Welcome to the newest edition of the Friday Finest Five — your weekly round-up of the most exciting new country releases hitting streaming platforms today. From soulful duets and heartbreak anthems to good old-fashioned honky-tonk and small-town reflections, this week’s lineup brings something for everyone. Let’s dive in.
Thomas Rhett & Niall Horan – ‘Old Tricks'
Thomas Rhett has teamed up with global pop star Niall Horan for a fresh take on ‘Old Tricks,' the standout track from the deluxe edition of his seventh album ‘About A Woman.' Injecting new energy into the feel-good anthem, Horan joins Rhett in celebrating the charm of honky-tonk nights, hangovers, and the lessons learned along the way. Blending country swagger with pop polish, the duo reflect on how time may bring change, but the spirit of youth — and the love of a good time — never fades. Originally released earlier in the year with Blake Shelton, Rhett is now infusing the track with a English flavour in celebration of him supporting Luke Combs in Edinburgh and Wembley next summer.
Kat Luna – ‘Back to You'
Kat Luna is releasing personal new single ‘Back to You' today. Uniquely, this song that tells the story of who she is also comes with a Spanglish version, an idea we really love. This is what Kat has to say about the song. “”‘Back To You' is the beginning of me starting to tell my story about who I really am. When I was a kid, I was so confident and sure, carefree, and able to just be me. But when I moved to Nashville at 19, I felt like I started to lose myself in an attempt to fit in, be thinner, seem more successful, or figure out whatever was making me feel lesser. This song talks about me looking back at the little girl I was growing up and finding that person again – I’m so glad I found her. I hope others listening to this song find that person inside themselves too.” It begs comparisons with Dasha's recent “Anna' project, another look at what the industry, society and social media can do to women trying to make careers in the music industry.
Kelleigh Bannen – ‘Talk Shit'
Following her standout collaboration with Charles Kelley on ‘Nothin On'—a track that landed on Billboard’s “6 Must-Hear New Country Songs” list—Kelleigh Bannen returns with ‘Talk Shit,' a cheeky, high-energy anthem that puts a playful spin on small-town gossip. Brimming with wit and personality, the song’s irresistible hook captures Bannen’s fearless charm while winking at the universal truth that everyone loves a little drama. Early teasers have already racked up over 33,000 views and sparked 2,200+ new followers across social media, signalling strong buzz ahead of release. Featured in Rolling Stone, The Tennessean, Music Row Magazine, and more, Bannen continues to solidify her place as one of country music’s most dynamic and relatable voices. As she puts it, “‘Talk Shit’ is my playful wink at the way small-town gossip works… sometimes you just have to laugh and lean into the chatter instead of letting it get to you.”
Flatland Cavalry – ‘Gone'
Flatland Cavalry return with their new single ‘Gone,' produced by Dwight Baker and co-written by frontman Cleto Cordero alongside Ryan Beaver and Aaron Eshuis. Marking one of their first releases since 2024’s ‘Flatland Forever,' the track ushers in a bold new era for the Texas six-piece—Cordero, Jason Albers, Jonathan Saenz, Reid Dillon, Wesley Hall, and Adam Gallegos. Arriving ahead of their headline show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on October 20, ‘Gone' reflects on the band’s decade-long journey on the road and the bittersweet pull between life on tour and returning home. Cordero shares that the song, recorded earlier this year, “was closest to my heart as we transitioned from being gone for a month to being straight into the studio.”
Kip Moore – ‘The Crown'
Moore follows the superb ‘American Heartbreak' which rounded out the deluxe version of his last album, ‘Solitary Tracks' with a brand new rocker full of muscle, attitude and slide guitars. Driven by thumping drums and Moore's classic raspy vocals, ‘The Crown' is a real foot stomper in which he declares, “I've got something in my ear saying burn it all down, set it on fire,' hinting, as he often does in his songs, at a sense of freedom and relief at sloughing off modern life and the pressures that come with it.
