Hailey Whitters Releases New Album Corn Queen
The Iowa-born, Nashville-based singer/songwriter Hailey Whitters released her new album Corn Queen via Pigasus Records / Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters. Produced once again by her longtime collaborator (and now-husband) Jake Gear, the 16-song collection is a rousing reflection on Whitters’ midwestern roots and the joys and struggles of small-town living, featuring special guests Molly Tuttle, Charles Wesley Godwin and The Wilder Blue. This morning, Whitters released the official video for the dreamy and ethereal “White Limousine,” directed by Beth Brinker, that tells the story of a small town girl with fantasies of the glitz and glamour of a faraway life.
About the new song, Whitters explains: “I’ve waited a long time to put out this record. I wrote and recorded this song for a duets record called Countrypolitan that unfortunately never will see the light of day, but this was always my favourite song on that record so it gives me triumph to be able to reclaim it on Corn Queen. This song defines the ‘Queen’ side of the album. The video captures that romanticized escapism that anyone who’s ever lived in a small town has probably experienced at some point or another. I know I definitely did! Props to my creative director Beth Brinker for bringing Palm Springs to the cornfield.”
Following her album release party earlier this week at Skinny Dennis presented by Holler, Whitters will celebrate the album release later today with an in-store performance and signing at Grimey’s at 4:00 p.m. Fans can purchase the vinyl LP and CD at Grimeys.com or inside the record store for a signing wristband. Later this evening, Whitters will perform at Spotify House Live At Ole Red at 7:30 p.m. as part of CMA Fest.
Ahead of the release, Whitters released a handful of critically-acclaimed songs “I Don’t Want You” (feat. Charles Wesley Godwin), “High On The Hog,” and “High On A Heartbreak” that were praised by BrooklynVegan, Country Central, Music Row, Stereogum, Wide Open Country and many more.
“Prodigal Daughter” featuring Molly Tuttle was named one of the Best Songs of 2025 (So Far) by Vulture and praised as “Hailey at her best” by All Country News. At the top of the year, she shared shared “Casseroles,” which was lauded as a “Song You Need to Know” (Rolling Stone), a “nuanced reflection on grief and recovery” (Billboard), “an undeniable triumph” (Holler), a “testament that she can hang with some of the genre’s best” (Country Central), “proof she’s only getting better” (Wide Open Country) and “a beautiful and striking tune” (Whiskey Riff).
“Fans started calling me the ‘Corn Queen’ because I’m from Iowa,” Whitters says about the album’s title. “At first, it seemed kind of silly, but the more I thought about it, the more I loved the duality of it. Corn is this simple, humble crop, and ‘queen’ implies royalty passed down through blood. I come from a long line of blue-collar farmers and construction workers. I’ve been out here for over a decade brushing my teeth in truck stop bathrooms, sleeping on hotel floors, driving myself from gig to gig. It’s not glamorous, but I’m proud of it. I like the idea of a queen with a little grit and elbow grease.”
Throughout the summer, Whitters will perform at a handful of music festivals, with additional dates to be announced soon. Find a full list of tour dates below or visit her website.
Corn Queen Tracklist:
1. High On The Hog (Hailey Whitters)
2. Prodigal Daughter (feat. Molly Tuttle) (Hailey Whitters, Paul Sikes, Bryan Simpson)
3. Shotgun Wedding Baby (Hailey Whitters, Brad Warren, Brett Warren, Caroline Watkins)
4. Helluva Heart (Hailey Whitters, Trannie Anderson, Paul Sikes)
5. High On A Heartbreak (Hailey Whitters, Jessie Jo Dillon, David Garcia, Hillary Lindsey)
6. It’ll Do (Hailey Whitters, Chris LaCorte, Hillary Lindsey, Jon Nite)
7. Hearsay (Hailey Whitters, Trannie Anderson, Paul Sikes)
8. Anything Like Me (Hailey Whitters, Trannie Anderson, Paul Sikes)
9. I Don’t Want You (feat. Charles Wesley Godwin) (Hailey Whitters, Jon Nite, Gordie Sampson)
10. The Nail (Hailey Whitters, Bryan Simpson, Ryan Tyndell)
11. Casseroles (Tom Douglas, Hillary Lindsey, James Slater)
12. Wagon (Trannie Anderson, Ben Hayslip, Seth Mosley)
13. Wholesome (Hailey Whitters, Luke Dick)
14. White Limousine (Hailey Whitters, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jesse Frasure)
15. Corn Queen (Hailey Whitters, Bobby Pinson)
16. DanceMor (feat. The Wilder Blue) (Hailey Whitters, Nicolle Galyon, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
Tour Dates:
6/10 – Nashville, Tenn. – Grand Ole Opry
6/28 – Norco, Calif. – SilverLakes
6/29 – Santa Rosa, Calif. – Country Summer Music Festival
7/5 – Ellicottville, N.Y. – Ellicottville Summer Music Festival
7/19 – Whitefish, Mont. – Under The Big Sky Festival
7/25 – Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Expo Center & State Fair
8/7-10 – West Chester, Ohio – Voices of America Country Music Fest
8/30 – Dyersville, Iowa – Field of Dreams
9/12 – Saanen, Switzerland – Country Night Gstaad 2025
KEEP UP WITH HAILEY WHITTERS