The song is the latest from the American Idol contestant
19 Recordings/BMG Nashville artist Colin Stough turns up the volume on his Southern rock-country edge with the release of “20 Bucks,” out now. Bold and uncompromising, the Mississippi native—who rose to national recognition as a Top 5 finalist on ABC’s American Idol in 2023 and has amassed over 80 million streams—delivers a powerful performance marked by gritty vocals and a rebellious swagger.
“’20 Bucks’ is that moment when you’re down on your luck, she’s gone with another man, money’s tight—but you’re still out here trying to have a good time,” shares Stough.
Raw, unflinching, and soaked in Southern grit, “20 Bucks” finds Colin Stough channeling heartbreak into an edgy anthem. Penned by Stough, along with Kevin Monahan and Will Pattat, and produced by James LeBlanc and Phillip White, the biting honesty of the track captures the sting of betrayal, the temptation of vices, and the struggle of scraping by with little more than twenty dollars to ease the pain. Fueled by distorted guitars, swagger, and Stough’s unapologetically rough-edged vocals, “20 Bucks” turns heartache into a battle cry for anyone who’s ever been cheated on, left behind, or pushed to their breaking point.
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 latest song, “20 Bucks,” keeps with the no-holds-barred theme.
