LISTEN: Corey Kent Releases Brand New Album "Blacktop"

The country music scene is heating up with this jaw-dropping new album from Corey Kent!

Blacktop is the major label debut album from Oklahoma native/Dallas based singer/songwriter Corey Kent. The album nods back to his many miles driving on the blacktop to forge his craft and build his audience, as well as the blacktop he paved while working in a pavement company just 18 months ago, and the blacktop he’ll drive on to keep chasing his calling. And its high-octane sound matches just right. Working with Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Brothers Osborne) and Chris Farren, the 10 songs capture Kent’s drive, resilience and optimism, all filled with his unique Red Dirt-meets-Music City balance and set in the Texas/Oklahoma experience. Kent led a series of sessions centered on in-the-moment performance – not perfection – and he calls Blacktop the record he's been working toward for years.

This 10-track album features writing credits from Kent himself as well as Morgan Wallen, Ryan Hurd, Kelly Archer, Lydia Vaughan and more. Starting the album off strong, we have the hit song "Wild as Her." This single exploded, earning over 275 million streams, and peaked to #1 on country radio. This country-rock song describes a "free-spirited" woman who can't be tamed. This song describes his love for a woman who is independent, and he wouldn't change her for anything in the world. He keeps the "windows down and the wind in her hair," letting her be exactly who she is. This song landed Corey his first-ever entry onto the Billboard Hot 100, and it reached #15 on the Hot Country Songs Chart. It's safe to say this song has had wild success on its own and for his career!

Another show stopping song on the album is "Call It A Night." This upbeat song takes us back to the late, backroad riding nights, with your friends, and your girl, by your side. While reminiscing of the small-town summer memories, Corey sings of midnight stars shining down on he and his buddies while they are cruising free, and their only worry is when the summer turns into September. Even if they don't remember the summer nights when the weather starts turning cold, they still aren't ever "gonna ever call it a night." This is the perfect late night beer drinking, bonfire glowing, song for the summer.

While all of the songs on this album will knock your boots off, "Once Or Twice" has a special place in our hearts. In this song, Corey shares his feelings with his fans as he says, "truth is I don't know how I ended up here." He talks about his life battles and obstacles that he has faced, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and sometimes you have to hold your ground and fight for what you want. It's clear in this song that his road to fame hasn't been easy, but "he's stared down the devil once or twice," to get to where he is today.

Corey is set to tour with Jason Aldean this summer and has been selling out venues for the past two years across the United States. Corey was nominated for Breakthrough Male Video Award at the 2023 CMA awards, and was named as a CMT Listen Up Artist for 2023. He was also nominated for an AIMP Nashville Country Award for AIMP Rising Artist-Writer of the Year. Corey's hustle has not gone unnoticed. He come a long way, but the blacktop he has been walking on is part of the foundation for his success and who he is today and his vivid storytelling with transcend generations of country fans.