Lauded by GRAMMY.com as delivering an independent debut album, Love Ain’t Pretty, that’s “the purest representation of his artistry possible,” multi-talented entertainer Charles Esten is set to drop a double vinyl for the one-year anniversary of the acclaimed release. Available on January 24, 2025, fans can preorder the Love Ain’t Pretty Deluxe Edition here.

Co-writing all 14 songs with acoustic guitar credits on the landmark version of the Marshall Altman-produced full-length project, Esten adds nine new bonus tracks to this special edition vinyl. Featuring star-studded collaborations with Sara Evans and Keb’ Mo’, the 23-track Deluxe Edition also spotlights a live performance recorded from the sold-out NASHVILLE Reunion Tour (with Clare Bowen, Jonathan Jackson, and Sam Palladio). The extended release further includes never-before-heard demos and worktapes from the creation of Love Ain’t Pretty. To add to the excitement, Esten has a 200-count limited edition batch as well – preorder here. Pressed in a beautiful “velvet chair” red-colored vinyl (to match the album cover art), this exclusive collectible will be autographed, hand-numbered, and bundled with a poster and guitar pick.

Charles Esten’s Love Ain’t Pretty Deluxe Edition Tracklist

Side 1

 “Love Ain’t Pretty” (Charles Esten, Marshall Altman, Jimmy Yeary)

“A Little Right Now” (Charles Esten, Jacob Lyda, Brian Maher)               

 “One Good Move” (Charles Esten, Sam Backoff, Zarni deVette, Elise Hayes) 

“In A Bar Somewhere” (Charles Esten, Jason Gantt, Neil Medley)                              

“I Ain’t” (Charles Esten, Brad Crisler, James LeBlanc)

“Another Song About You” (Charles Esten, Colin Elmore)

 

Side 2

 “When Love Ain’t Love” (Charles Esten, Jeffrey East)

 “Candlelight” (Charles Esten, Kenny Alphin, Eric Paslay)

 “Back In My Life Again” (Charles Esten, Marcus Hummon, Bryan Todd)

“Willing To Try” (Charles Esten, Gary Burr)

“Make You Happy” (Charles Esten, Gary Burr, Jon D’Agostino) 

“Maybe I’m Alright” (Charles Esten, Leslie Satcher)

 

Side 3

“Down The Road (feat. Eric Paslay)” (Charles Esten, Eric Paslay, Dylan Altman) 

“Somewhere In The Sunshine” (Charles Esten, Jon Nite)

“In A Bar Somewhere (feat. Sara Evans)” (Charles Esten, Jason Gantt, Neil Medley)

“Maybe I’m Alright (feat. Keb’ Mo’)” (Charles Esten, Leslie Satcher)

“Down The Road – Live In London (feat. Clare Bowen, Jonathan Jackson, and Sam Palladio)” (Charles Esten, Eric Paslay, Dylan Altman)

 

Side 4

“One Good Move (Demo)” (Charles Esten, Sam Backoff, Zarni deVette, Elise Hayes) 

“Back In My Life Again (Demo)” (Charles Esten, Marcus Hummon, Bryan Todd)

“Candlelight (Worktape)” (Charles Esten, Kenny Alphin, Eric Paslay)

“I Ain’t (Worktape)” (Charles Esten, Brad Crisler, James LeBlanc)

“When Love Ain’t Love (Worktape)” (Charles Esten, Jeffrey East)

“Make You Happy (Worktape)” (Charles Esten, Gary Burr, Jon D’Agostino)

 

All Songs Produced by Marshall Altman

Making major television appearances coast-to-coast on NBC’s The Kelly Clarkson Show, Access Daily with Mario & Kit (hosted by Mario Lopez and Kit Hoover), CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown, and more, plus headlining a Spotlight: Charles Esten event at GRAMMY Museum® in Los Angeles, CA, Love Ain’t Pretty made headlines across Southern Living, Parade, Cowboys & Indians, CMT, among others, while being applauded by critics everywhere:

“Written with the wisdom and breadth that comes with time, Esten captures the dimensions of love, loss, growth, and hope.” – Forbes

“soulful country sound and emotive songwriting” – GRAMMY.com

“being his true self has brought some of Esten’s biggest success, and that same spirit now 

powers a remarkable debut album.” – Nashville Lifestyles

“loose, rough-cut country” – Billboard

"An emotionally connective album” – The Tennessean

“charismatic creator” – MusicRow

“Esten dares to get deep” – American Songwriter

Topping off an already landmark year, Esten just returned to the States after being a part of the USO Holiday Show touring Europe last week with the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Christopher W. Grady. Esten, along with Hunter Hill, Melissa Villaseñor, Vince Wilfork, and Tyler Rich, traveled to bases in Rota, Spain; Aviano, Naples, Vicenza, and Sigonella, Italy; and Souda Bay, Greece, where they performed for, dined, and met with service members and their families. The tour also visited an aircraft carrier at sea as part of the USO's nearly 84-year-old mission to keep our military connected to home. 

Wrapping the wildly popular LOVE AIN’T PRETTY TOUR with a hometown show at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA, next Friday (12/27), the international trek found Esten playing to packed venues across the U.S., U.K., Netherlands, and Germany. Then, with 2025 dates already stacking, he’ll host an anniversary show to celebrate the one-year launch of Love Ain’t Pretty on the same night (1/24/25) as the Deluxe Edition release. Performing live from Chief’s on Broadway in Nashville, TN, tickets are available here.

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ABOUT CHARLES ESTEN:
Global entertainer Charles Esten delivers his signature “loose, rough-cut country,” according to Billboard, to much acclaim with independent debut album, Love Ain’t Pretty. Offering the Deluxe Edition double vinyl for the one-year anniversary (1/24/25), Grammy.com hailed, “the album is the purest representation of his artistry possible,” while Forbes further praised his 14-song co-write as “written with the wisdom and breadth that comes with time, Esten captures the dimensions of love, loss, growth, and hope.” Surpassing 25 MILLION streams to date, he’s a 2018 Guinness World Records title holder for the “Most consecutive weeks to release an original digital single by a music act” after releasing 54 original songs once a week for 54 straight weeks. He’s made nearly 180 appearances at Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry and performed multiple headline tours in the U.S., Germany, Amsterdam, and U.K., further embarking on his LOVE AIN’T PRETTY TOUR worldwide. A longtime storyteller as an artist-songwriter and actor, he’s popularly known for his roles as “Ward Cameron” on Netflix’s Outer Banks and “Deacon Claybourne” in ABC/CMT’s NASHVILLE. In addition, Esten serves as the National Honorary Spokesperson for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Light The Night Walk, and is a board member and volunteer for Musicians On Call.