GRAMMY, CMA and ACM Award winning singer-songwriter Ashley McBryde is ushering in her next chapter of music with the release of her new single, “What If We Don’t.” The track will arrive Friday, January 23, via Warner Records Nashville and marks the first preview of her highly anticipated fifth studio album.
Described as an anthemic and emotionally charged ballad, “What If We Don’t” challenges listeners to confront regret and consider the risks they choose to take or avoid. Anchored by McBryde’s powerful and impassioned vocal performance, the song leans into bold reflection and unfiltered honesty.
The Story Behind the Song
McBryde shared how the song came together during a quiet moment with her co-writers.
“‘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,” McBryde shares. “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.”
“What If We Don’t” is set to impact country radio on February 23 and serves as an early glimpse into what fans can expect from McBryde’s next full length project.
Redemption Residency Returns in 2026
In addition to new music, McBryde will bring back her critically acclaimed Redemption Residency for a 2026 run. The next leg launches with two special “Just Me + My Shadow” solo acoustic performances on January 22 and 23 at Chief’s Neon Steeple on Nashville’s Lower Broadway.
The residency coincides with McBryde’s Redemption Bar, her non-alcoholic forward concept located on the fifth floor of Eric Church’s Chief’s, which opened last August and continues through mid-2026.
About Ashley McBryde
GRAMMY, CMA and ACM Award winning singer-songwriter Ashley McBryde has firmly established herself as one of country music’s most respected voices. An Arkansas native and Warner Music Nashville recording artist, McBryde’s journey has taken her from back porches and biker bars across America’s Middle to arenas and stadiums around the world. Her commitment to storytelling has earned widespread acclaim, with Rolling Stone calling her “an artist with many things to say and a big enough voice to slice through the noise.”
Her 2018 major label debut, Girl Going Nowhere, received praise from outlets including The New York Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, Paste and The Washington Post, and earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album. Follow-up album Never Will achieved a rare distinction by being nominated for Country Album of the Year by the ACM, CMA and the Recording Academy in the same awards season.
McBryde’s collaborative project Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville earned her a third consecutive GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album and paid tribute to songwriter Dennis Linde through an ambitious world-building concept. Her most recent album, The Devil I Know, continued her streak of critical success, landing on multiple year-end best-of lists from Rolling Stone, Billboard, Slate, Paste and Holler.
In 2022, McBryde received the CMA International Artist Achievement Award for her impact on the global growth of country music. This year, she was awarded an honorary doctorate in music from Arkansas State University in recognition of her contributions to the field.
Often praised as “one of Nashville’s most reliable and sophisticated songwriters” by the Los Angeles Times, McBryde continues to expand her creative footprint. With new music, live performances and innovative ventures, “What If We Don’t” signals another bold step forward in her evolving career.
