Country Next: Elizabeth Nichols
We’re proud to showcase country music’s brightest new stars through our Country Next series. In this installment, we talk to Elizabeth Nichols.
Elizabeth Nichols; Photo by Kirt Barnett
Rising singer-songwriter Elizabeth Nichols was on the path to becoming a lawyer when everything changed. While studying for law school, she began writing songs, lyrics packed with honesty, cleverness, and grit. It wasn’t long before those songs began turning heads and doors started opening. Soon, Nichols found herself on tour with Wyatt Flores, performing at Nashville’s iconic Bluebird Cafe, and opening shows for artists like Little Big Town and Russell Dickerson.
Then came the moment that changed everything: Kelly Clarkson covered Nichols’ breakout song “I Got a New One” during a “Kellyoke” segment on The Kelly Clarkson Show. Nichols’ reaction, and the performance, quickly went viral. Within just four days, the single’s streams surged by 462%, it debuted at No. 25 on Billboard’s Emerging Artist Chart, entered the Top 45 on Apple Music’s Today’s Country playlist, and landed on Spotify’s Viral Charts in the U.S., Australia, Norway, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. It also soared to No. 1 on the iTunes Country chart and No. 2 across all genres.
Her debut EP Tough Love soon followed. Produced by Travis Heidelman, Steve Rusch, Jackson Foote, and Nichols herself, the seven-track collection is a fresh, no-filter take on life and love. Reminiscent of early Kacey Musgraves, standout tracks include “Ain’t Country” aimed at poser cowboys and “Bible Belt,” which calls out religious hypocrisy.
“I was planning to be a lawyer and studying for law school when I started writing this project, so it’s pretty surreal to be putting out my debut EP and seeing ‘I Got A New One’ take off like it has. It’s all very exciting,” Nichols shared. “I hope these songs strike a chord in some way, whether it makes people laugh or the tough love I’m dishing makes them think twice about what is going on in their own lives.”
Born in Texas, raised on a Kentucky farm, and educated in Oklahoma and Australia, Nichols brings a unique perspective to country music, and she’s only just getting started.
We recently caught up with her to talk about her wild journey, musical influences, and the stories behind Tough Love.
What made you start pursuing music? And who are some of your musical influences?
I started singing in church as a little girl so I’ve always been around music. I grew up on gospel music like CeCe Winans and Marvin Sapp. I started to write music because I loved the storytelling in the country music I grew up on especially artists like Toby Keith, John Prine, Kacey Musgraves and Queen Dolly.
Your lyrics are clever, bold, and often funny—how do you approach writing songs that blend humor and heart?
I think life is funny. A lot of my songs start off as a comment I’ve said or heard in life that elicited a laugh. I think if something is funny in conversation, you can package that emotion into a song with, hopefully, the same effect.
Did you have a “first big moment” in town where it really hit you…”I belong here?”
I think from the jump I felt so connected to Nashville’s spirit and was welcomed into the songwriting community here. Even before I released music, songwriters in town were so accepting and kind to me. Working with such talented people has taught me so much about the craft. It’s a blessing for sure.
What was your initial reaction when you saw Kelly Clarkson had covered “I Got A New One” on her show?
I screamed. My whole family was calling each other and freaking out. It was such a joyous moment. Then I ordered barbecue and ate it on my couch to really complete the celebration.
Can you tell us the story behind “I Got A New One”? What inspired it?
I was a Writing/English major in college so I’ve always approached writing songs similarly to how I approach writing a story. With “I Got A New One,” I knew what I wanted the song to look like and where I wanted the “plot twists,” it was just a matter of turning that into music. So I brought the outline into my first co-write here in town and Jackson Foote and I ended up writing the entire song without chords or a melody in place at all, which is pretty uncommon. It’s crazy to think that was the first song I’d written in town.
How do you think you’ve grown as an artist since your first release up to this EP?
I’ve definitely learned so much about my music and taste. Being able to write 5 days a week has really helped me develop my voice and practice what I love to do.
If someone only had time to listen to one song from the EP, which one would it be and why?
I think I would send them to “Bible Belt” because I think it’s a good representation of my sense of humor and style. It’s cheeky, honest and a little quirky. People always get a kick out of it when I play it live.
How does it feel to release something more fully formed like an EP versus singles? Is there more pressure, or more freedom?
It felt very exciting! I love this group of songs, and getting to put more out into the world felt really gratifying. These songs are some of the first I ever wrote, and some of the most recent, so I think it’s pretty beautiful how they fit together and show my songwriting journey.
How do you hope people describe you as an artist five years from now?
I hope people describe me as genuine. I always try to put out stuff that sounds like me.
Do you have a favorite song to play live right now? One that always gets a crowd reaction?
I love playing “Mama” live. People always look kinda shocked and laugh— same goes for “Bible Belt.” Any song that elicits a strong facial reaction is always a fun one to me.
What can fans look forward to from you in the future?
More shows! More music! I’ve got a new song coming out in August. I’m so excited to just get more out there in the world and meet more people on the road.
Fans can keep up with Elizabeth Nichols on Instagram.
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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