Fresh off her second year as CMA Fest co-host, Ashley McBryde closed out the weekend with a powerful performance at Nissan Stadium, earning praise for her fiery live take on fan-favourite ‘Rattlesnake Preacher.' Now, the Arkansas native is set to give fans what they’ve been asking for: the long-awaited studio version of the beloved track, arriving June 26 via Warner Music Nashville.
“‘Rattlesnake Preacher’ has been a staple in our live show since the bar days,” McBryde shared. “We’ve constantly been asked by fans when it’ll make it onto a record. As we were gearing up for my second year of co-hosting CMA Fest, it felt like the perfect time to finally get this one out there. It’s my way of saying thank you to the fans who have shown up, listened and gave this song life long before it was ever recorded.”
The upcoming release carries deep personal meaning for McBryde. Written by her late friend and frequent collaborator Randall Clay, the song is both a tribute and a continuation of his legacy.
“I’ve written nearly every song on all my records, so when I cut one I didn’t write, it means something,” McBryde said. “Randall was part of a group of songwriters that helped me write some of the most formative songs of my career, and his songs will always find a home with me.”
Produced by John Osborne, the studio version features McBryde’s longtime band, Deadhorse, capturing the same explosive energy that’s made the song a fan-favourite at live shows. With blazing electric guitar and fiery fiddle leading the way, the track’s lyrics tell the story of a spiritual rebel:
He knew the Good Book real good
Knew the bad all too well
He spent his life rattlin’ cages
And runnin’ that devil’s ass back to hell
My daddy was a rattlesnake preacher
My daddy was a man of God
My daddy was a rattlesnake preacher
In south Alabama
My daddy was the devil’s undertaker
My daddy was a saver of souls
My daddy was a rattlesnake preacher
Just like his daddy before him was
‘Rattlesnake Preacher' will be available on all streaming platforms June 26.
