As fans await the announcement of a new Sam Hunt album, the country hitmaker is sharing another glimpse of what’s to come with the release of his reflective new song, “Walmart.”
The ballad finds Hunt reflecting on the downfall of a relationship after running into his ex’s mother at the local Walmart.
“We parted ways in the summer, told me goodbye through your tears/ I used to run into you over Christmas, but I hadn’t seen you in years/ I used to think that I messed up, wonder if I should’ve stayed/ I thought I’d always regret letting you go but all that regret went away,” he sings on the first verse.
Instead of dwelling on what could have been, Hunt comes to the realization that things played out the way they were supposed to when he sees his ex’s daughter.
“I saw your mama at Walmart with your little girl/ She had your eyes and your smile, she had your nose and your lips/ Somewhere in our little small-town, small talk girl/ Lost in the grocery aisle, holding a bag of some chips/ I realize that everything happens for a reason/ Losing your love ain’t the end of the world/ I saw your mama at Walmart with your little girl/ Your little girl, your little girl,” Hunt sings.
The Georgia native co-wrote the song with frequent collaborators Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne.
The multi-platinum-selling star took to social media upon the release of Walmart to share a message with fans.
“I know I don’t put out as much music as often as a lot of the artists y’all listen to but I really appreciate you guys tuning in when I do,” he shared.
Sam Hunt’s latest album, his sophomore effort, Southside, was released in the Spring of 2020. That project spawned hits such as “Hard To Forget,” “Kinfolks,” and “Body Like A Backroad.”
Prior to that, Hunt released his debut studio album, Montevallo, in the fall of 2014.
“Walmart” follows the release of the nostalgic “Start Nowhere” and his current Top 20-and-climbing radio hit “Water Under the Bridge.”
He recently joined forces with Ingrid Andress on “Wishful Drinking.” The song climbed into the Top 5 at Country radio in 2022.
Sam Hunt has remained relatively out of the spotlight in recent months. He welcomed his first child, a baby girl named Lucy, with his wife Hannah last year.
He opened up about fatherhood during an interview on the Katie & Company podcast with Audacy’s Katie Neal.
“It’s an experience I’ve always wanted to have — being a father — but now that I’ve had it, it’s definitely a life-changing deal,” he said. “A bucket list deal… I waited a little while, but I’m glad that I became a father. I look forward to having, hopefully, some more.”
He went on to share that he gained a “new appreciation for life in general” and revealed he hopes to have more children in the future.
While his private life mainly remains just that, Hunt did share a rare glimpse into life at home with his daughter on Instagram on Wednesday.
In the clip, Hunt can be seen picking a guitar while Lucy can be heard in the background saying “Dada.”
Sam Hunt has yet to announce any full touring plans for 2023, however, he has a handful of dates on the books, including an appearance at the iHeartCountry Festival on May 13 in Austin, Texas.
