Today (7/30), chart-topping singer-songwriter ERNEST and Iowa-bred rising country star Hailey Whitters announced COUNTRYPOLITAN, their new collab born in a co-writing session that honors the deep history of country duets records. Their first single, a sparkling cover of the Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers classic “Islands In The Stream,” is out now alongside an official video directed by Harper Smith. Also announced today is their debut COUNTRYPOLITAN, a 7-track collection produced by Jake Gear (Hailey Whitters, Flatland Cavalry) that will be released on September 17 via Big Loud Records/Songs & Daughters/Pigasus Records.

WATCH THE OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR “ISLANDS IN THE STREAM” VIA YOUTUBE

LISTEN TO “ISLANDS IN THE STREAM”

“When we were hashing through song ideas for this project, we knew we wanted to for sure do a cover. Ern brought up the idea of ‘Islands in the Stream’ and of course me, being a huge Dolly fan, was all about it,” explains Whitters. “Jacob Durrett laid the foundation for the reimagination of this song and I think he brilliantly found a way to reinvent the song in a way that can appeal to a newer, younger audience of country music listeners while still maintaining the integrity and feel of the original version. In both the visual and sound of this song, we wanted it to be bright and happy while continuing to spread a message and feeling of love and unity. I hope when listeners hear this song they can feel that.”

“I had mentioned an ‘Islands In The Stream’ cover because of the Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton comparisons we both get,” shares ERNEST. “I wish Kenny Rogers were still alive so I could shake his hand, and I hope he would approve.”

The COUNTRYPOLITAN EP was inspired by a love for classic duets records by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, Tammy Wynette and George Jones, and Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty that ERNEST and Hailey were raised on, but haven’t heard a modern version of. In addition to “Islands In The Stream,” the EP features six original songs written by Hailey Whitters and ERNEST. Find a full tracklist below.

“The idea for this project came about one day as I was going down the rabbit hole listening to old country duets,” explains Whitters. “It seemed like back in the day everyone used to release collaboration records: Dolly and Kenny, Loretta and Conway, Tammy and George.... you don't really see full length records like that anymore and I was thinking it would be fun to do a project like that in today's modern era. I sat on the idea waiting for the right partner and the first day Ern and I wrote it just felt like a natural fit.”

“I didn’t know it at the time, but Countrypolitan means the Nashville sound,” adds ERNEST. “This is such a cool side project because I love old school music. It was fun to write with that in mind, but still with a fresh perspective. The production on this project is awesome, and the band was great. There are real strings, real fiddles. It feels like it all came together in the blink of an eye.”

On the heels of a breakthrough year where Whitters released her deluxe album LIVING THE DREAM, was nominated for her first-ever CMT Music Award (“Video of the Year” for “Fillin’ My Cup” feat. Little Big Town), and named the inaugural Opry NextStage artist of 2021, she will support Midland this fall on their national “The Last Resort Tour.” 

Currently nominated for Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year at the 2021 MusicRow Awards, ERNEST recently notched his fourth #1 hit as a songwriter with Sam Hunt's “Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s.” The MULTI-PLATINUM hitmaker has staked his claim as one of Music City’s most in-demand songwriters, while also carving a unique path as a Country artist in his own right with the small-town tribute "American Rust," hand-on-your-heart anthem, “Cheers,” and his 2019 debut Locals Only. This winter, the Nashville native will join Chris Lane as direct support on the FILL THEM BOOTS TOUR, taking his one-of-a-kind lyricism and vocal flow from coast to coast.

COUNTRYPOLITAN Tracklist:
01) Islands In The Stream
02) Say Anything
03) String Me Along
04) One Less Whiskey
05) White Limousine 
06) Every Piece Of Me
07) Neon Silver & Jukebox Gold

PHOTO CREDIT: HARPER SMITH

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ABOUT HAILEY WHITTERS: 
Rising singer-songwriter Hailey Whitters scored her breakthrough moment in 2019, with the release of "Ten Year Town," the first single from her critically-acclaimed, self-funded debut album, THE DREAM – praised as "the year’s deepest country album" (The Washington Post). Now with 12+ years in Nashville, TN, under her belt, the Shueyville, IA-native is LIVING THE DREAM, with the release of her deluxe album earlier this year that features five new collaborations with Brent Cobb, Jordan Davis, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Little Big Town, and Trisha Yearwood. The deluxe album’s breakthrough single “Fillin’ My Cup” (feat. Little Big Town) has been streamed more than 8 million times and was named a SiriusXM “Highway Find.” The official video for the song earned Whitters her first-ever CMT Music Award nomination for “Breakthrough Video of the Year.” This June, Opry Entertainment Group and the Grand Ole Opry named Whitters this year’s inaugural Opry NextStage artist. Since being dubbed "Nashville’s Newest Unsigned Star" (Rolling Stone) for her breakout hit, she’s toured with Brent Cobb, Jordan Davis, Maren Morris and Little Big Town, plus notched cuts as a songwriter by Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, and Little Big Town. This fall, Whitters will support Midland on “The Last Resort Tour.” Named an Artist to Watch 2020 on coveted lists by Paste Magazine, Pandora, and more, as well as being inducted into CMT’s Next Women of Country Class of 2020, Whitters signed her first record deal in partnership with her own label Pigasus Records and Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters. Lauded by Pitchfork and BrooklynVegan, THE DREAM appeared on more than 15 year-end best of 2020 lists and landed at #1 on both Stereogum’s "10 Best Country Albums of 2020" and Garden & Gun’s "Best Southern Albums of 2020" list.

ABOUT ERNEST:
A Nashville native with an unpredictable style and personality to match, hitmaker ERNEST is now turning heads on both sides of the singer-songwriter game – and his career is just getting started. Currently one of the most sought-after co-writers on Music Row, he fuses a broad range of influence stretching from Eminem to George Strait, and has now scored four #1 smashes with Morgan Wallen’s “More Than My Hometown,” Florida Georgia Line’s “I Love My Country,” Chris Lane’s “Big, Big Plans,” and Sam Hunt’s “Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s.” A MULTI-PLATINUM hit with Diplo and Wallen’s “Heartless” is also part of his growing catalog, and other notable cuts include Lane’s current single, “Fill Them Boots,” FGL’s “Blessings” and songs for Jake Owen, Mason Ramsey and more – including 11 tracks on Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album. As an artist, the eccentric free spirit released his vibrant debut album Locals Only on Big Loud Records in 2019, and followed up with the hand-on-your-heart anthem “Cheers” and latest release “American Rust.” His podcast “Just Being ERNEST” kicked off in the spring of 2020 and has hosted big-name guests including Keith Urban, Diplo, Jason Aldean and more. With its second season now underway, a true Nashville maverick is coming into view.