Ernest Announces New Album, Drops Five New Songs

Ernest has announced his next album, Nashville, Tennessee, will be released on April 12.

The news follows his campaign running for "mayERN" of the city this week while sharing several videos across his social media pages asking for his fellow country stars, friends, and family to help him "legalize country music."

Ernest starts his video posted on Instagram by saying, "My fellow Nashvillians I'm addressing our community not because I want to, but because I have to. Over the years, there have been many changes to my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. It's important to ask ourselves, 'How'd we get here?'"

He continues, "As our community continues to grow, we shall always remember our founding fathers and welcome our new brothers and sisters into our circle. Whether you went to college or jail, or just looking for a honky tonk fairytale, or barely hanging on, all country music fans are welcome."

The "Kiss of Death" singer shared a campaign video teasing his upcoming project with cameos from country Koe Wetzel, Caleb Pressley and Glenny Balls (Barstool Sports), Jon Lester (MLB), Todd Graves (Founder of Raising Cane's), Freddie Freeman (MLB), Mookie Betts (MLB), and John Daly (Professional Golfer) speaking on their endorsements.

Ernest's Nashville, Tennessee album will feature collaborations with Jelly Roll, Lukas Nelson, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson, Hardy, and his son, Ryman. The first five songs from the 26-track project dropped today (3/15) including "I Went To College / I Went To Jail" with Jelly Roll, "Ain't As Easy," "Why Dallas" with Nelson, "How'd We Get Here," "Kiss Of Death," "Slow Dancing In A Burning Room," and "Ain't Too Late."

Nashville, Tennessee Track List:
1. I Went To College / I Went To Jail feat. Jelly Roll
2. Ain't As Easy
3. Why Dallas feat. Lukas Nelson
4. One More Heartache
5. Hangin' On feat. Morgan Wallen
6. Did It For The Story
7. How'd We Get Here
8. Never Said I Love You
9. Would If I Could feat. Lainey Wilson
10. Honkytown Fairytale
11. Smokin' Gun
12. Twinkle Twinkle (Live At Fenway Park) feat. Ryman Saint
13. Life Goes On
14. If You Don't Know By Now
15. You Don't Have To Die
16. Redneck Sh*ttt
17. Small Town Goes
18. Kiss Of Death
19. Slow Dancing In A Burning Room
20. Ain't Too Late
21. Sayin' You Love Me
22. Summertime Flies
23. Ain't Right Ain't Wrong
24. Creep feat. Hardy
25. Bars On My Heart
26. Dollar To Cash

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, it's officially time to shop, in stores or online. The Christmas holiday is less than one month away, and we've got to get the right gifts to the right folks in our lives.

Country music items are always a go-to for the country music lovers on your Christmas list. It's always nice to have the CMA Awards happen in November, just before the shopping season starts. It gets us all excited for our country music favorites each year.

After this year's CMAs, fans are undoubtedly looking for country music related gift items from big winners like Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, etc.

Jelly even kicked off November with a Toy Drive for his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. He told us backstage at the CMAs the night he won New Artist of the Year, "I'm from Nashville, Tennessee. I grew up here, and I really take a lot of pride in that; it means a lot to me. I've watched this town grow so much; it's been incredible, and my spirit is always to give back. Who would I be if I was so blessed and not turn around and try to be a blessing?"

And Lainey is already in the holiday spirit, having just appeared on an Elvis Christmas special where she performed at Graceland. She's also set to perform on the upcoming CMA Country Christmas on ABC TV, which airs on December 14. Other performers on CMA Country Christmas this year are The War and Treaty, Joe Paradigm, Ashley McBryde, and Trisha Yearwood, who is hosting with Amy Grant.

Country music lyrics and shopping don't really go hand in hand.However, we gathered five songs that make the two topics match a bit as we get into the biggest shopping season of the year.

We're not sure how many people will be getting boats for Christmas this year as it's a really pricey gift. However, this song made Janson a country music star, and many country fans bought that boat... or at least hoped to. The lyrics of the chorus include, "But it could buy me a boat / It could buy me a truck to pull it / It could buy me a Yeti 110 iced down with some silver bullets / Yeah, and I know what they say, money can't buy everything / Well, maybe so / But it could buy me a boat."

Sam released this song in February of this year, and while it's not really about shopping, it's about a place that most of us will be visiting to do our holiday shopping. In the song, Sam transports the listener to a small-town run-in with an ex's mother. The cover of the single release featured a Walmart shopping cart sitting in the parking lot of a store.

This sweet song talks about shopping for flowers after love has gone wrong. The lyrics include, "Mister, I'll take your roses / If you cut off the thorns, she can't take no more / I'll buy violets and daisies to hide all the crazy, it's gonna take all you've got / Aw, it's a bad day for love, but a good day for flower shops." When Ernest made his Grand Ole Opry debut in January of 2022, Morgan joined him in a surprise appearance to sing this one.

Carrie released this fun song at Thanksgiving, talking about eating all she could and putting on stretchy pants. The video for the song, in cartoon form, has all kinds of Christmas cheer. It makes you want to go to the store immediately to buy some yoga pants and sweats. We can all relate to one line in the song: "Ask me where I got 'em, Amazon at my door / And if I wear this pair out, I'm gonna buy me some more."

In this classic Dolly song, she sings of "The Bargain Store." Dolly told Vulture in a recent interview that "nobody played it on the radio [when it was released] because they were acting like I was implying something else." The lyrics include, "I may have just what you're looking for / If you don't mind the fact that all the merchandise is used / But with a little mending, it could be as good as new / The bargain store is open, come inside." Parton says that in the song, she was saying, "Come inside my heart." She noted that she is talking about a broken heart and how we can put the pieces back together if we're willing to try.