RISING COUNTRY STAR HANNAH MCFARLAND MAKES MAJOR-LABEL DEBUT WITH SPELLBINDING NEW SINGLE “HEY HIGHWAY”
Nashville-based singer/songwriter Hannah McFarland shares her new single “Hey Highway” — a poignant heartbreak ballad spotlighting her stunning vocals and beautifully detailed storytelling. Her debut release for The Core Records/Capitol Records, “Hey Highway” immediately affirms the Alabama-bred artist as one of the most captivating new voices in country music.
“‘Hey Highway’ is one of my favorite songs that I’ve written, and it feels so special to have it released as my first single after signing my record deal,” says McFarland. “I couldn’t be more excited to take the next step in my career alongside The Core Records and Capitol Records, with this song as part of the foundation.”
Co-written by McFarland and Kaylin Roberson, “Hey Highway” offers up a deeply relatable portrait of post-breakup yearning, set entirely over the course of a tearful drive home. While the slow-burning track’s opening lyrics find her struggling to keep her ex off her mind, the narrative takes a turn when the radio plays a tune that triggers a whirlwind of painful memories. As she captures every moment with a lovely specificity, McFarland reveals her gift for intertwining raw emotion with charmingly clever wordplay (from the chorus: “I’ll be breaking down by the time this song is over/So, hey highway, I think I need a shoulder”).
Produced by Will Bundy (Graham Barham, Ella Langley), “Hey Highway” merges McFarland’s tender yet soulful vocals with a quietly spellbinding sound, lit up in lush B-3 organ melodies and dreamy pedal-steel tones (courtesy of Russ Pahl, an esteemed session player known for his work with superstars like Vince Gill, Norah Jones, Carrie Underwood, and many more). With its finespun small-town imagery and loving reference to country legend Keith Whitley, the result is a gorgeous convergence of classic country sensibilities and undeniably fresh perspective.
A truly gifted songwriter who recently signed with Warner Chappell Music (one of the world’s leading publishing companies), McFarland moved to Nashville from her hometown of Mobile in 2016 to pursue her lifelong passion for music. Over the years, she’s emerged as a one-of-a-kind talent and earned the admiration of some of the biggest heavy-hitters in country — a feat that includes joining multi-platinum-selling superstar Zach Bryan onstage to perform his chart-topping, Grammy-winning smash “I Remember Everything (feat. Kacey Musgraves),” as well as opening for the likes of Kelsea Ballerini, Old Dominion, Travis Tritt, and more.
In addition to making waves with past singles like “The Bed I Made,” “R.I.P.,” and “Run out of Cowboy,” McFarland recently teamed up with Georgia-bred singer/songwriter Austin Snell for “I’ve Been Drinking” — a September 2024 release that landed on coveted playlists like Spotify’s New Boots and All New Country and Apple Music’s New In Country and Soundcheck.
Currently she is wrapping up tour dates with Tucker Wetmore and Brett Young, McFarland will head out on a fall tour supporting hitmaker Kip Moore, including stops at iconic venues like New York City’s Webster Hall. Stay tuned for more new music from McFarland soon.
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