COLIN STOUGH UNLEASHES UNFILTERED NEW ANTHEM “WHITE TRASH”

May 2, 2025

Mississippi rebel Colin Stough returns today with his hard-edged new anthem, “White Trash”—out now. Listen Below.

Co-written by Stough, Jamie Collazo, and Kenny Whitmire, and produced by James LeBlanc and Phillip White, “White Trash” is a battle cry for the outcast — fueled by conviction and delivered with a devilish grin.

Driven by raw vocals and a defiant country-rock swagger, the unapologetic declaration finds Stough doing what he does best: stripping away pretenses and leaning full-tilt into every scar, setback, and stereotype with pride. Written and recorded in January, “White Trash” delivers on all fronts.

"I grew up on the 'other side of town' with the rest of the outcasts,” Stough says. “It used to hurt when my mom and I would get called white trash; I think this is my way of reclaiming that. I love where I come from; if that’s white trash, I’ll own it."

Stough will continue working on new music this spring before hitting the road for select performances throughout the summer and early fall. Full list of 2025 tour dates below.

COLIN STOUGH 2025 TOUR DATES

5/10: Jackson, MS (Mississippi Makers Festival)

6/7: Nashville, TN (CMA Fest)

7/18: Mize, MS (Watermelon Park Fest)

7/30: Sturgis, SD (Kickstands Bar & Grill)

8/9: Campbell, MO (Campbell Peach Fair)

9/20: Morehead, KY (Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival)

10/11: Salt Lake City, UT (Utah State Fair Park)

About Colin Stough

Born on the Mississippi-Alabama border, Colin Stough was raised on Southern rock and second chances. A self-taught guitarist and gravel-voiced storyteller influenced by The Allman Brothers, Conway Twitty, and Koe Wetzel, he first picked up a guitar at age 8, later trading in his prized possessions for a pawn shop acoustic — one he still plays today. After high school, he worked full-time as an HVAC tech until his mom pushed him to audition for American Idol Season 21. That leap launched a life-changing ride: a standout third-place finish, a deal with 19 Recordings / BMG Nashville, and a breakout debut with songs like “Bad Day” and “I Still Talk to Jesus.”

With a skinned-raw vocal and lyrics carved from lived experience, Stough has built a loyal following of nearly 750k across social platforms. His EPs Promiseland and Lookin’ For Home offer a no-frills portrait of a 20-year-old navigating scars, faith, and fire with Southern grit. He’s opened for acts like Chase Matthew, Drake White, and Kidd G, and is continuing to build his live show through 2025. A student of Skynyrd and the outlaw spirit, Stough isn’t chasing trends with his latest release "White Trash" — he’s telling the underdog’s truth, one song at a time.

COLIN STOUGH RETURNS TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME IN “AMEN” MUSIC VIDEO

August 1, 2024

19 Recordings/BMG Nashville artist Colin Stough is paying for his crimes in the official music video for the salvation-seeking “Amen,” as featured on his recent Lookin’ For Home EP. Directed by Luke Lowder and West Webb, fans can watch the CMT Premiere today (8/1), as it makes its broadcast debut on CMT, CMT Music, CMT Equal Play (on Pluto TV), and the Paramount Times Square Billboard.

Narrated by a broken soul pining for the simple days of his past, the footage dramatizes the trapped tone of the Stough, Jacob Durrett (also the producer), and Jordan Dozzi-penned lyrics. Inspired by frustration and homesickness felt out on the road, the clip visually compares a hotel room to a jail cell, as it tells the tale of a robbery gone wrong. Following a wounded fugitive on the run, the foreboding storyline tracks a man who succumbs to the demons at his door, and as a result, is choosing to make a change for good.

Taking his Lookin’ For Home EP on the road, Stough continues his trek this summer with fair and music festival dates, including select shows with Parmalee, The Lacs, Midland, and more. This fall, he’ll co-headline a run with fellow American Idol finalist Will Moseley.

