We Speak Country

Hailey Benedict Backs The Dreamers With New Anthem “Past The Picket”

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2026

Nashville-based country artist Hailey Benedict has released “Past the Picket,” an unflinching anthem for unapologetic dreamers, via Big Loud Records / Local Hay Records, with an accompanying visualizer.

Today, rising Nashville-based country artist Hailey Benedict releases her unflinching new song “Past the Picket,” available now via Big Loud Records / Local Hay Records, along with an accompanying visualizer.

Marking the third release in her vibrant new chapter, “Past the Picket” is an anthem for unapologetic dreamers – a statement of self-affirmation proving that trusting your gut matters far more than playing it safe. Originating from a line saved in Benedict’s phone – “swinging past the picket fences” – the track was written on a Nashville retreat alongside frequent collaborators Clara Park and Ava Suppelsa, before being brought to life in the studio with GRAMMY Award-winning producer Josh Kerr (Keith Urban, Russell Dickerson).

“This song really encapsulates the feeling of knowing you’re meant for more,” says Benedict. “I’ve always been a big dreamer. Growing up, people would tell me to have a backup plan. I wrote this as a reminder to myself, but also for anyone listening, to trust that inner voice that pushes against the status quo.”

Vulnerable yet fiercely confident, the track refuses to let the fear of striking out outweigh the drive to swing away, centered around the standout lyric:

They’re placing bets on when the delusion will hit
When I’m gonna quit
Say I’m too ‘big for my britches’
And maybe they’re right, even if I miss it, at least I tried

“Past the Picket” follows Benedict’s shimmery country-pop banger “Party Without You” (which continues to rise at Canadian Country Radio, now sitting inside the Top 30), and the witty fall single “Chem History.”

The release continues a banner stretch for the Alberta-born singer-songwriter – fresh off winning her second CCMA Award (Innovative Campaign of the Year for “Carl Dean”) in September and first SOCAN Award in October. Benedict’s Big Loud debut, “Things My Mama Says,” earned the distinction of being the most-played song by a female Canadian artist at country radio in 2025.

ABOUT HAILEY BENEDICT

Hailey Benedict is connecting with a new generation of country listeners through a sound that feels relatable yet distinctly her own. The Nashville-based artist has quickly become one of country’s rising young voices, gaining momentum through her electric live performances and growing presence in Music City’s songwriting community. Winner of SiriusXM’s Top of the Country competition in 2023 before signing with Big Loud/Local Hay for recording and publishing, Hailey’s debut release with the label, “Things My Mama Says,” became the most-played female CANCON song at country radio in 2025. Benedict has continued to make her mark since Keith Urban invited her onstage in a sold-out arena when she was just 14, garnering two CCMA Award wins, a SOCAN Award win, and establishing herself as a sought-after songwriter, including a recent co-write on mega-streamed pop artist Dylan Conrique’s “Written in Stone.” Heralded by the country-pop banger “Party Without You” and followed by the witty track “Chem History” and empowering new anthem “Past the Picket,” Benedict is kicking off a new chapter with some of her most dynamic music yet.

Lauren Alaina Sells Out Her Ryman Debut and Brings Out Luke Bryan, HARDY and Scotty McCreery in Nashville

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2026

We Speak Media

Lauren Alaina sings on stage at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville during her sold-out headlining debut, with her band beside her and a packed crowd in the pews and balcony

Sixteen years after she auditioned for American Idol on the Ryman Auditorium stage, Lauren Alaina came back to headline it, sold the room out, and closed The Stages Tour with a night built around family, friends and surprise guests.

On Thursday (Nov. 12), Diamond-certified Country superstar Lauren Alaina made her SOLD-OUT Ryman Auditorium debut – a full-circle moment for the small-town Georgia native who auditioned for American Idol sixteen years ago on the very same stage.

Taking a well-deserved victory lap, Alaina surprised her sold-out crowd with several star-studded guests, including her brother, Tyler Suddeth (“Babies Raising Babies”), Scotty McCreery (“When You Say Nothing At All”), Emily Ann Roberts (“I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”), Chase Matthew (“All My Exes”), HARDY and Devin Dawson (“ONE BEER”) and Luke Bryan (“Drink A Beer”) for an emotional tribute to the loved ones they have both lost.

Concluding her 15-stop headlining The Stages Tour last night, Alaina has donated $1 for every ticket sold throughout the tour to her foundation, My Kinda People – contributing to several causes that are meaningful to her and her “Kinda People.”

“I was introduced to the world on the Ryman stage in my American Idol audition 16 years ago. It was the perfect and only place to end The Stages Tour,” Alaina shares. “It was even more special because the night supported our military heroes who sacrifice so much for us.”

At the start of the show, Alaina announced her new My Kinda People initiative with the Fisher House Foundation. An exclusive signed CD,“For The Boots,” was available for purchase and included “Boots On The Ground” and a Live at The Opry performance of “When You Say Nothing At All” featuring her dad and brother, Tyler. For those who were unable to attend the show, the remaining signed CDs are available for purchase as well as an Amazon exclusive “Boots On The Ground” t-shirt. All proceeds will go to the Fisher House Foundation, helping military and veteran families when a loved one is in the hospital.

After nine years of dedication to her craft, Lauren recently topped the charts at country radio, earning her fourth No.1 with smash hit “All My Exes (feat. Chase Matthew), becoming one of only five female country artists to reach the top of the charts in 2026, joining an elite group of powerhouses including Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Stella Lefty, and Taylor Swift. Alaina is now one of eight women to have earned multiple Country Airplay No.1s this decade. Adding to her milestones, Alaina performed “Never Been In Love” (which features childhood friend Kane Brown) on Live with Kelly and Mark last month from her 17-song collection Stages. The confessional track has become Alaina’s highest streaming debut to date.

About Lauren Alaina

Lauren Alaina, praised by Rolling Stone for her “powerhouse, honey-toned vocals that meld timeless twang with modern sass,” continues her “limitless upward trajectory” (American Songwriter) as one of country music’s most magnetic entertainers. Her new album Stages, out now (8/28) builds on the momentum of smash hit “All My Exes (feat. Chase Matthew)” that just topped the charts at country radio, making it the fourth No. 1 of her career. A proud member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2022, Alaina has earned four No. 1 hits: “All My Exes (feat. Chase Matthew),” Platinum-certified “Road Less Traveled,” the 4x Platinum “ONE BEER” with HARDY and Devin Dawson, and Diamond-certified “What Ifs” with Kane Brown. With “What Ifs,” Alaina became the only solo female country artist in history to receive the RIAA’s Diamond song certification. The vocalist has performed on some of the highest-profile stages in the world including PBS’ A Capitol Fourth, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, CBS’ Beyond The Edge, ABC’s The Bachelorette, TODAY, Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, ABC’s CMA Fest specials, CMA and ACM Awards, Nickelodeon’s All That, Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day halftime performance, MLB’s World Series national anthem performance, a performance at the White House for President Obama, and more.