Caylee Hammack announces debut album with all-star duets

Collaborations feature Reba, Ashley McBryde and Tenille Townes

Capitol Nashville’s Caylee Hammack is all about the truth, the complete, whole unvarnished truth. That truth stains If it Wasn’t For You, her major label debut, with equal doses joy, courage and enough detail to break an axle. Available on August 14th, Hammack has announced the upcoming and anticipated debut release, with the redhead starlet co-writing and co-producing every track on the 13 song collection.

Hammack offered more insight into the forthcoming release, sharing the meaning behind the record’s name as she performs a new track on the album, “Gold,” which be seen below.

“I feel like I’m airing all my dirty laundry in this album in hopes of others feeling that honesty and vulnerability and in it, finding a safe haven to be themselves,” states Hammack. “I want the nitty gritty to shine through, that’s where the stories are. Every song on this record has a true story behind it, and now I can’t wait to tell those once people listen to the album!”

Currently nominated for two ACM Awards, Hammack takes listeners on an intimate journey, from growing up in Ellaville, GA, braving a medical scare and coming out the other side of a bad love that was the catalyst for her turning down a scholarship to Belmont University and ultimately arriving in Nashville, TN. Destiny – and a big lion heart – wouldn’t let the girl who saw Loretta Lynn at the Columbus Civic Center at 13 miss her life’s purpose. You can hear it in the quavering homage in “Sister,” the wide open power-resilience of “Mean Something,” or the straight up country of “Forged In The Fire” and the piercing truths of “Small Town Hypocrite.”

Some of country music’s most potent women have also thrown in on Hammack’s debut. Whether it’s Reba’s sassy “girl, I know” vocal on “Redhead” or singer/songwriters Ashley McBryde and Tenille Townes on “Mean Something,” Hammack is setting a bar for women across the genre.

It’s not just the lyrical load, though nearly every word is true. Just as importantly, the ferocity with which Hammack and co-producer Mikey Reaves came at these songs compels. As a producer, Hammack seeks to match the emotion to the recording. It’s not enough to hear the story, she wants listeners to experience the viscerality of it. Whether it’s the swaggering Tammy Wynette come uppance “Just Like You” or vulnerability and awe that permeates “Looking For A Lighter,” these tracks pull the listener in. Hammack understands, because her feelings fall around her in songs.

Currently nominated for ACM “New Female Artist Of The Year” and “Music Event Of The Year,” Hammack has been noted as an “Artist To Watch” by outlets including The Bobby Bones Show, Rolling Stone and HITS Magazine for her “voice to move mountains” (Rolling Stone). With her breakout Top 30 single “Family Tree” marking the most-added single at country radio by a female artist in over three years, Hammack has “created a kind of country music that’s larger — and brighter — than real life”(HITS Magazine). The Capitol Nashville recording artist has previously brought her unforgettable live set to opening slots for Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Trisha Yearwood, Brothers Osborne and some of country music’s biggest festivals.

Hammack is set to join Reba on her arena tour in 2021. The tour and duet were slated for spring, but postponed due to COVID-19.

1. Just Friends
2. Redhead (Featuring Reba McEntire)
3. Looking For A Lighter”
4. Preciatcha
5. Sister
6. Just Like You
7. King Size Bed
8. Forged In The Fire
9. Family Tree
10. Mean Something (Featuring Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes)
11. Small Town Hypocrite
12. Gold
13. New Level Of Life

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com