ABOUT COLIN STOUGH:
While Country Rock phenom and Gattman, Mississippi, native Colin Stough is only knocking on the door to his twenties, he has traversed a long journey in a few short years – starting with his debut EP Promiseland and following up with a new EP Lookin’ For Home. After learning to play guitar at 8 years old, Stough first pursued his artistic dreams at 10, boldly trading childhood possessions for his first guitar at a local pawn shop – an instrument he still plays to this day. After graduating high school, the naturally gifted singer and self-taught songwriter began working full-time as an HVAC technician, before his mother convinced him to audition for American Idol. Impressing judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie, Stough stunned viewers and soon built a thriving fan base, finishing third on Season 21 of the show in 2023. He spent the ensuing months writing and recording original music, while also touring nationwide to put his blowtorch vocal and guitar-slinging edge on full display.  After signing with 19 Recordings/BMG Nashville, his distinctive mix of Southern Rock distortion and pure-Country style has helped Stough’s music rack up more than 19.8 MILLION global on-demand streams. Stough has headlined across the country and opened for established artists like Chase Matthew, Kidd G, and Drake White.

Colin Stough Drops Hard-Hitting Lookin’ For Home EP

July 12, 2024

Pairing burning passion and coming-of-age struggle with the raw strength of a supercharged vocal and stinging lyrical honesty, 19 Recordings/BMG Nashville artist Colin Stough stands tall where Country and modern Southern Rock collide in his brand-new Lookin’ For Home EP. Available across all streaming platforms and digital retailers, listen to Stough’s Lookin’ For Home EP here.

“This EP is really special to me. I connect with every song on this project, and I’m so grateful for the writers who came together and helped me make this body of work what it is. It’s a pretty good reflection of me and my different personalities too,” shares Stough. “‘Boat Somewhere’ is me on a lazy – ‘I don’t want to have a care in the world’ – kind of day. That’s just a fun one, while ‘Sober’ and ‘Amen’ are those darker records where there’s a bit more of my struggles with right and wrong, pain, loneliness, and heartbreak out on display. ‘Makes Two of Us’ and ‘Outside Lookin’ In’ are the relationship songs, and relationships are usually where I find myself struggling with my demons the most – and then there’s ‘Lookin’ For Home.’ I’ve felt out of place most of my life, like I can’t figure out where I’m meant to settle or even if I’m meant to settle down somewhere someday. So, I guess in the meantime, I’ll just keep wandering about and writing songs about the journey.”

Presenting a full-spectrum view of a free spirit on the run for something more, the Lookin’ For Home EP reveals Stough as a vulnerable storyteller who’s fearlessly exploring the push and pull between small-town comfort and the drive to leave his mark on the world. Co-penned with hit-makers like Rivers Rutherford, Jacob Durrett, Chase Matthew, and more, highlights include previously released songs like the craving “Makes Two of Us” and tormented “Sober” – plus the road-weary “Amen,” a foreboding ballad sung from the end of an emotional rope. Narrated by a broken soul pining for the simple days of the past – and praying for escape from the demons at his door – “Amen” matches Stough’s warm growl with a softer side, as it chases down a dreamer who’s ready to leave the fast life behind. A chilling rocker with a dynamic Southern rasp, the pure grit track helps bring Stough’s mix of dark and light themes into sharper focus. All about the contrast between living hard and living well with lyrics by Stough, Jacob Durrett (also the producer), and Jordan Dozzi, listen to “Amen” here.

Arriving as Stough continues to carve out his place in the genre, the Lookin’ For Home EP follows his debut EP Promiseland, which helped introduce the American Idol Season 21 finalist as a serious contender in Nashville and beyond.

After a head turning appearance at CMA Fest 2024 last month, Stough will spend the rest of the year on the road with a series of coast-to-coast fair and music festival dates, plus select shows with Austin Williams, Chase Matthew, Midland, and The Lacs. Find a full list of dates here. 

ABOUT COLIN STOUGH:

While Country Rock phenom and Gattman, Mississippi, native Colin Stough is only knocking on the door to his twenties, he has traversed a long journey in a few short years – starting with his debut EP Promiseland and following up with new EP Lookin’ For Home. After learning to play guitar at 8 years old, Stough first pursued his artistic dreams at 10, boldly trading childhood possessions for his first guitar at a local pawn shop – an instrument he still plays to this day. After graduating high school, the naturally gifted singer and self-taught songwriter began working full-time as an HVAC technician, before his mother convinced him to audition for American Idol. Impressing judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie, Stough stunned viewers and soon built a thriving fan base, finishing third on Season 21 of the show in 2023. He spent the ensuing months writing and recording original music, while also touring nationwide to put his blowtorch vocal and guitar-slinging edge on full display. After signing with 19 Recordings/BMG Nashville, his distinctive mix of Southern Rock distortion and pure-Country style has helped Stough’s music rack up more than 19.8 MILLION global on-demand streams. Stough has headlined across the country and opened for established artists like Chase Matthew, Kidd G, and Drake White.

