Rising country star Ashley Cooke is entering a new chapter with her upcoming project ‘ace,' set for release on November 14 via Big Loud / Back Blocks Music. Following the success of her 2023 debut ‘Shot in the Dark,' Cooke returns with a deeply personal nine-track collection that captures the highs and lows of the past year. Produced by Dann Huff, ‘ace'—a title inspired by Cooke’s childhood nickname given by her father—finds the singer-songwriter at her most vulnerable yet. Co-writing seven of the nine songs with collaborators including Emily Weisband, Johnny Clawson and Kyle Sturrock, Cooke navigates themes of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery with the same heartfelt storytelling that has made her one of Nashville’s most compelling young voices.
Across the project, Cooke reflects on the lessons of growing up and letting go. Songs like ‘tin foil hat' showcase her struggle to trust her instincts, while ‘talk about' reveals the bittersweet moment of knowing when to walk away. Fan favourites such as ‘the hell you are,' ‘swear words' and ‘the f word' also feature, grounding the record in the honesty and grit that define her sound. “It’s brutal honesty,” Cooke shared when announcing the project. “It’s a story in chronological order… welcoming you to the next chapter.” After a whirlwind few years of milestones, loss and growth, ‘ace' stands as Cooke’s most raw and self-assured work to date—a testament to her resilience and her place as one of country music’s brightest rising stars.
Cooke's second album is a strikingly intimate and emotionally charged collection that captures the rising star at her most vulnerable and confident yet. The nine-track project unfolds like a diary written in real time — exploring heartbreak, healing and hope through the lens of a young woman learning to navigate love and loss. Cooke, who co-wrote seven of the songs, threads her personal experiences with a mix of sonic influences that pull from Taylor Swift’s lyrical storytelling, Kelsea Ballerini’s pop-country polish, and the heartfelt honesty of Carly Pearce. The result is an album that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable — a modern country record that’s as catchy as it is cathartic.
The record opens with ‘Gettin’ Old,' a raw and poignant acoustic number that recalls the stripped-back emotional power of early Kacey Musgraves. Over a gentle guitar, Cooke reflects on her grandmother’s passing and her father’s health struggles while coming to terms with her own growing pains. “The years roll, before you know, growing up’s just getting old,” she sings — a bittersweet meditation on time and change. The production is sparse, allowing the emotion in her voice to carry the song, much like Lori McKenna at her most vulnerable. It’s a gut-wrenching start that sets the tone for the album’s introspective journey.
‘baby blues' lightens the mood with a bluesy groove and playful attitude that would make Maren Morris proud. The song’s flirtatious energy — as Cooke urges her man to “put those baby blues away” — shows her wit and charm, a fun reprieve from the intensity of the opener. With its slinky guitar licks and sing-along melody, it’s easy to imagine it becoming a live favourite. Cooke’s delivery walks that perfect line between sass and sweetness, and the bluesy undertones bring a refreshing change of pace to the record’s emotional landscape.
Then comes ‘the F word,' one of the album’s standout moments of clever songwriting. “I try not to swear because it’s not ladylike,” Cooke confesses before revealing that the forbidden word is “Forever.” The song’s smooth, R&B-tinged pop-country sound feels reminiscent of Kelsea Ballerini’s ‘Subject to Change' era or even the genre-blurring warmth of early Taylor Swift. It’s witty, flirty and full of emotional nuance — a perfectly executed example of how Cooke’s artistry thrives at the intersection of country sincerity and pop sophistication.
‘talk about' brings a dose of emotional realism. Sitting across from a lover as their relationship unravels, Cooke sings, “Talk about damn we tried,” her voice trembling with vulnerability. The song’s sleek pop-country production is laced with plaintive pedal steel, giving it that bittersweet edge that recalls the melodic ache of something like Carly Pearce’s '29: Written in Stone.' It’s heartbreak painted in cinematic detail — subtle but devastating.
The centre piece of ‘ace,' though, is ‘the hell you are.' Riding a galloping beat and western-flavoured guitar reminiscent of Shaboozey or Dasha’s genre-bending hits, Cooke delivers her most empowered performance yet. “You say you’re coming over and you say that you’re sober — the hell you are!” she declares, calling out a toxic ex with fire and attitude. The energy is electric — a mix of pop polish and country grit, fuelled by a fierce guitar solo and soaring fiddle. It’s Cooke at her boldest, transforming heartbreak into a moment of liberation and strength.
Another standout moment arrives with ‘tin foil hat (panic attack).' Here we get another simple repeated guitar line with Cooke's smooth, slick lyrics and a simple drum rhythm layered on top. There's a Taylor Swift esque breakout in the first chorus that finds Cooke spitting out lyrics about how she thinks her new guy might be cheating on her – she knows she's being ridiculous – “Damn I know I'm spiralling out of control,” she sings as the song explodes in loud and quiet moments which are reminiscent of artists like Taylor Swift and Avery Anna. This is a unique and original song with time changes and mood changes all over the place – reflecting how Cooke's lyrics and moods are all over the place too as she drives herself crazy imagining lots of different scenarios in which the guy is cheating hence the references to conspiracy theories and tin foil hats!
As the album winds down, songs like ‘swear words' and ‘excuses' continue to showcase Cooke’s storytelling finesse. The former leans into glossy pop-country, turning emotional restraint into strength, while ‘excuses' feels like a toe-tapping throwback to 2000s country radio, blending the charm of Rascal Flatts and the confessional tone of early Keith Urban. The final track, ‘my worst fear,' strips everything back again — a gentle acoustic closer that echoes the introspective beauty of early Taylor Swift or Tenille Townes. Reflecting on loneliness and life’s unexpected turns, Cooke sings, “You got what you wanted, caught that dream you were chasing down, but look who’s lonely now,” closing the album with heartbreaking grace and a kind of ‘be careful what you wish for' kind of wisdom.
‘ace' is Ashley Cooke’s most cohesive and emotionally resonant project to date — a collection that pairs modern pop-country production with deeply human storytelling. It’s a record that balances vulnerability with empowerment, heartbreak with hope. With ‘ace,' Cooke doesn’t just cement her place among country’s new generation — she positions herself alongside the genre’s best contemporary voices. It’s an album full of heart, honesty and world-class songwriting, marking a major leap forward for an artist whose star continues to rise.
Tracklist: 1. gettin' old 2. baby blues 3. the f word 4. talk about 5. the hell you are 6. swear words 7. excuses 8. tin foil hat (panic attack) 9. my worst fear record label: Big Loud / Back Blocks Music Release Date: November 14th Buy ‘ace' right here
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