Cole Swindell Opens Up About the Long Road to His New Album, ‘Spanish Moss’

Cole Swindell has finally unleashed his new album, Spanish Moss, and he’s getting real about the recording process, the pressure he felt when making the album, and how taking a step back to live his life ultimately made him realize he wasn’t quite finished. 

During an open and honest conversation with members of the Nashville media this week, Swindell admitted that the album making process had its share of ups and downs.   

“This album, for me to love it this much, it sure didn’t feel like that the whole time. I’m just being honest,” he confessed. “Just going into making an album after Stereotype with ‘She Had Me At Heads Carolina,’ ‘Never Say Never’ with Lainey Wilson. I mean… just, come on. You don’t want to think about that at the time, you just want to enjoy that.”

Recognizing the pressure he felt coming off what was undoubtedly the biggest album of his career so far, the Georgia native also realized, “Hey, this album’s not going to make itself.” 

Just before getting engaged and beginning to plan his wedding, Swindell says he went into the studio with Zach Crowell and cut “seven or eight songs.” While he knew there was more work to be done, Swindell says was happy to get a start on the project. 

That’s when life happened and making an album was no longer his first priority. 

“I think after those songs I kind of put the album on the back burner, not on purpose,” he pointed out. “I’ve waited a long time to just live life and not have to worry about that for a minute. And I think getting engaged, getting married and just doing that and then finally waking up and saying, ‘I’m not finished. It’s not even close to finished.’ So that’s kind of when it all started back.” 

Getting back into album mode, Swindell spent time writing and combing through songs that were pitched to him. He says it was “an eyeopener” realizing just how much work had to be done to complete the project. 

A true labor of love, Swindell poured everything into the project, determined to ensure they had “the right songs.” To his surprise, some of the most important tracks came together just in the nick of time.

“I just knew it wasn’t quite there, it just didn’t cover all the bases yet and it wasn’t ready,” he explained. “And I think as frustrating as it was, I think the moment it all kind of came together, a lot of these songs came the last week before, a day before we went in the studio to cut for the last time. And it’s two albums in a row that’s happened. And they were some of the biggest songs of the whole thing.”

Although the process didn’t unfold the way Swindell initially imagined, he admits he’s grateful for how it all came together in the end.

“It’s just another reminder that I’m not in control of my plan. That’s not how it’s going to happen. And it usually works out a lot better than I had it [planned]…but finally I got it all and I’m like, ‘I’ll go play this for anybody anywhere.’ I’m proud of it.”

Among the album’s 21 tracks is the chart-topping single, “Forever To Me,” and the previously-released fan-favorite “Kill A Prayer.” 

Songs like “Left To Get Right” and “Bottom Of It” will quickly become the soundtrack to fans’ Saturday nights but it’s the tender moments like the heartfelt “Dale Jr.” and the grief-stricken “Heads Up Heaven” where Swindell seems to shine the most. 

After previously releasing “You Should Be Here” in honor of his late father, Swindell says he wanted to find a way to honor his late mom as well. That’s how “Heads Up Heaven” came to be. 

“I know she, since I moved up here, she couldn’t believe anything that was happening. It’s just to see the shock on her face. I’m like, I know, trust me, I feel the same. But I think when I had that title, ‘Heads Up Heaven,’ the whole point of it was the lyric in the song is I guess I just wanted you to know what you’re getting. Just giving them a heads up. She is an angel,” he explained. “That kind of was the whole idea behind it.”

He continued, “One of my favorite lines I’ve ever been part of writing is ‘She was always tellin’ me about you/ Now I bet she’s tellin’ you about me.’ That’s why I write songs. And even the sad ones, those seem to be the ones that mean the most. And I’m cool with that. That’s why I love country music, but I can’t have a set full of those songs. So I like to have some fun ones in there too. But those are, I think really, who I am and the storytelling part.”

2025 is shaping up to to be quite the year for Swindell. In addition to releasing his new album and expecting his first child with his wife, Courtney, the multi-Platinum-selling superstar and multi–ACM Award-winner is also gearing up to hit the road on his headlining Happy Hour Sad Tour. The trek, which features special guests Priscilla Block, Logan Crosby and Greylan James, will kick off on September 4 in Toledo, OH and continue through October 26 with stops across Georgia, Colorado, Washington, Florida and more.