t Call Me Darlin’ introduces Pierce as a songwriter with something to say and the nerve to say it clearly. The breakout record produced by Jeremy Huddleston includes seven songs written by Pierce herself and leans into bold hooks, ’90s country melodies, and the kind of self-assured energy that once defined artists like Pam Tillis, Shania Twain and Jo Dee Messina.
“This is the album I always dreamed of making,” Abbey said in a press release announcing the new record. “I grew up loving those sassy, high-energy country records, the ones that made you feel unstoppable and you couldn’t help but sing at the top of your lungs. I wanted to create something that brought that same joy of the music I grew up on, but with my own spin.”
That joy comes through immediately. These songs are unapologetic without being crass, confident without losing warmth. It’s music meant to be turned up loud, sung along to, and lived with.
Pierce is no overnight newcomer. She’s been performing for years, building momentum across Arkansas and beyond. Her earlier EP Soul Searchin’ earned Arkansas Country Music Award nominations for Female Vocalist and Song of the Year, and her live resume includes stages like Billy Bob’s Texas, George’s Majestic Lounge, The Momentary, and Ozark Music Hall. That road-tested experience shows in how comfortably she carries these songs, and has given her the chance to build a truly passionate fanbase at her live shows.
What makes Don’t Call Me Darlin’ especially compelling is how rooted it feels. There’s a groundedness to Pierce’s voice and writing that reflects small-town resilience, personal accountability, and emotional clarity. It feels familiar in the best way, while still sounding current and distinctly hers.
Arkansas has always had a way of producing artists who don’t ask permission first. They hone their skills in the quiet halls and hollers of the Ozark foothills so by the time the rest of the country hears them, they’re already a seasoned performer. Abbey Pierce fits squarely into that lineage. If this debut is any indication, she’s not just part of the conversation. She’s someone we’ll be talking about for a long time.
Pierce will celebrate the album with a live show on January 16 at The Medium in Springdale, AR a fitting hometown-style launch for a record built on authenticity and pride.
If you care about where country music is actually growing, keep Abbey Pierce on your radar. Arkansas already knows what it has.
Listen to “Don’t Call Me Darlin'” from Abbey Pierce on your favorite streaming service here!
I bet the live show is going to be amazing!!!!!!