KEEP UP WITH COLIN STOUGH

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LOST LOVE HAS LEFT COLIN STOUGH “SOBER”

May 31, 2024

Hot off the announce of new EP Lookin’ For Home, 19 Recordings/BMG Nashville artist Colin Stough delivers the official music video for his latest release off the six-track collection, “Sober.”

“This video shows the push and pull of memories after a breakup. Thinking back to the good times, trying to forget the bad as it’s happening, and looking for solace in all the wrong places,” shares Stough.

Directed by David Dutton with DP Alan Fisher, Stough takes a solo ride on his real-life Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail bike in the clip, while being tormented by vivid memories of a love gone wrong. Built around the bitter sting of a breakup, the slow-burner was co-written by Stough with Mason Thornley and Sam Martinez. All about missing someone so bad you can’t even numb the pain – “I could hang out all night / I could drink this bottle dry / Trying to get me gone and I ain't getting any closer / Without your love I’m sober” – a woozy mix from producer Martinez creates a tone that stands on the edgy fringe of Stough’s peers. Pairing down-tuned acoustic twang and a lonesome slide guitar, the song’s building blocks make for a weary ballad of emotional desperation. But when Stough’s powerful, bluesy vocal ruptures into the chorus, the true toll of finding no relief takes center stage.

Featured as a writer on every track, fans can now pre-save/pre-add Lookin’ For Home (out July 12) and get a preview of the project with “Sober” Below. Next taking this new music on the road, Stough’s stacking music festival dates like CMA Fest 2024 on June 8 on the Hard Rock Stage in Nashville, TN. Doubling up, the Season 21 finalist on American Idol will also join a program at Fan Fair X inside Music City Center on the CMA Close Up Stage for “Idol Hour with Chayce Beckham, HunterGirl, Colin Stough and ‘American Idol’ Season 22 Runner Ups Jack Blocker and Will Moseley.” Earlier in the week, Stough is tapped for a FREE performance during the 19 Takeover at 6th & Peabody on June 6. Follow along for updates on his jam-packed week of appearances during CMA Fest 2024 here.

ABOUT COLIN STOUGH:
While Country Rock phenom and Gattman, Mississippi, native Colin Stough is only knocking on the door to his twenties, he has traversed a long journey in a few short years – starting with his debut EP Promiseland and follow-up EP Lookin’ For Home (expected July 12). After learning to play guitar at 8 years old, Stough first pursued his artistic dreams at 10, boldly trading childhood possessions for his first guitar at a local pawn shop – an instrument he still plays to this day. After graduating high school, the naturally gifted singer and self-taught songwriter began working full-time as an HVAC technician, before his mother convinced him to audition for American Idol. Impressing judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie, Stough stunned viewers and soon built a thriving fan base, finishing third on Season 21 of the show in 2023. He spent the ensuing months writing and recording original music, while also touring nationwide to put his blowtorch vocal and guitar-slinging edge on full display. After signing with 19 Recordings/BMG Nashville, his distinctive mix of Southern Rock distortion and pure-Country style has helped Stough’s music rack up more than 19.8 MILLION global on-demand streams. Stough has headlined across the country and opened for established artists like Chase Matthew, Kidd G, and Drake White.

PHOTO CREDIT: RYAN “SPIDEY” SMITH
EP ARTWORK: MICHAEL SAVOIE

COLIN STOUGH IS LOOKIN’ FOR HOME – OUT 7/12

May 27, 2024

With the buzz around 19 Recordings/BMG Nashville artist Colin Stough building, the singer-songwriter claims a place to make his creative stand with the new EP, Lookin’ For Home. Releasing July 12, fans can now pre-save/pre-add Lookin’ For Home and get a preview of the project with pensive track “Sober” Below.

“Each one of these songs is a piece of my heart, and they outline trials and tribulations that I’ve been through personally. They’ve made me into who I am today,” shares Stough. “The EP title Lookin’ For Home comes from that feeling that something is missing – that no matter where you are, who you’re with, or what you’re doing, you feel like you don’t belong, and there’s something just over the horizon that would make it better.”

