Country music fans have a lot to celebrate with Cole Swindell’s new album, Stereotype. While every song is worthy of praise, there’s one song that’s creating quite a buzz and it’s all thanks to Jo Dee Messina.
LISTEN NOW: Katie Neal talks with Cole Swindell
If the “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” song title doesn’t give it away, the first few notes will as Cole puts his own spin, lyrically, on Messina’s hit from 1996, “Heads Carolina, Tails California.”
“First off, we had to call the original writers Tim Nichols and Mark Sanders to just kind of tell them what our idea was,” Cole shared of getting permission to use the original song for the idea that came to mind for him and Thomas Rhett when they were writing while on tour together. “I had no idea if they were going to be cool with it or not — if they hadn’t been, we wouldn’t have done it.“
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After getting full support from the original songwriters, Rhett and Swindell were good to go, but he knew there was one more person who he needed a blessing from — Jo Dee herself. “I let her know that I was a fan and just that we wouldn’t have that song without her original, ‘Heads Carolina, Tails California,’” he shared. “I told her I want her to be a part of this as much or as little as she wants.”
With Jo Dee on board, Cole and Thomas are able to fully embrace the song that captures everything there is to love about 90s Country with a modern-day twist.
“Obviously we’re [Cole and TR] both big ‘90s Country fans, I was a fan of his Dad [Rhett Akins] when I was growing up and just had this idea of, ‘Man, I’ve never done anything like that’ — kinda used a song that I grew up listening to and put our own little spin on it,” Cole said. “From the first guitar lick of the song you’re going to think that it’s Jo Dee Messina’s version.”
The song has caught special attention from fans everywhere since the April 8 release of the new album, but it’s not the only one that’s resonating with fans. Another song people can’t resist is “Never Say Never” featuring Lainey Wilson which just went #1 in Country radio giving Cole his 11th #1 single.
Still in awe of the career he’s created for himself and the success he’s had, Cole credits his Country peers for their help and support getting him to the top. “When you move to this town, you have a dream. To be where I am right now… [it’s] because of people that have believed in me, people that have lend a hand when I needed It most and that’s just what I love most about the Country music community. You gotta have a little help to help you get started.”
Cole’s album, Stereotype, is available now.
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