Ashley Cooke Unveils Sophomore Album Plans Alongside Irresistible New Track “high school sweetheart”

Ashley Cooke has fans buzzing after unveiling both her sophomore album announcement and a brand new track titled “high school sweetheart.”

After a mysterious billboard appeared in Nashville teasing the release and prompting fans to call a phone number to hear a snippet, Cooke surprised listeners on Friday with the full drop of “high school sweetheart.”

The new track was written by Cooke alongside Boy Matthews, Cleo Tighe, Lauren Hungate, and AFTERHRS, and produced by legendary hitmaker Dann Huff. Lyrically, the song takes aim at gossip and petty drama, drawing a line between real-life maturity and lingering high school behavior that can still show up in adult relationships. Throughout the track, Cooke addresses a relentless critic who seems fixated on her, choosing instead to rise above the noise with confidence and composure.

“Do you think you’ll get a gold star/ Playin’ telephone all around town, town, town/ If bein’ bitter was a work of art/ You’d be hangin’ in the Louvre right now, now, now/ Yeah, they say in the country/ You catch more flies with honey/ Girl, I’ll even give you a jar/ Bein’ petty ain’t gon’ get you far/ This ain’t high school, sweetheart,” she sings.

Alongside the release of the song, Cooke also revealed details about her upcoming self-titled sophomore album, set to arrive on August 14 via Big Loud Records/Back Blocks Music. She describes the project as a “coming-of-age record disguised as a relationship album,” co-written with acclaimed songwriters including Liz Rose, Lori McKenna, and Ashley Gorley.

In addition to “high school sweetheart,” the album will feature fan-favorite tracks such as “baby blues” (a recent No. 1 on SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown) along with “the hell you are,” which is currently climbing the country radio charts, and the recently released “xs.”

Cooke is set for a busy stretch ahead, beginning with a co-hosting and performance slot at “ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash” during ACM Awards Week on May 16 at Mandalay Bay Beach in Las Vegas. The event will also feature performances from Flatland Cavalry, Tucker Wetmore, Braxton Keith, and more. 

Looking ahead to summer, Cooke will continue hitting the festival circuit, with appearances lined up at major events including CMA Fest, Hoofbeat, and more.