As she gears up for the release of her new album ‘Tennessee Lightning' on August 8, country artist Ashley Monroe is looking back at one of the most pivotal projects of her career. Monroe released a special 10th anniversary edition of her GRAMMY-nominated album ‘The Blade,' featuring three previously unreleased tracks, including the standout ‘Fight For It,' a powerful anthem about resilience co-written with Shane McAnally and Gordie Sampson, and featuring Vince Gill on background vocals.
‘Fight For It' was written in 2014 and, according to Monroe, the song’s message has only grown more meaningful over the past decade. “Thank God they both said yes,” she said of writing the track with McAnally and Sampson on a rare Saturday session. “Over the past 11 years of my life, I can think of so many different moments this song applies to; it’s important to know not everything comes easy, but a little fight goes a long way.”
The original version of ‘The Blade' was produced by Vince Gill and Justin Niebank and featured a roster of celebrated collaborators, including Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jessi Alexander, and Luke Laird. The record also included guest vocals from Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminski, Charlie Worsham, and more. Tracks like ‘On to Something Good' and the haunting title cut earned widespread praise from outlets such as Pitchfork, NPR Music, and Rolling Stone, landing the album on several best-of-the-year lists in 2015.
Looking ahead, Monroe is preparing to unveil ‘Tennessee Lightning,' her sixth studio album. Written and recorded following a transformative battle with cancer, the 17-song collection is a deeply personal work that blends Monroe’s signature storytelling with themes of healing, hope, and new beginnings. The album includes collaborations with Marty Stuart, Brittney Spencer, T Bone Burnett, Waylon Payne, and others. Early singles like ‘The Touch,' ‘Bitter Swisher Sweet' and ‘Magnolia' have already drawn attention from The New York Times and Stereogum.
Monroe will celebrate the release of ‘Tennessee Lightning' with a performance at the Grand Ole Opry on August 8 before embarking on a European tour with Fancy Hagood. Tour dates and additional information are available on her official website.
The Blade (10th Anniversary Edition) is available now on all streaming platforms.
