August 14 marked one of those dates we had circled on our calendar for months. Ashley Cooke dropped her self-titled sophomore album on Big Loud Records, and we have been working through all 15 tracks since the moment it landed on streaming. The album, titled ashley cooke, explores modern love with a level of honesty that feels rare on country radio right now. Produced by Dann Huff and co-written alongside Nashville collaborators including Liz Rose, Kyle Sturrock, and Emily Weisband, this is 15 songs of emotional range that takes Cooke far beyond the debut promise she showed on her 2025 release, ace. And right on top of the album drop came the announcement of the Baby Blues World Tour, a 28-show trek that puts Cooke in rooms from Cleveland to the Ryman Auditorium.
What Makes ashley cooke a Sophomore Statement
When we first heard “baby blues” impact country radio on June 22, 2026, we knew something was different. The single launched at No. 57 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and ranked among the format’s most-added singles nationwide on Mediabase, which is not the typical trajectory for a track this emotionally direct. What caught our attention was not just the melody but the writing credit list: Cooke co-wrote every single one of the 15 tracks on this record, alongside Liz Rose, Ashley Gorley, Joe Fox, Lauren Hungate, Will Weatherly, and others who understand how to make country music that lasts.
Naming the album after yourself is a declaration. A moment of “this is exactly who I am.” Tracks like “if i’m being honest,” “high school sweetheart,” and the standout duet “man behind the glass” featuring JP Saxe cover emotional territory most country artists leave on the cutting room floor. We think the track “sleepless in seattle” alone makes this one of the more creative sequencing choices of 2026.
Baby Blues World Tour: 28 Shows From Cleveland to the Ryman
We were tracking the Baby Blues World Tour announcement the morning it dropped, and the routing tells you exactly where Cooke’s career is headed. Starting September 17 in Cleveland and running through February 25, 2027, when she closes out the North American leg at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, Cooke is treating this like the mainstream crossover push her catalog has been building toward. After the Ryman date, the tour heads overseas for a UK and Ireland run in late January 2027, hitting Belfast, Glasgow, Bristol, Birmingham, London, and Manchester. For an artist who co-wrote every track on her record, an international run at this scale is a milestone worth noting.
Why “baby blues” Ruffled Feathers at Country Radio
There has been chatter this month around “baby blues” and a moment Cooke has described as ruffling some feathers at radio. We dug into the coverage from Coyote Country and others, and what comes through is an artist who is not interested in being polished into a corner. Cooke has talked about “baby blues” as one of the more personal songs she has written, and the way it landed at radio despite not fitting the typical template says something about where country’s audience is right now. They are hungry for real.
The 15 Tracks on ashley cooke: Where to Start
- “if i’m being honest”: the opener that sets the tone immediately
- “baby blues”: the radio single already making waves at format
- “famous to frances”: a preview track that showcases her storytelling range
- “man behind the glass” feat. JP Saxe: the album’s most affecting duet
- “the girl who cried wolf”: the closer that earns its place as the last word
Frequently Asked: Is Ashley Cooke’s Self-Titled Album Available Now?
ashley cooke is available now on all major streaming platforms and was released August 14, 2026, via Big Loud Records and Back Blocks Music. The 15-track album was produced by Dann Huff and includes the radio single “baby blues,” currently among the most-added singles at country radio nationwide. The Baby Blues World Tour begins September 17 in Cleveland and ends February 25, 2027, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, followed by a UK and Ireland leg in early 2027.
We have been watching Ashley Cooke‘s trajectory since her debut days, and ashley cooke feels like the moment the industry fully catches up to what her fans already knew. This is an artist writing every word of her record and then touring it globally. For country fans in Central Florida, this is exactly the kind of honest, touring artist the Sunset Country Fest stage was built for. We are watching her closely as we build toward April 17, 2027. Sunset Country Fest 2027 is coming to Apopka, Florida, and country music does not get more real than this.
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Sources & References
- Big Loud Records: Ashley Cooke Enters Bold New Chapter With Self-Titled Sophomore Album, Out Now
- MusicRow: Ashley Cooke Unveils Track List For Self-Titled Sophomore Album
- Big Loud Records: Ashley Cooke Announces Self-Titled Sophomore Album, Due Out August 14
- Radio Pacific: Ashley Cooke to Launch the Baby Blues World Tour
- Coyote Country: Ashley Cooke on the Baby Blues Moment That Ruffled Feathers
When does the Ashley Cooke Baby Blues World Tour start?
The Baby Blues World Tour begins September 17, 2026, in Cleveland. The 28-show North American leg concludes February 25, 2027, at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, followed by a UK and Ireland run in late January 2027.
How many songs are on the ashley cooke album?
The self-titled album ashley cooke features 15 tracks, all co-written by Ashley Cooke. The album was released August 14, 2026, via Big Loud Records and produced by Dann Huff. The lead single is “baby blues,” currently among the most-added songs at country radio.
When and where is Sunset Country Fest 2027?
Sunset Country Fest 2027 is a country music festival taking place in Apopka, Florida, in the Greater Orlando area, on April 17, 2027. It is the largest country music festival in Central Florida. Follow sunsetcountryfest.com for lineup announcements and ticket information.
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Last updated: August 23, 2026 · Sunset Country Fest Editorial Team · Contact Us