Ashley McBryde is launching her next musical chapter with the release of her new single, 'What If We Don’t,' on January 23 via Warner Records Nashville. The anthemic ballad serves as the first preview of her highly anticipated fifth studio album and explores themes of regret and life's pivotal choices. McBryde will also revive her Redemption Residency with solo acoustic shows in Nashville on January 22 and 23.
Ashley McBryde, a GRAMMY, CMA, and ACM Award-winning singer-songwriter, is returning with new music after the success of her recent album, The Devil I Know. The single 'What If We Don’t' arrives on Friday, January 23, 2026, marking her first release of the year. Described as a sweeping, anthemic ballad, the track features McBryde's signature emotional reckoning, with a restless melody and vocals that simmer and surge. It challenges listeners to confront hesitant choices and live without regret amid uncertainty.
The song originated during a reflective evening with co-writers Terri Jo Box and Randall Clay. As McBryde shares, “'What If We Don’t' came to me, Terri Jo Box, and Randall Clay sitting around a fire pit on a back porch, reminiscing on all the moments that we could’ve made a different choice and wondering if we should’ve. It’s about the leaps of faith that you do or don’t take, and having to learn to live with those consequences either way.” This grounded storytelling aligns with McBryde's career, from her 2018 debut Girl Going Nowhere—which earned a GRAMMY nomination—to collaborative projects like Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville.
'What If We Don’t' is set to impact country radio on February 23, 2026, hinting at the direction of her forthcoming fifth studio album, though details remain under wraps. In tandem with the music, McBryde is reviving her critically acclaimed Redemption Residency in early 2026. The launch includes two 'Just Me + My Shadow' solo acoustic performances on January 22 and 23 at Chief’s Neon Steeple on Nashville’s Lower Broadway. This intimate setting coincides with her Redemption Bar, a non-alcoholic venue on the fifth floor of Eric Church’s Chief’s, which opened in August 2025 and runs through mid-2026.
McBryde, an Arkansas native and Warner Music Nashville artist, has built a reputation for fearless honesty, earning praise from outlets like Rolling Stone and The New York Times. Her accolades include the 2022 CMA International Artist Achievement Award and an honorary doctorate in music from Arkansas State University in 2025.
