Ashley Monroe is honoring a major moment in her career with the release of The Blade (10th Anniversary Edition), available now. The updated version of her GRAMMY-nominated 2015 album includes three previously unreleased songs, highlighting Monroe’s enduring songwriting and emotional depth. Among the new tracks is “Fight For It,” a poignant anthem co-written with Shane McAnally and Gordie Sampson, featuring Vince Gill on background vocals.
Fans will get a chance to celebrate the release in person tonight at The Basement East in Nashville. Monroe is performing The Blade in its entirety for a one-night-only anniversary show.
“Fight For It” Finally Gets Its Moment
“Fight For It” brings a message of perseverance and self-belief, born from a rare Saturday writing session back in 2014.
“The idea for ‘Fight For It’ came to me in 2014, and I called up Shane McAnally and Gordie Sampson to write it with me… on a Saturday (something I had never done before and haven’t done since),” Monroe shares. “Thank God they both said yes! Over the past 11 years of my life, I can think of so many different moments this song applies to; it’s important to know not everything comes easy, but a little fight goes a long way. I’m so glad this song is finally going to be heard.”
A Star-Studded Anniversary Album
Produced by Vince Gill and Justin Niebank, The Blade features co-writes with some of country music’s top talents, including Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jessi Alexander and Luke Laird. It also includes background vocals from Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminski, Paul Franklin and Charlie Worsham. The album cemented Monroe’s reputation as one of the genre’s most introspective and skillful songwriters, with tracks like “On to Something Good” and the deeply emotional title track.
The Blade was praised by major publications including Pitchfork, NPR Music, The Atlantic and Rolling Stone, and it landed on numerous best-of-the-year lists when it was first released.
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Looking Ahead to Tennessee Lightning
As Monroe celebrates the past, she is also preparing to launch her next chapter. Her sixth studio album, Tennessee Lightning, arrives August 8. The 17-song project was recorded in the wake of Monroe’s battle with cancer and reflects themes of renewal, love and the healing power of music.
The new record includes already-released singles “The Touch” featuring Marty Stuart, “Bitter Swisher Sweet” with Brittney Spencer, and “Magnolia.” Collaborators on the album range from T Bone Burnett and Butch Walker to Karen Fairchild, Brendan Benson, Waylon Payne and Armand Hutton.
Monroe will mark the album’s release with a special performance at the Grand Ole Opry on August 8 before heading overseas for a co-headlining tour with Fancy Hagood.
The Blade (10th Anniversary Edition) Tracklist:
- On to Something Good
- I Buried Your Love Alive
- Bombshell
- Weight of the Load
- The Blade
- Winning Streak
- From Time to Time
- If Love Was Fair
- Has Anybody Ever Told You
- Dixie
- If the Devil Don’t Want Me
- Mayflowers
- I’m Good at Leavin’
- Fight For It
- I Buried Your Love Alive (2015 Live Version)
- The Blade (2015 Live Version)
Ashley Monroe 2025 Tour Dates:
- July 25 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East (The Blade 10-Year Anniversary Show)
- August 8 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry
- August 21 – Manchester, UK – Band On the Wall *
- August 22 – Leicestershire, UK – The Long Road Festival
- August 25 – Glasgow, UK – Saint Luke’s *
- August 27 – London, UK – Islington Assembly Hall *
- August 28 – Amsterdam, NL – Melkweg *
- September 19-21 – Bristol, TN – Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion
*with Fancy Hagood
