Multi-platinum Sony Music Nashville recording artist Corey Kent today announced his new album Heartland Rock and Roll will arrive Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. Marking a defining moment in Kent’s career, the 16-track project finds the Oklahoma native fully embracing the gritty, genre-blurring sound he’s spent years carving out – one that fuses country, rock and soul into what he calls Heartland Rock and Roll.
“Heartland Rock and Roll is my third major label album, and it’s really the first time I’ve been able to finally name the sound I’ve been working towards my entire career,” shared Kent. “These songs sound like where I’m from. The lyrics span from nostalgia, to honest regrets and gratitude for the simple things I value most in life. From top to bottom, this is me. Every artist wants to leave their mark in music… a way to say, ‘I was here and I did it my way.’ This feels like mine. This is heartland rock and roll.”
Alongside the album announcement, Kent released his newest song “Cigarette Burns,” available everywhere now. The smoldering new track follows recent releases “Rocky Mountain Low” featuring Koe Wetzel, viral fan-favorite “Empty Words” and the stripped-down “Wannabe,” continuing to give listeners a taste of Kent’s next chapter. Listen to “Cigarette Burns” Below and pre-save Heartland Rock and Roll HERE.
Written by Zach John King, Ben Stennis, Lauren Hungate and Jameson Rodgers, the new track pairs Kent’s smoky vocal with a unique melodic haze as he reignites the feeling of a snuffed out love. A slow-burning ballad with a mellow flavor all its own, “Cigarette Burns” is rich, reflective and rolled up in a no-filter blend of premium grade desire, savoring the sting of a love that was bad for his health, but ultimately hurt so good.
“This song has such an infectious pulse and a perspective I’ve never heard before, which is why I gravitated towards it. One of my favorite records ever is Come Around Sundown by Kings of Leon,” Kent said. “There’s a few songs on there that have a very country western feel to them while keeping all of the laid back, beach town rock elements. This song feels like it would fit right into that record which is why I think I love it so much. I can’t wait for people to hear this because to me it feels like a fresh soundscape in country music. Timeless, yet new.”
“If you’re an artist, you hope to have that record – the one that when people think about you, they think about that record,” shared Kent. “For the first time in my career, I feel like I do.”
Infusing Oklahoma roots with the untamed energy of a rebel rocker, Kent has built his career on doing things his own way. From dancehalls and dive bars in Bixby, Oklahoma to earning two No. 1 singles at Country radio, over 1 billion career streams and multiple RIAA certifications, Kent’s rise has been steady, hard-earned and fueled by conviction. But with Heartland Rock and Roll, he leans fully into the differences that once made him feel like an outsider.
“I’ve been fighting my differences for so long, but now it’s like, ‘Let’s just use those,’” Kent explains. “I’m not trying to be anybody else. Bigger fades, ‘better’ lasts.”
Produced primarily by Austin Goodloe, with additional production from Jon Randall and Chris Farren, Heartland Rock and Roll captures golden-hour nostalgia, rugged honesty and the peace that comes with staying true to yourself. Across 16 tracks, Kent delivers vivid small-town soundtracks steeped in warm distortion, raspy country soul and heartland rock grit.
Fans first got a glimpse into the album’s sonic direction with “Rocky Mountain Low (feat. Koe Wetzel),” which is Top 10 on the chart and continues its climb at Country radio, followed by “Empty Words,” which was released early due to fan demand with more than 20 million social media views. Most recently, “Wannabe” showcased the project’s stripped-back emotional core with Kent describing the song as a “cowboy campfire ballad” about finding fulfillment in life’s simplest moments.
Now, “Cigarette Burns” adds another layer to the album’s emotional depth, delivering a smoky, slow-burning anthem about a love that lingers long after it’s gone.
The forthcoming album follows Kent’s breakout projects Blacktop and Black Bandana, which established the singer-songwriter as one of country music’s most compelling and unconventional rising voices. To date, Kent has earned Platinum certification for “Something’s Gonna Kill Me,” Gold certification for “This Heart” and a Triple-Platinum certification for his No. 1 breakthrough hit “Wild As Her.”
Next week, Kent is set to bring his high-energy live show to Nashville, performing across three stages on Thursday, June 4: Billboard Country Live at Category 10, Gibson Garagefest Sony Nashville Takeover at Gibson Garage Nashville and Spotify House at Ole Red Nashville.
Rolling Stone has praised Kent for giving “the region’s signature sound a shot of mainstream sensibility,” while CMT and the Opry NextStage program have recognized him as an artist to watch. He has also toured alongside Morgan Wallen, Jason Aldean, Parker McCollum, Jon Pardi and Koe Wetzel.
For the latest news and information about Corey Kent, visit coreykentofficial.com.
