Hailey Whitters Channels Small-Town Dreams and Big-Time Charm on New Album, ‘Corn Queen’
“I’ve waited a long time to put out this record,” Whitters admits.
Hailey Whitters; Photo by Harper Smith
Hailey Whitters is embracing her midwestern roots with the release of her latest album, Corn Queen.
The 16-song project reunites the Iowa native with her longtime collaborator, and now husband, Jake Gear, who returns as producer. Across the album, Whitters reflects on the ups and downs of small-town life, all while showcasing her signature country charm.
Special guests Molly Tuttle, Charles Wesley Godwin and The Wilder Blue join her on the project, adding to the excitement of the album.
Along with the release of Corn Queen, Whitters brought the song “White Limousine” to life with a new music video. Directed by Beth Brinker, the video opens with a scene reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz before shifting into a vibrant daydream that brings to life the story of a small-town girl longing for the glitz and glamour of a far-off world.
“I’ve waited a long time to put out this record. I wrote and recorded this song for a duets record called Countrypolitan that unfortunately never will see the light of day, but this was always my favorite song on that record so it gives me triumph to be able to reclaim it on Corn Queen,” she explained of “White Limousine.” “This song defines the ‘Queen’ side of the album. The video captures that romanticized escapism that anyone who’s ever lived in a small town has probably experienced at some point or another. I know I definitely did! Props to my creative director Beth Brinker for bringing Palm Springs to the cornfield.”
Leading up to the Corn Queen release, Whitters shared tracks like “I Don’t Want You” (feat. Charles Wesley Godwin), “High On The Hog,” and “High On A Heartbreak” that instantly became fan favorites.
The album title’s inspiration draws from a nickname that the singer/songwriter was given by her fans.
“Fans started calling me the ‘Corn Queen’ because I’m from Iowa,” Whitters recalled. “At first, it seemed kind of silly, but the more I thought about it, the more I loved the duality of it. Corn is this simple, humble crop, and ‘queen’ implies royalty passed down through blood. I come from a long line of blue-collar farmers and construction workers. I’ve been out here for over a decade brushing my teeth in truck stop bathrooms, sleeping on hotel floors, driving myself from gig to gig. It’s not glamorous, but I’m proud of it. I like the idea of a queen with a little grit and elbow grease.”
The creative album cover showcases Hailey Whitters’ carved out of butter.
Corn Queen Tracklist:
1. High On The Hog (Hailey Whitters)
2. Prodigal Daughter (feat. Molly Tuttle) (Hailey Whitters, Paul Sikes, Bryan Simpson)
3. Shotgun Wedding Baby (Hailey Whitters, Brad Warren, Brett Warren, Caroline Watkins)
4. Helluva Heart (Hailey Whitters, Trannie Anderson, Paul Sikes)
5. High On A Heartbreak (Hailey Whitters, Jessie Jo Dillon, David Garcia, Hillary Lindsey)
6. It’ll Do (Hailey Whitters, Chris LaCorte, Hillary Lindsey, Jon Nite)
7. Hearsay (Hailey Whitters, Trannie Anderson, Paul Sikes)
8. Anything Like Me (Hailey Whitters, Trannie Anderson, Paul Sikes)
9. I Don’t Want You (feat. Charles Wesley Godwin) (Hailey Whitters, Jon Nite, Gordie Sampson)
10. The Nail (Hailey Whitters, Bryan Simpson, Ryan Tyndell)
11. Casseroles (Tom Douglas, Hillary Lindsey, James Slater)
12. Wagon (Trannie Anderson, Ben Hayslip, Seth Mosley)
13. Wholesome (Hailey Whitters, Luke Dick)
14. White Limousine (Hailey Whitters, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jesse Frasure)
15. Corn Queen (Hailey Whitters, Bobby Pinson)
16. DanceMor (feat. The Wilder Blue) (Hailey Whitters, Nicolle Galyon, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
To celebrate the release, Whitters recently announced a headlining Corn Queen Tour, which will bring her live show to cities across the U.S. this fall. See a complete list of dates below.
Corn Queen Tour:
9/4 – Nashville, TN – The Nashville Palace
9/18 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown
9/19 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line
9/20 – West Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom
9/25 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads Saloon
9/26 – Saint Louis, MO – Old Rock House
9/27 – Lexington, KY – The Burl
10/2 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia – The Foundry
10/3 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
10/9 – Warrendale, PA – Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
10/10 – Indianapolis, IN – HI-FI Indy
10/11 – Chicago, IL – Joe’s on Weed Street
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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