The project features Lee Brice, Old Dominion’s Matt Ramsey & Rebecca Lynn Howard
Edwin McCain is back with Lucky, his 11th full-length studio album and first collection of new material since 2011’s Mercy Bound. Produced by Lee Brice and Jerrod Niemann, and recorded at Brice’s Pump House Studios in Nashville, Lucky reflects both McCain’s gratitude for a career spanning more than three decades and his ever-present creative ambition. The project will be available on February 21st via BFD.
“The ‘90s are back in full force, and so am I,” jokes McCain, who took time away from the studio to focus on his family but never left the stage. Now, with Lucky, he’s ready to remind fans why his music remains as powerful as ever.
The album opens with “(Don’t Go) Chasing a Memory,” an emotional reflection on lost love and artistic perseverance, as McCain declares, “I still burn.” The track sets the tone for a record steeped in the raw, heartfelt storytelling that has defined his career. Meanwhile, “Lucky All the Time,” written for Edwin by Old Dominion, offers a rare upbeat moment—a celebratory nod to McCain’s good fortune in sustaining a lifelong music career. Featuring a duet by Edwin and Old Dominion’s Matt Ramsey, with backing harmonies from the band and Rebecca Lynn Howard, the song showcases the joy McCain found in the recording process, something he admits wasn’t always the case.
“Lee [Brice] has been after me for more than 12 years to do this album,” says McCain. “He changed my mindset. I never really enjoyed the process of recording in the studio. I just preferred the energy of playing live. I didn’t have the patience, and I was never satisfied with the results. But he, Jerrod [Niemann] and [engineer/mixer] Cody [LaBelle] made it a joyous experience for me.”
With Lucky, McCain also embraces his diverse musical influences, from the aching blues ballad “Love Me or Leave Me Alone” to the Southern rock-infused “Sing for You,” featuring fiery guitar work from Jedd Hughes. Tracks like “The Cheatin’” nod to his storytelling roots, while “Empire” reflects modern sensibilities, incorporating synth elements inspired by his experience watching EDM artist Illenium.
Beyond his recordings, McCain has expanded into television, producing and hosting Animal Planet’s Flippin’ Ships, and a satellite radio program on SiriusXM, Inside Music with Edwin McCain. Additionally, the father of three has recently found viral success on TikTok, where his witty, self-deprecating humor—often at the expense of his exasperated daughter—has won over a new generation of fans.
Fresh off recent tours with Hootie & the Blowfish, Collective Soul, and Lee Brice, McCain will hit the road again in 2025, including a highly anticipated summer run with Train, bringing Lucky to audiences nationwide.
