Ashley Cooke Announces Debut Album, Plots First-Ever Headlining Tour

Ashley Cooke took to the Grand Ole Opry stage to announce the big news of her debut album shot in the dark, dropping on July 21. 

“The last year of my life has been crazy and wonderful in so many ways, but I think the next year might be even better…” Cooke said in the coveted circle. “It’s been full of bucket list moments for me… I made my Opry debut, signed my first deals, went on tours with my heroes, and lived a lot of life in the moments in between. This album is about all of that — and it’s about the magic that can come if you really take risks in life and love. It’s a huge honor to announce my debut album at a place that means so much to me. So, without further ado on July 21st, I’ll release my first album shot in the dark, and I can’t wait for each of you to hear it. Thank you to everyone who helped get me here, and thank you for making me feel so safe to take a shot in the dark.”

To celebrate the announcement, Cooke gave a live performance of the closing track “state i’m in,” at the Opry.

The 24-track album will be among one of the longest debut albums by a female country artist to date. It will include guest slots from many of country music’s hottest names, such as Caillat, Nate Smith, Jackson Dean, and Brett Young.

Cooke fully invests in her sun-kissed blend of two-lane pop country throughout this album. She opens her heart to tell the true tales of love and she prolifically captures that twenty-something feeling of not being afraid to chase your dreams, creating your own path, and taking risks. Cooke’s debut album invites listeners to join her while she fearlessly jumps into the whirlwind of life’s roller coaster.

Ahead of the July 21 release, Cooke shared three new tracks: “tastes like,” “shot in the dark” and “mean girl (feat. Colbie Caillat).” 

Later this summer, Cooke will take her new music on the road when she embarks on her first-ever headline tour alongside rising artists Matt Schuster and Vincent Mason. 

“Putting out my debut album is already a dream in itself, but to experience the roller coaster journey of this album together, in person each night, is why I do what I do and I’ll cherish every moment,” Cooke shared in a statement. “It’s an incredible opportunity to have talented artists like Matt Schuster and Vincent Mason joining me on this tour, and I’m counting down the days til I can see y’all out there!”

See below for a tracklist and a list of tour dates.

shot in the dark Tracklist

1. “tastes like” (Ashley Cooke, Jordan Minton, Emily Weisband, Corey Crowder)

2. “it’s been a year” (Ashley Cooke, Will Weatherly, Brett Tyler)

3. “see you around” (feat. Nate Smith) (Ashley Cooke, Brett Tyler, Will Bundy)

4. “shot in the dark” (Ashley Cooke, Jordan Minton, Emily Weisband, Corey Crowder)

5. “moving on with grace” (Ashley Cooke, Rocky Block, Jake Mitchell)

6. “getting into” (Ashley Cooke, Emily Weisband, Will Weatherly)

7. “enough to leave” (Ashley Cooke, Matt Roy, Lauren Weintraub)

8. “i almost do” (Ashley Cooke, Trevor Rosen, Josh Osborne)

9. “mean girl” (feat. Colbie Caillat) (Ashley Cooke, Colbie Caillat, Nicolle Galyon, Jimmy Robbins)

10. “running back” (Ashley Cooke, Emily Weisband, Will Weatherly)

11. “good thing going” (Ashley Cooke, Matt Dragstrem, Brett Tyler, Geoff Warburton)

12. “next to you” (Ashley Cooke)

13. “good to be back” (Ashley Cooke, Hunter Phelps, Jameson Rodgers, Alysa Vanderheym)

14. “what are you on fire about” (feat. Jackson Dean) (Lainey Wilson, Jason Nix, Luke Dick)

15. “say no more” (Devin Dawson, Donovan Woods, Travis Wood)

16. “tryin’ to love you” (Ashley Cooke, Hillary Lindsey, Chase McGill, Jimmy Robbins)

17. “back in the saddle” (Josh Kerr, Jordan Reynolds, Jordan Minton)

18. “your place” (Ashley Cooke, Jordan Minton, Mark Trussell)

19. “dirt on ’em” (Ashley Cooke, Jessi Alexander, Aysa Vanderheym)

20. “build a bridge” (Sasha Sloan, Ryan Hurd, Geoff Warburton, Henry Agincourt Allen)

21. “get you” (Ashley Cooke, Jacob Durrett, John Byron)

22. “never til now” (feat. Brett Young) (Ashley Cooke, Matt Roy)

23. “gonna get” (Ashley Cooke, Sasha Sloan, Blake Pendergrass, David Garcia)

24. “state i’m in” (Ashley Cooke, Emily Weisband, Jordan Reynolds)

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Ashley Cooke’s shot in the dark Tour

Aug. 23, 2023 in Panama City, Fla. at Holiday Inn Resort *

Aug. 24, 2023 in Dothan, Ala. at Rain Dothan *

Aug. 25, 2023 in Montgomery, Ala. at Range 231 N *

Sept. 2, 2023 in Macon, Ga. at The Hummingbird Stage & Taproom **

Sept. 6, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pa. at Milkboy **

Sept. 7, 2023 in Allston, Mass. at Brighton Music Hall **

Sept. 8, 2023 in New York, N.Y. at Mercury Lounge **

Sept. 14, 2023 in Santa Cruz, Calif. at The Catalyst- Atrium **

Sept. 15, 2023 in San Francisco, Calif. at Café du Nord **

Sept. 16, 2023 in Sacramento, Calif. at Goldfield Trading Post **

Sept. 19, 2023 in Morro Bay, Calif. at The Siren **

Sept. 21, 2023 in San Diego, Calif. at Moonshine Beach **

Sept. 22, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nev. at Stoney’s Rockin’ Country

Sept. 23, 2023 in Pioche, Nev. at Thompson’s Opera House **

Sept. 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, Calif. at The Roxy **

Oct. 11, 2023 in Wyandotte, Mich. at District 142 **

Oct. 12, 2023 in Chicago, Ill. at Joe’s on Weed St. **

Oct. 19, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn. at Basement East *

Oct. 20, 2023 in Athens, Ga. at 40 Watt Club *

Oct. 21, 2023 in Birmingham, Ala. at Zydeco *

Nov. 2, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio at The Basement **

Nov. 4, 2023 in Rootstown, Ohio at Dusty Armadillo **

Nov. 9, 2023 in Atlanta, Ga. at Terminal West **

Nov. 10, 2023 in Rome, Ga. at Peaches **