Carving out a high-energy corner at the intersection of Country and Southern Rock, Lookin’ For Homefeatures six songs sharpening Stough’s hard-edged vision of musical honesty. The follow-up to his Promiseland EP debut, Lookin’ For Home burns with even more passion and raw vocal strength, presenting a full-spectrum view of a free spirit on the run, who’s painfully aware of life’s difficult contradictions. Dealing with everyday themes like work and weekends, and true love and the torment of heartbreak, the set never shies away from the messy truth – and with Stough featured as a writer on every track, that messy truth often grapples with the dividing line between right and wrong, tradition and ambition, the push and pull between small-town comfort, and the drive to leave his mark on the outside world.

Meanwhile, all throughout songs like the recently released “Makes Two of Us,” Stough wraps reflections on vulnerability, hope, belonging, and more, in an electrifying new sound, fusing the familiar crunch of Country Rock with a dark, gravelly take. Weaving it all together with a dynamic Mississippi rasp, he matches down-home tenderness with icy explosions of pure power in equal measure, as a burgeoning star rises firmly on his own.

Delivered today (5/24), he further captures the crippling torment of a bleeding heart in “Sober.” Built around the bitter sting of a breakup, the slow-burning ballad was co-written by Stough with Mason Thornley and Sam Martinez. All about missing someone so bad you can’t even numb the pain – “I could hang out all night / I could drink this bottle dry / Trying to get me gone and I ain't getting any closer / Without your love I’m sober” – a woozy mix from producer Martinez creates a tone that stands on the edgy fringe of Stough’s peers. Pairing down-tuned acoustic twang and a lonesome slide guitar, the track’s building blocks make for a weary ballad of emotional desperation. But when Stough’s powerful, bluesy vocal ruptures into the chorus, the true toll of finding no relief takes center stage.

Taking his new music on the road this summer, Stough’s stacking music festival dates like CMA Fest 2024 on June 8 on the Hard Rock Stage in Nashville, TN. Doubling up appearances, the Season 21 finalist on American Idol will also join a program at Fan Fair X inside Music City Center on the CMA Close Up Stage for “Idol Hour with Chayce Beckham, HunterGirl, Colin Stough and ‘American Idol’ Season 22 Runner Ups Jack Blocker and Will Moseley.” Find additional details here.

ABOUT COLIN STOUGH:
While Country Rock phenom and Gattman, Mississippi, native Colin Stough is only knocking on the door to his twenties, he has traversed a long journey in a few short years – starting with his debut EP Promiseland and follow-up EP Lookin’ For Home (expected July 12). After learning to play guitar at 8 years old, Stough first pursued his artistic dreams at 10, boldly trading childhood possessions for his first guitar at a local pawn shop – an instrument he still plays to this day. After graduating high school, the naturally gifted singer and self-taught songwriter began working full-time as an HVAC technician, before his mother convinced him to audition for American Idol. Impressing judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie, Stough stunned viewers and soon built a thriving fan base, finishing third on Season 21 of the show in 2023. He spent the ensuing months writing and recording original music, while also touring nationwide to put his blowtorch vocal and guitar-slinging edge on full display. After signing with 19 Recordings/BMG Nashville, his distinctive mix of Southern Rock distortion and pure-Country style has helped Stough’s music rack up more than 19.8 MILLION global on-demand streams. Stough has headlined across the country and opened for established artists like Chase Matthew, Kidd G, and Drake White.

COLIN STOUGH CAN’T MOVE ON IN “MAKES TWO OF US” MUSIC VIDEO

May 10, 2024

19 Recordings/BMG Nashville artist Colin Stough can’t get an ex off his mind in the official music video for “Makes Two of Us.”

“The music video for ‘Makes Two of Us’ is about how your mind keeps wandering to your ex after a breakup. So, in the clip, you see these two characters living their daily lives while constant flashes of memories between them keep happening,” shares Stough. “It shows how often you’re just doing whatever, yet you find yourself completely lost in thought – thinking about the other person. It starts happening so often that you get to a point where you’re just kind of like, ‘Well, if I can’t get ‘em off my mind, what could it hurt to just go there again?’”

Directed by David Dutton with DP Alan Fisher, the Mississippi native stepped back into a real-life job he had during high school as a welder for the footage shot at Glenn Machine Works in Columbus, MS. The strong visuals add to the explosive temptation of the on-again-off-again romance as depicted in the roller-coaster lyrics penned by Stough with Alex Maxwell and Cole Taylor. Intrusive thoughts capture a conflicted heart caught in a feedback loop of heartbreak and loneliness, and about to give in just one more time.

