Ashley Monroe Gets Brutally Honest About Career Struggles in New Song ‘I Hate Nashville’

Ashley Monroe is turning heads with her surprise album Dear Nashville and its brutally honest track “I Hate Nashville,” which serves as a letter to the city she calls home, detailing the complicated love/hate relationship she has with the place that has both lifted her dreams and, at times, broken them.

She first teased the concept album with an open letter shared on Instagram, reflecting on her 23+ year journey in Music City. In it, she revisited the highs and lows of her career, from being signed and later dropped by multiple labels to earning two No. 1 songs and three GRAMMY nominations.

In the deeply personal message, Monroe opened up about feeling “underestimated” and “let down,” while pinpointing a moment that shifted her perspective: “Last fall after attending an industry event, it hit me so hard it took my breath away…’They’re never gonna see me…’ In that moment, I finally let myself feel how sad that makes me.”

Her vulnerability quickly struck a chord across the industry, with fellow artists flooding the comments section in support.

“I’ve looked up to you for so long.Your voice. Your songwriting…. Your daringness to say things that some people wouldn’t. 🔥 so ready for this song and next chapter! Continue to prove them wrong,” Priscilla Block wrote.

“This is the most honest thing I’ve read in the longest time. I feel this on the deepest level. I can’t wait to hear,” Lauren Alaina shared.

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A post shared by Ashley Monroe (@ashleymonroemusic)

Artists including Martina McBride, Sara Evans, LeAnn Rimes, and Ashley McBryde were also among those who filled the comments with messages of encouragement. 

Days later, Monroe unveiled the project, co-produced with Luke Laird, who also co-wrote each of the album’s eight tracks alongside her.

Monroe says “I Hate Nashville” served as the starting point for the project. The track offers a raw look at the frustrations that come with chasing a career in country music, highlighting how exhausting and discouraging the journey can be at times. At the same time, she acknowledges her deep love for the genre and everything it’s given her, ultimately admitting she “would do it all again.”

Monroe’s pure country vocals shine throughout the record, with “I Hate Nashville” standing out as a prime example of story-driven country music and a reminder of what she brings to the genre.

“I had a writing session on the books with Luke and I’d woken up that morning with a storm in my heart, like, ‘My gosh, have I done this all for nothing?’” Monroe explains. “When I got to Luke’s house that day, I knew I had to address my hurt feelings and get it out of my system. I told him the idea of ‘I Hate Nashville’ and he loved it. That song put everything into motion. We felt the window of all the muses open, and decided that I’m going to say what I feel and make it a whole project.”

“This album started with Ashley bringing the title, “I Hate Nashville,” to the room one day,” Luke Laird added. “The music is what brings most songwriters to this town – but when it comes to the business, that’s when people can get burned out.  So Ashley and I talked that day about our love for country music, the songs and the people – we had such a good day talking about all of our favorite Nashville memories and what led us both here. I love how honest Ashley is in her writing and just how pure her singing is. She really is the triple threat: artist, songwriter, and producer. We had so much fun making this record. No rules… just what felt right.”

At its heart, Dear Nashville goes beyond Monroe’s career in the city and leans into a broader, more intimate theme of unrequited love. As she shares, “The bottom line of the album is, I wish you loved me like I love you.”

Dear Nashville Track List:

1) I Hate Nashville (Luke Laird/Ashley Monroe)

2) Gettin’ Out Of Hand (Luke Laird/Ashley Monroe)

3) What Are We? (Luke Laird/Ashley Monroe)

4) Steal (Luke Laird/Ashley Monroe)

5) Haunted (Luke Laird/Ashley Monroe)

6) Dreaming (Luke Laird/Ashley Monroe)

7) Having It Bad (Luke Laird/Ashley Monroe)

8) Quittin’ (Luke Laird/Ashley Monroe)