19 Recordings/BMG Nashville artist Colin Stough gets vulnerable on his brand-new ballad, “Best For You,” out now. Penned by Stough along with Phillip Kane, the new track slows the pace after the up-tempo energy of “White Trash” and his recent release, “20 Bucks.” With growing streaming momentum, a rapidly expanding fanbase, and strong engagement across socials and live shows, the Mississippi native and American Idol finalist’s newest release offers a heartfelt, country lyric as it mines his emotional depths. Stough shared the story behind the song and an intimate acoustic performance live last night on Instagram.
“This song’s about loving somebody and watching ’em walk away like it’s nothing, but still wanting the best for them,” shares Stough. “Now felt like the right time to release this since the seasons are changing and y’all were begging me on socials to drop it. Hope y’all like it.”
“Best for You” by Colin Stough is a raw, heart-on-the-sleeve country ballad about loving someone enough to let them go. Through imagery of airplanes, streetlights, and unanswered calls, the lyrics paint the pain of watching someone move on while you’re still stuck in the hurt. Even as he admits he keeps coming back and can’t numb the heartbreak, the chorus lands on a powerful truth: no matter how bad it gets, he doesn’t wish her ill will. In the end, the love stays unconditional. He still wants the best for her, even if it breaks him.
About Colin Stough
Born and raised on the Mississippi-Alabama line, 21-year-old Colin Stough was brought up 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 eight, 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 breakout songs like “Sober,” “’Til The Day One Does,” and 2025’s hard-edged anthem, “White Trash.”
With a skinned-raw vocal and lyrics carved from lived experience, Stough has built a loyal following of over 800k across social platforms. His EPs Promiseland and Lookin’ For Home offer a no-frills portrait of a young man navigating life with Southern grit, and his recent releases, “White Trash,” “20 Bucks,” and “Best For You,” keep with the no-holds-barred, hold-nothing-back theme. On the road, 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 — he’s telling the underdog’s truth, one song at a time.
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