Ashley Cooke Unveils Two Emotional New Tracks, ‘famous to frances’ and ‘johnny ‘n june’ 

Ashley Cooke is offering not one, but two new previews of her upcoming self-titled sophomore album, with the release of “famous to frances” and “johnny ‘n june.” 

Arriving August 14 via Big Loud Records/Back Blocks Music, ashley cooke will showcase the singer-songwriter’s ability to turn deeply personal experiences into relatable stories. Both of today’s releases serve as perfect examples of Cooke’s ability to dive into complicated emotions that come with heartbreak, as they each offer a different perspective on love, loss and moving forward.

“famous to frances”

Written by Cooke alongside Johnny Clawson and Kyle Sturrock while on a bus weekend “somewhere in NY,” “famous to frances” is a raw and far too relatable story depicting the turmoil of a complicated relationship. Cooke paints the picture of a guy who isn’t necessarily a major part of her everyday life, in fact most people around her don’t even know he exists, but he still takes up a huge amount of emotional space in her mind.

The title references her real-life therapist, Frances, who knows all the details about this person because she’s the one hearing about him during their regular sessions. The two of them spend so much time helping Cooke unpack the relationship, her feelings for him and why she still struggles to let go that he ends up becoming “famous” to Frances. Through mid-tempo airy melody, the songstress creates an honest look at the conflict between knowing what’s best for you and still holding onto feelings.

“johnny ‘n June”

The second track to arrive today, “johnny ‘n June,” was penned by Cooke with Lauren Hungate, Emily Weisband and Will Weatherly. These songwriters depict the lingering heartbreak of a relationship that was never fully defined, but somehow still felt like it would last forever.

The tune offers a nod to one of music’s most iconic love stories, but Cooke’s emotional storytelling actually points to a memory of falling for someone named Johnny in the month of June. She offers vivid imagery while reflecting on the time they shared and explores the difficulty of letting go of a connection that has left her wondering if she’ll ever find that same kind of spark again.

“I kissed a friend in February/ Said he saw us gettin’ married/ So I ran away the way I always do/ I met a mama’s boy in August/ Yeah but if I’m bein’ honest/ My mind the whole time just went back to Johnny ‘n June,” Cooke sings on the chorus.

Both produced by renowned producer Dann Huff, “famous to frances” and “johnny ’n june” offer another glimpse into the depth of Ashley Cooke’s upcoming sophomore album. The project features a collection of standout tracks, including her current Country radio hit “baby blues,” recent hit “the hell you are,” “xs” and “high school sweetheart.”

Cooke is also preparing to embark on her upcoming global headline run, the baby blues world tour, which launches on September 17 at Globe Iron in Cleveland and is set to continue through February 25, where she will wrap up the run at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. In between, the 28-date trek include stops in major cities throughout the US and UK.