Showcasing a complex artist-writer who continues to hone his lyrical craftsmanship, the pitch-black production from Maxwell further helps put the growing urge in sonic terms – while also eclipsing the power of Stough’s Promiseland EP debut. With a heavy-handed Rock foundation, distorted guitars thunder alongside pounding drums and streaks of steel guitar lightning, but Stough weaves in tender moments to explore the emotional conflict as well – all while his volcanic Southern vocal fights confusing signals. On the one hand, he should resist what’s surely the start of another toxic cycle. But on the other, the craving for connection is real, and, hopefully, coming from both sides.

With more new music promised soon, Stough’s stacking music festival appearances this summer like CMA Fest 2024 on June 8 on the Hard Rock Stage in Nashville, TN. The same day, the Season 21 finalist on American Idol will also join a program at Fan Fair X inside Music City Center on the CMA Close Up Stage for “Idol Hour with Chayce Beckham, HunterGirl, Colin Stough and ‘American Idol’ ‘24 Winner and Runner-Up.” Find additional details here. 

ABOUT COLIN STOUGH:
While Country Rock phenom and Gattman, Mississippi, native Colin Stough is only knocking on the door to his twenties, he has traversed a long journey in a few short years – starting with his debut EP Promiseland, released in the fall of 2023. After learning to play guitar at 8 years old, Stough first pursued his artistic dreams at 10, boldly trading childhood possessions for his first guitar at a local pawn shop – an instrument he still plays to this day. After graduating high school, the naturally gifted singer and self-taught songwriter began working full-time as an HVAC technician, before his mother convinced him to audition for American Idol. Impressing judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie, Stough stunned viewers and soon built a thriving fan base, finishing third on Season 21 of the show in 2022. He spent the ensuing months writing and recording original music, while also touring nationwide to put his blowtorch vocal and guitar-slinging edge on full display. After signing with 19 Recordings/BMG Nashville, his distinctive mix of Southern Rock distortion and pure-Country style has helped Stough’s music rack up more than 19.8 MILLION global on-demand streams. Stough has headlined across the country and opened for established artists like Chase Matthew, Kidd G, and Drake White.

ARTWORK CREDIT: ELISSA FELMAN & NICK SARPA

COLIN STOUGH FIGHTS MIDNIGHT TEMPTATION IN “MAKES TWO OF US

April 19, 2024

19 Recordings/BMG Nashville artist Colin Stough battles the midnight temptation of an on-again-off-again romance in “Makes Two of Us.” Available across all streaming platforms and digital retailers, listen here.

“‘Makes Two of Us’ is about that after a breakup thing where you keep thinking about your ex. It’s those lonely moments when your brain kicks in and you start thinking about them, then you start debating on whether or not you should reach out just in case they’re thinking of you too,” shares Stough. “You find yourself wondering if they’re thinking of doing the same, even though you know that reaching out never gets you anywhere and is pretty much a horrible idea.”

Co-written by Stough with Alex Maxwell and Cole Taylor, the late-night breakup anthem of intrusive thoughts captures a conflicted heart caught in a feedback loop of heartbreak and loneliness, and about to give in just one more time. Showcasing a complex artist-writer who continues to hone his lyrical craftsmanship, its lyrics pass no judgment on who was right and who was wrong, instead zeroing in on the raw relatability of a wounded soul desperate for relief – consequences be damned.

Feeling like a gathering storm, the pitch-black production from Alex Maxwell helps put the growing urge in sonic terms – while also eclipsing the power of Stough’s Promiseland EP debut. With a heavy-handed Rock foundation, distorted guitars thunder alongside pounding drums and streaks of steel guitar lightning, but Stough weaves in tender moments to explore the emotional conflict as well – all while his volcanic Southern vocal fights confusing signals. On the one hand, he should resist what’s surely the start of another toxic cycle. But on the other, the craving for connection is real, and, hopefully, coming from both sides.

With more new music promised soon, Stough’s stacking music festival appearances this summer after headlining the past year while also supporting artists like Chase Matthew, Kidd G, and Drake White. Find upcoming show dates here. 

