NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Country music singer-songwriter Ian Flanigan’s scorching new single “Rather Be Country” is available today! Written by Flanigan, Jon Stone, and David “Messy” Mescon, “Rather Be Country” is a rousing tribute to a life lived on a road less traveled and pays homage to the ways and means of true Tom Sawyer-esqe antics!
“Rather Be Country” opens full-throttle, with searing twin fiddles, scorching guitars, and showcases Flanigan’s husky, gritty vocals throughout. The third track from Flanigan’s upcoming album again features Nashville’s top musicians including Gordon Mote (piano), Willie B. Barthel (drums), Jay White (bass), Jerry McPherson (electric guitar), Colin Wells (electric guitar), Jon Stone (acoustic guitar), Russ Pahl (pedal steel), and Aubrey Haynie (fiddle, mandolin). Flanigan’s full album is due out this fall.
I’d rather be high than lonesome
Rather be a dirt road, than a city street
Rather be an old skipping stone sitting at the bottom of the fishing hole
Than a diamond cut to fit inside your ring
Keep that suit and tie imma live and die
With these boots down on my feet
I’d rather be country
“Growing up, we used to have this 10-acre property outside of town where anything could happen,” shares Flanigan. “Rather Be Country” is about those wild times, good people, and a thousand stories not fit to tell.”
As featured in a People.com exclusive, Flanigan recently married his new bride, Kelsey Charles, at the 4 Eagle Ranch in Beaver Creek, Colorado, on February 29. The couple shared their day with a small, private ceremony at the same music venue where they first met.
“We opted to go back to Beaver Creek and create the ultimate full-circle moment by exchanging our vows in the same place we met,” he says, adding that the couple’s wedding day was “nothing short of perfect.”
To read the full People.com exclusive, visit HERE.
More recently, the pair announced they will be parents, with their double portion slated to arrive in late June. You can see those posts HERE, HERE, and HERE. The Flanigan Family of Four will make their official world debut VERY soon!
One to never sit still, Flanigan was one of the featured artists at the 2024 Buckle & Boots Festival in Manchester, UK which included the Heartwreckers, The Country Orchestra, Maggie Baugh, Dan Smalley, Jon Stone, Emilia Quinn, Canaan Cox, First Time Flyers, Matt Hodges, Luke Flear, Taylor Moss, and more.
Slow, stoic, southern grace is how Ian can be accurately described. He is humble yet focused, peaceful but engaged, and undisputedly talented. For the last decade, he has toured his distinct voice and evocative lyrics across America, with a country sound reminiscent of Joe Cocker and Chris Stapleton.
Ian found fame by becoming Blake Shelton’s finalist on NBC’s The Voice, where he was dubbed a “once-in-a-lifetime vocalist” by Shelton. Since that time, he has released an album with chart-topping singles (“Grow Up” reached #5 on the US iTunes sales chart, approaching 3 million streams), extensively toured with the likes of Trace Adkins and Chris Janson, and will release his sophomore album, with more singles and videos being released throughout the summer. He has been featured on CMT, RFD-TV, Fox News, American Songwriter, Whiskey Riff, The Music Universe, Country Now, Everything Nash, Entertainment Tonight, People Magazine, USA Today, Yahoo News, and The Wrap.
Flanigan represents Taylor Guitars, Lucchese, KICKER AUDIO, and Suerte Tequila as a brand ambassador, gains exposure as a Reviver Publishing writer in Nashville, and released his debut album Strong in 2022 on Reviver Records. His new album is set to release in 2024.
ABOUT REVIVER ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
The artist roster includes platinum-selling contemporary country hitmaker Aaron Goodvin, Ian Flanigan, Brooke Moriber, Randall Fowler, David Devaul, David Adam Byrnes, BOWMAN, Halle Payne, Reid Brody, Lectrolab, Blackjack Billy, as well legacy brands including The Carter Family, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer (2009) Little Anthony. Reviver has celebrated four top-20 hits, three top-five hits, four No.1 songs, four gold and a platinum single, and multiple ACM and CMA Awards, all led by David Ross’s vision. For more information, please visit revivermusic.com.
