Country music’s rising star, Willow Avalon, continues her breakout year with the release of “Smoke & Embers,” a powerful new duet with fellow artist Waylon Wyatt. The song, which delves into the emotional toll of balancing a music career and a long-distance relationship, is now available for streaming. Alongside the release, Avalon and Wyatt have debuted a music video showcasing their collaboration.
A Song Born from Shared Experiences
Avalon shared the inspiration behind “Smoke & Embers,” revealing how she and Wyatt connected over their shared struggles as touring musicians.
“I met Waylon at a festival last fall and have been in love with his voice and his songs ever since. As we talked about our relationships and how hard it was to be a touring musician with a partner at home waiting for you, we realized we had a beautiful topic to write about. ‘Smoke & Embers’ is one of my favorite songs I’ve been a part of. I can’t tell you how much of a dream Waylon, his team, even his sweet papa are to work with. Forever grateful to be a part of this song. I hope y’all love it as much as I do.” — Willow Avalon
Wyatt echoed Avalon’s sentiments, sharing how their creative journey unfolded:
“‘Smoke & Embers’ started coming together after Willow came to my show in New York supporting Dylan Gossett. That night she invited me over to Electric Lady to hang out, and I got to see her in the studio with JR Atkins working on her own music. That experience was incredibly inspirational for me, and I knew I wanted to work with them after seeing that. I ended up making my way back out to NY a few months later, and we wrote and recorded ‘Smoke & Embers’ in one day, staying in the studio till about 2 a.m. to finish it. We were both dealing with struggling relationships and that balance of trying to make it in music and keep things back home good, and ‘Smoke & Embers’ ended up pourin’ out.” — Waylon Wyatt
Watch the Video
Avalon’s Momentum Continues
Following her landmark performance at C2C in London, where she played for over 20,000 fans, Avalon is set to embark on a major tour. Beginning in April, she will headline shows and appear at prominent festivals across the U.S. and Canada, including Lollapalooza, NCAA’s March Madness Music Festival, Calgary Stampede, and Two Step Inn Festival. She will also support Zach Bryan for his London shows at Hyde Park and join select dates of Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival in late July.
Willow Avalon Tour Dates
- April 4—New Orleans, LA—Hogs for the Cause
- April 5—San Antonio, TX—NCAA March Madness Music Festival
- April 6—Georgetown, TX—Two Step Inn Festival
- April 8—Dallas, TX—The Kessler Theater
- April 9—Houston, TX—The Heights Theater
- April 11—Evansville, IN—University of Southern Indiana Evansville SpringFest
- April 14—Indianapolis, IN—HI-FI Indy
- April 16—Cleveland, OH—Grog Shop
- May 9—Birmingham, AL—Saturn
- May 10—Knoxville, TN—Southern Skies Festival
- June 6—Mrytle Beach, SC—Carolina Country Music Festival
- June 8—Nashville, TN—CMA Fest
- June 21—Wildwood, NJ—Barefoot Country Music Festival
- June 28—London, UK—Hyde Park*
- June 29—London, UK—Hyde Park*
- July 11—Calgary, AB—Calgary Stampede
- July 13—Kelowna, BC—Revelry
- July 15—Vancouver, BC—Biltmore Cabaret
- July 16—Seattle, WA—Tractor Tavern
- July 18—Redmond, OR—Fairwell Festival
- July 20—Whitefish, Montana—Under the Big Sky Festival
- July 25—Alpharetta, GA—Ameris Bank Amphitheatre†
- July 26—Charlotte, NC—PNC Music Pavilion†
- July 27—Raleigh, NC—Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek†
- July 29—Virginia Beach, VA—Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre†
- August 2—Saint Charles, IA—Hinterland Music Festival
- August 3—Chicago, IL—Lollapalooza
- August 14—Montreal, QC—Le Studio TD
- August 15—Montreal, QC—LASSO
- August 16—Toronto, ON—The Opera House
*with Zach Bryan
†with Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan
A Breakthrough Year for Willow Avalon
Avalon’s debut album, Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell (released January 2025), has established her as a leading voice in modern country music. The album, which blends classic country, Americana, and rock influences, has earned critical praise, including a coveted spot on Country Evolution’s Artist to Watch list for 2025.
With breakout singles like “Tequila or Whiskey” and “Homewrecker” amassing nearly 100 million views on social media and over 15 million streams in just two months, Avalon’s star power continues to rise.
A Southern Storyteller with a Rebel Heart
Born and raised in Georgia, Avalon’s musical roots trace back to her childhood, where her first word was, fittingly, “Elvis.” Raised by her mother and grandmother, she grew up playing piano in church and taught herself guitar at age 12, using music as both an escape and a form of self-expression.
After independently releasing her debut single “Drivin’” in 2021, Avalon quickly caught industry attention, securing a deal with Atlantic Records/Assemble Sound in 2023. Her 2024 EP, Stranger, further solidified her reputation as a force in the industry.
Having graced stages from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to CBS Mornings, as well as festivals like Hangout and C2C, Avalon is redefining what it means to be a modern Southern storyteller. She has shared the stage with both legends and rising stars, including Cage the Elephant, Paul Cauthen, and Charles Wesley Godwin. With sold-out headline tours in both the U.S. and U.K. and a massive social media presence, Avalon’s journey is just beginning.