ABOUT COLIN STOUGH:
While Country Rock phenom and Gattman, Mississippi, native Colin Stough is only knocking on the door to his twenties, he has traversed a long journey in a few short years – starting with his debut EP Promiseland, released in the fall of 2023. After learning to play guitar at 8 years old, Stough first pursued his artistic dreams at 10, boldly trading childhood possessions for his first guitar at a local pawn shop – an instrument he still plays to this day. After graduating high school, the naturally gifted singer and self-taught songwriter began working full-time as an HVAC technician, before his mother convinced him to audition for American Idol. Impressing judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie, Stough stunned viewers and soon built a thriving fan base, finishing third on Season 21 of the show in 2022. He spent the ensuing months writing and recording original music, while also touring nationwide to put his blowtorch vocal and guitar-slinging edge on full display. After signing with 19 Recordings/BMG Nashville, his distinctive mix of Southern Rock distortion and pure-Country style has helped Stough’s music rack up more than 19.8 MILLION global on-demand streams. Stough has headlined across the country and opened for established artists like Chase Matthew, Kidd G, and Drake White.

COLIN STOUGH KEEPS THE FAITH WITH “I STILL TALK TO JESUS (ACOUSTIC)”

January 7, 2024

19 Recordings/BMG artist Colin Stough starts the new year off with a powerful message of resilience, as he offers up a fresh rendition of one of his biggest hits with “I Still Talk To Jesus (Acoustic).” Available across all streaming platforms and digital retailers, listen here.

A Country-Rock ballad of unshakable hope, “I Still Talk To Jesus” was originally part of Stough’s standout time on ABC’s American Idol in 2022. Eventually finishing third on Season 21, Stough released the aching anthem alongside his fellow Top 5 finalists, showing fans a moving example of inner toughness – and one heart’s weary-yet-determined refusal to give up on love.

Produced by Sean Rogers, Stough’s new acoustic take of the track further highlights that message. Using only guitar to back his dynamic Mississippi vocal, the rising star dials down his million-watt intensity for a captivating blend of wounded soul and falsetto grit, cutting straight to heart of one of his most popular songs. Meanwhile, a raw performance of the all-natural track – penned by Stough, Sean Thomas Rogers, and Francisco Martin – was captured and edited by Mike Rodway.

“I wanted to share this track to start the new year off right!” Stough says. “This was one of my biggest songs last year and a fan-favorite, so I hope everyone enjoys this acoustic take. It’s just one of them records where the words cut deep, and I think this version really lets ‘em shine.”

“I Still Talk To Jesus (Acoustic)” follows the recent release of “Sleep Tonight (Acoustic)” – another reimagined favorite revealing Stough’s heartfelt lyricism – and a gravelly rendition of the Elvis Presley holiday classic, “Blue Christmas.”

In October 2023, the emerging artist released his six-track debut EP, Promiseland, and has since captured the attention of both critics and fans alike. Country Now praises, “Promiseland showcases a deep level of honesty and authenticity,” as they further named him among their Country Next: Artists To Watch In 2024 list. Likewise, Stough made Holler’s New and Upcoming Country and Americana Artists You Need to Know roundup, hailing that he’s a “singer who was born to do this,” with a voice that’s “equally at home singing grungy Southern rock as it is twangy old school country.”

Spending last year headlining while also supporting artists like Kidd G and Drake White, he’s next on deck with Chase Matthew starting in February. Find upcoming show dates here.

About Colin Stough:

A 19-year-old Country Rock phenom and native of Gattman, Mississippi, Colin Stough has come a long way in a few short years – and with his debut EP Promiseland, the 19 Recordings/BMG artist is still just getting started. After learning to play guitar at 8 years old, Stough first pursued artistic dreams at 10, boldly trading childhood possessions for his first guitar at a local pawn shop – an instrument he still plays to this day. After graduating high school, the naturally gifted singer and self-taught songwriter began working full-time as an HVAC technician, before his mother convinced him to audition for American Idol. Impressing judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie, Stough stunned viewers and soon built a thriving fan base, finishing third on Season 21 of the show in 2022. He spent the ensuing months writing and recording original music, while also touring nationwide to put his blowtorch vocal and guitar-slinging edge on full display. After signing with 19 Recordings/BMG, his distinctive mix of Southern Rock distortion and pure-Country style have helped tracks like “I Still Talk To Jesus” and “Bad Day” rack up more than 9.4 MILLION global on-demand streams, and in September 2023, Stough released the single “Promiseland,” along with an official music video. The hard-hitting anthem is the title track to Stough’s debut EP, which is out now and puts the emerging artist on track to reach even more dreams in the future. Stough has headlined across the country and opened for established artists like Kidd G and Drake White. Next supporting Chase Matthew, stay tuned for much more to come.

