NPR

First Listen: RaeLynn, 'WildHorse'

Stream the budding country star's beguiling debut album before its official release on March 24.
RaeLynn's new album, <em>WildHorse</em>, comes out March 24.

It was all too easy to paint the recent era of with a broad, dismissive brush. Reworking familiar tropes has always been central to country songwriting, so it wasn't merely that rankled. More off-putting was the sense that there was little in to make the commonplace tropes feel personalized or particular. Since then, it's been heartening to a of millennial quietly exploring the possibilities. But RaeLynn's ballad "" sets a new bar for connecting these contemporary shadings to country storytelling tradition.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR4 min read
From Pandemic To Protests, The Class Of 2024 Has Been Through A Lot
Pomp and circumstance again fall victim to circumstance for some students in the graduating class of 2024, as protests over the war in Gaza threaten to disrupt commencement ceremonies.
NPR3 min read
What's Making Us Happy: A Guide To Your Weekend Viewing And Reading
Each week, Pop Culture Happy Hour guests and hosts share what's bringing them joy. This week: Vanderpump Rules recaps, the book The Worst Ronin, and a duet by Pavarotti and Celine Dion.
NPR2 min read
Brian Wilson Of The Beach Boys Is Being Placed Under A Legal Conservatorship
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge approved the conservatorship Thursday, noting that Brian Wilson suffers from "a major cognitive disorder." Wilson has agreed to the conservatorship.

Related Books & Audiobooks