Hailey Whitters Embraces Her Roots with 'Corn Queen'

Hailey Whitters Corn Queen — Image by Harper Smith

Today, Hailey Whitters, the Iowa native and Nashville-based singer/songwriter, unveiled her deeply personal new album Corn Queen via Pigasus Records / Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters. Produced by longtime collaborator and now-husband Jake Gear, the 16-song collection is a rich tapestry of Whitters’ life, capturing the soul of small-town America with a blend of introspection, humor, grit, and grace.

The release is paired with the debut of the “White Limousine” music video, a dreamy and cinematic visual directed by Beth Brinker. The video follows the story of a small-town girl enchanted by the glamour of a life beyond the cornfields. “The video captures that romanticized escapism that anyone who’s ever lived in a small town has probably experienced at some point or another. I know I definitely did!” says Whitters. “Props to my creative director Beth Brinker for bringing Palm Springs to the cornfield.”

A Personal and Powerful Statement

“I’ve waited a long time to put out this record,” Whitters shares. “‘White Limousine’ was originally recorded for a duets record called Countrypolitan that unfortunately never will see the light of day, but this was always my favorite song on that record. So it gives me triumph to be able to reclaim it on Corn Queen. This song defines the ‘Queen’ side of the album.”

The album’s title stems from a nickname affectionately given to Whitters by her fans. “Fans started calling me the ‘Corn Queen’ because I’m from Iowa,” she explains. “At first, it seemed kind of silly, but the more I thought about it, the more I loved the duality of it. Corn is this simple, humble crop, and ‘queen’ implies royalty passed down through blood.”

That tension between simplicity and strength runs throughout the project. “I come from a long line of blue-collar farmers and construction workers. I’ve been out here for over a decade brushing my teeth in truck stop bathrooms, sleeping on hotel floors, driving myself from gig to gig. It’s not glamorous, but I’m proud of it. I like the idea of a queen with a little grit and elbow grease.”

Star-Studded Collaborations and Critical Praise

Corn Queen features a number of notable collaborators, including Charles Wesley Godwin (“I Don’t Want You”), Molly Tuttle (“Prodigal Daughter”), and The Wilder Blue (“DanceMor”). These partnerships add rich textures to Whitters’ already nuanced songwriting.

Ahead of the album release, Whitters dropped several critically praised singles:

“I Don’t Want You” (feat. Charles Wesley Godwin)
“High On The Hog”
“High On A Heartbreak”

Earlier this year, she released the tender “Casseroles,” which Rolling Stone named a “Song You Need to Know.” It was also lauded as a “nuanced reflection on grief and recovery” (Billboard), “a testament that she can hang with some of the genre’s best” (Country Central), and “proof she’s only getting better” (Wide Open Country).

“Prodigal Daughter,” featuring Molly Tuttle, was recognized as one of Vulture’s Best Songs of 2025 (So Far) and praised as “Hailey at her best” by All Country News.

Celebrating Corn Queen at CMA Fest and Beyond

Following an album release party earlier this week at Skinny Dennis presented by Holler, Whitters will celebrate the new album today with an in-store performance and signing at Grimey’s in Nashville. Fans who purchase the vinyl LP or CD at Grimeys.com or in-store will receive a wristband for the signing event. Later in the evening, she’ll perform at Spotify House Live At Ole Red during CMA Fest.

Looking ahead, Whitters has a busy summer planned with stops at major festivals including Under the Big Sky, Voices of America Country Music Fest, and an appearance in Switzerland this fall for Country Night Gstaad 2025.

A Rising Star with Deep Roots

Hailey Whitters is a GRAMMY-nominated, platinum-selling artist from Shueyville, Iowa, known for her vivid storytelling and sharp songwriting. In 2023, she won the ACM Award for New Female Artist of the Year and received a CMA nomination for New Artist of the Year. Her breakout single “Everything She Ain’t” earned Platinum status, cracked the Billboard Hot 100, and marked her first top-20 country radio hit.

Her previous albums The Dream and Raised were both critical darlings, appearing on numerous year-end “Best Of” lists, with Raised named the #1 country album of the year by Rolling Stone. Over the years, she’s toured with Luke Combs, Shania Twain, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, and Luke Bryan, and performed at major festivals including Coachella, Bonnaroo, and C2C.

In addition to her own work, Whitters has penned songs for artists such as Little Big Town, Alan Jackson, Brandy Clark, and Martina McBride, further cementing her place as one of country music’s most gifted voices.

Corn Queen Tracklist

High On The Hog (Hailey Whitters)
Prodigal Daughter (feat. Molly Tuttle) (Hailey Whitters, Paul Sikes, Bryan Simpson)
Shotgun Wedding Baby (Hailey Whitters, Brad Warren, Brett Warren, Caroline Watkins)
Helluva Heart (Hailey Whitters, Trannie Anderson, Paul Sikes)
High On A Heartbreak (Hailey Whitters, Jessie Jo Dillon, David Garcia, Hillary Lindsey)
It’ll Do (Hailey Whitters, Chris LaCorte, Hillary Lindsey, Jon Nite)
Hearsay (Hailey Whitters, Trannie Anderson, Paul Sikes)
Anything Like Me (Hailey Whitters, Trannie Anderson, Paul Sikes)
I Don’t Want You (feat. Charles Wesley Godwin) (Hailey Whitters, Jon Nite, Gordie Sampson)
The Nail (Hailey Whitters, Bryan Simpson, Ryan Tyndell)
Casseroles (Tom Douglas, Hillary Lindsey, James Slater)
Wagon (Trannie Anderson, Ben Hayslip, Seth Mosley)
Wholesome (Hailey Whitters, Luke Dick)
White Limousine (Hailey Whitters, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jesse Frasure)
Corn Queen (Hailey Whitters, Bobby Pinson)
DanceMor (feat. The Wilder Blue) (Hailey Whitters, Nicolle Galyon, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)