KEEP UP WITH COLIN STOUGH

COLIN STOUGH LETS THOUGHTS RUN WILD IN “SLEEP TONIGHT (ACOUSTIC)”

December 10, 2023

19 Recordings/BMG artist Colin Stough bares a wounded soul in the stripped-down “Sleep Tonight (Acoustic),” sharing a new rendition alongside a performance video today (12/8). Available across all streaming platforms and digital retailers, listen here.

Written by Stough with Sean Thomas Rogers and Brian Congdon, the original version was part of his six-track debut EP, Promiseland – a crunchy power-confession full of worry over the fragility of life, which helped introduce the new-school Country rocker with a high-voltage vocal.

“I actually started this one as a poem, so a more raw version felt true to where this song came from. I was really hurting after hearing about another death in my life and I just started writing,” shares Stough. “Once I took that poem into the writing room, we got our guitars and started writing, so it really did begin as a guitar-vocal. Stripping back the production lets these lyrics be the focus and makes it hit even harder since this writing is so personal to me.”

“Sleep Tonight (Acoustic)” reveals the man behind the words, peeling back a rough exterior to showcase a deep-feeling artist within, as Stough tones his raspy vocal down to a soft buzz and sings with just an acoustic guitar in support. Produced by Sean Rogers, the reimagined tune ends up highlighting the relatable agony of the young artist’s lyrics, aching over thoughts that run wild each night. Meanwhile, up close-and-personal acoustic performance footage that was filmed and edited by Mike Rodway captures the internal struggle, as Stough sinks into emotional turmoil – before finding the strength to carry on.

Named among Holler’s New and Upcoming Country and Americana Artists You Need to Know,“Stough’s gravelly rock drawl is equally at home singing grungy Southern rock as it is twangy old school country, and Promiseland is a fitting showcase for every side of a singer who was born to do this.” “Sleep Tonight (Acoustic)” further follows the November release of Stough’s take on “Blue Christmas,” channeling a Rock icon and fellow Mississippi native for a gritty-but-still-tender version of Elvis Presley’s holiday classic.

A series of previous singles have so far racked up more than 9.4 MILLION global on-demand streams, and looking ahead, the promising singer-songwriter will continue to lead his band on stages all around the country. Spending this past year headlining while also supporting artists like Kidd G and Drake White, he’s next on deck with Chase Matthew in 2024. Find upcoming show dates here.

About Colin Stough:

KEEP UP WITH COLIN STOUGH

COLIN STOUGH REACHES THE COUNTRY ROCK PROMISELAND WITH DEBUT EP

October 23, 2023

Country newcomer and 19 Recordings/BMG artist Colin Stough reaches a milestone that was once just a pipe dream today (10/20), releasing his debut EP, Promiseland.

A heady collision of grungy Southern Rock and pure-Country style featuring six fresh tracks – with all but one co-written by Stough and produced by the likes of Alex Maxwell, Sean Rogers, and Austin Shawn – helps introduce a Mississippi-born vocal flamethrower and guitar slinger with a true underdog story.

Just 19 years old and coming off a standout third-place finish on Season 21 of American Idol in 2022, Stough was still in high school until last year and had been working full-time as an HVAC technician after graduation. But once his mother convinced him to audition for Idol, that life became history.

Now based in Nashville, and mixing a freight train of full-bodied vocal rasp with a down-home blend of Hard Rock and twang, his debut EP marks the culmination of a whirlwind journey – and the start of an exciting new chapter.

“This EP represents who I am and where I’m from,” Stough says. “It speaks to my life these past few years and has become a source of comfort for me. Maybe that’s why I called it Promiseland. I hope it can be that for you, too.”

Along with preparing for the release of Promiseland, Stough has spent 2023 headlining shows across the nation, while also supporting fellow rising star Kidd G and Country-Soul troubadour Drake White. A series of previous singles have so far racked up more than 9.4 MILLION global on-demand streams, with “‘Til the Day One Does” on deck.

