We Speak Country

Madden Metcalf Trades Snow for Gulf Coast Sunshine on “Florida Somewhere”

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2026

Madden Metcalf playing his Gibson acoustic guitar on a boat on the water in Florida

Madden Metcalf is putting a Florida Christmas on record – “Florida Somewhere,” co-written with Freddy Wexler and Elliah Heifetz and produced by Paul Sikes, trades snowy landscapes for windows-down Gulf Coast sunshine just in time for the holidays.

Today, rising singer-songwriter Madden Metcalf releases his new song “Florida Somewhere,” just in time for the holiday season. Bringing a contemporary twist to his signature Saltwater Southern sound, “Florida Somewhere” is a Christmas song that trades snowy landscapes for Gulf Coast sunshine. Think windows down, drinks clinking, and a little honky-tonk holiday spirit – a fun, distinctly regional take on the Christmas song. “Florida Somewhere” was co-written by Madden Metcalf, Freddy Wexler, and Elliah Heifetz, and produced by Paul Sikes.

On the release, Madden says: “This one’s for everybody who’s ever spent the holidays wishing they were on a beach somewhere. Where I’m from, December still feels like summer, and I wanted to put that in a song. Merry Christmas, y’all!”

Built around the playful, escapist refrain, the song finds a little slice of sunshine no matter the season. With tequila, salt and lime as the recipe for turning any cold night into a warm-weather state of mind, the lyrics remind us that summer is never too far away:

Yeah, it’s Florida somewhere
Ain’t gettin’ sunny in a lawn chair
Girl, but that tequila’s gonna take me there
It’s always Florida somewhere
Even on a cold night
I can make it hotter with some salt n’ lime
Might be December, baby, I don’t care
You know it’s Florida somewhere

Earlier this week, Metcalf returned to The Local for another Raised Rowdy writers round, where he debuted the song and was joined by producer Paul Sikes. The set also featured stripped-back performances of “Drinkin’ Well” and “Kinda Paradise.”

Madden recently released his song, “Ain’t Mad About It” – a track that blends the easygoing spirit of classic beachfront Country with a confident swagger and an undeniable hook. The release followed Metcalf’s songs “Sound Of The Summer” and “Drinkin’ Well,” building on the foundation of Saltwater Southern. Drawing on the music he grew up with, including Jimmy Buffett and Kenny Chesney, his debut EP paired vivid small-town storytelling with the warmth and laid-back spirit of life along the Gulf Coast. His latest release expands that musical world, bringing a sharper late-night attitude to his roots.

About Madden Metcalf

Twenty-year-old Country artist Madden Metcalf hails from Panacea, Florida – a fishing town of fewer than a thousand people, where his family has lived for generations. Raised between mornings on the crab boat and nights working at a local restaurant, he built his music on small-town grit, Gulf Coast roots, and the soundtrack of his dad’s pole barn, where Johnny Cash, Jimmy Buffett, and Kenny Chesney were always playing. Out now, his debut EP Saltwater Southern blends modern Country hooks with timeless storytelling, offering songs that are as much Florida as they are Nashville. Shaped by family, faith, and the influence of his late uncle Darren, Madden sees music as a way to connect – turning his personal stories into something listeners everywhere can feel. With saltwater in his veins and Southern pride in his soul, Madden Metcalf is quickly emerging as one of Country’s most exciting new voices.

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.