Ashley Monroe Gets Brutally Honest About Career Struggles in New Song ‘I Hate Nashville’
The track is featured on her surprise album, ‘Dear Nashville.’
Ashley Monroe; Photo Provided
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.
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)
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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