A brooding ballad of romantic longing wrapped in dark Western sonics and Stough’s blowtorch vocal, the low-down anthem co-written by Stough alongside Geoff Warburton, Gavin Lucas, and Austin Shawn is all about an on-the-run loner who may be hard to love – but nevertheless, holds his head high. Crunchy guitars, banjo, and whispering steel set the stage for what’s to come.

"This song is badass, man. It just feels cool, like something you’re supposed to drive around and listen to,” Stough explains. “It touches on the fast lifestyle that I’ve been forced to become adjusted to – but also, it hints at an ability to change. Something that I think we all have to do and can relate to.

About Colin Stough:

A 19-year-old Country Rock phenom and native of Gattman, Mississippi, Colin Stough has come a long way in a few short years – and with his debut EP Promiseland, the 19 Recordings/BMG artist is still just getting started. After learning to play guitar at 8 years old, Stough first pursued artistic dreams at 10, boldly trading childhood possessions for his first guitar at a local pawn shop – an instrument he still plays to this day. After graduating high school, the naturally gifted singer and self-taught songwriter began working full-time as an HVAC technician, before his mother convinced him to audition for American Idol. Impressing judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie, Stough stunned viewers and soon built a thriving fan base, finishing third on Season 21 of the show in 2022. He spent the ensuing months writing and recording original music, while also touring nationwide to put his blowtorch vocal and guitar-slinging edge on full display. After signing with 19 Recordings/BMG, his distinctive mix of Southern Rock distortion and pure-Country style have helped tracks like “I Still Talk To Jesus” and “Bad Day” rack up more than 9.4 MILLION global on-demand streams, and in September 2023, Stough released the single “Promiseland,” along with an official music video. The hard-hitting anthem is the title track to Stough’s debut EP, which is out now and puts the emerging artist on track to reach even more dreams in the future. Stough has headlined across the country and opened for established artists like Kidd G and Drake White. Stay tuned for much more to come.

KEEP UP WITH COLIN STOUGH

COLIN STOUGH ANNOUNCES DEBUT EP PROMISELAND

September 29, 2023

Colin Stough today announces Promiseland, his debut EP after his successful run on American Idol earlier this year. The six-song project will be released on all DSPs on October 20. Pre-save/pre-add HERE.

The announcement accompanies the launch of the second single from the project, “Lonely Hour.” Stough describes the song as melancholic saying, “There are these moments after a breakup where everything kind of settles and the loneliness kicks in. It’s those moments after the day winds down before the night sets in and you can fall asleep. The moments where you can’t stop thinking about everything and you finally start feeling all of the pain and loss that comes after a relationship has run its course. It’s the lonely hour.” Listen now below.

Colin Stough is one of the most buzzed about newcomers in country music today, after taking top honors on Season 21 of American Idol. Stough, the “Brad Pitt of country music”, as dubbed by Katy Perry, “was born to be a star” and has “the taste” and the “vocal ability."

Stough has also released the pensive official music video for “Lonely Hour.” Shot in a single hotel room, the video is powerful in its simplicity. Stough says, “This song is a melancholic one and what’s more melancholy than sitting in an old motel with everything you own packed in a suitcase as the sun is setting. It’s loneliness at its deepest. That’s the feeling we wanted to capture in this video. It’s meant to be kind of simple but vulnerable, and honestly, just kind of sad.”

“Lonely Hour” and “Promiseland” follow the release of Stough’s debut song “Bad Day,” a testament to the working man’s plight to get through a particularly mundane day, and “I Still Talk To Jesus,” a deeply personal depiction of Stough’s struggle to find meaning in a lifetime of disappointments and letdowns, which ended up reaching the #5 slot on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales Charts and #18 on Billboard’s Digital Song Sales Charts.

Currently out on the road with headlining tour dates including a hometown show that sold out in one hour, Stough is ready for all of his fans to hear his debut project next month.

About Colin Stough:

Colin Stough, a horse-loving, motorcycle-riding 19-year-old from Gattman, Mississippi, has lived through a lot in his relatively short life. And, every ounce of heartbreak can be heard in his gravelly yet commanding rock-leaning vocal. Dubbed “the Brad Pitt of country music” by Katy Perry — the southern-rock, country artist is an artist to watch as he continues to build his fanbase, following his run to become a finalist on the 2023 season of American Idol. Now, Stough readies his debut EP Promiseland for October 20, which will feature the previously released title track and “Lonely Hour.”

KEEP UP WITH COLIN STOUGH

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