Ashley McBryde's 'What If We Don't' Becomes No. 1 Most-Added Single on Country Radio

Paulette CohnWed, February 25, 2026 at 3:46 AM UTC

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(Photo credit Nathan Chapman)

Back In January, Ashley McBryde released “What If We Don’t,” the first single from her highly-anticipated fifth studio album, scheduled for release this summer. The single moved to country radio on February 23, quickly became the No. 1 most-added song.

Ashley, who teared up as she told fans, posted, ““What If We Don’t” is the #1 most added song at country radio. That’s because of YOU. Every single one of you reading this. Thank you for listening, requesting, adding, and believing in this one!”

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She went on to say in the video, “We’ve got 75 stations. That’s the most we’ve had on any single coming out of the gate. This is huge. This is huge for me. It’s huge for John Osborne. It’s huge for my band. It’s huge for my team at Warner. It’s huge for my team at Q Prime. Thank you for the love and support. This song needed its moment and it’s getting it.”

That single was followed up by “Arkansas Mud,” with both songs part of the upcoming album, which is grounded in pillars including McBryde's journey to sobriety, growing up years in Arkansas, religious trauma, and family of origin.

The GRAMMY®, CMA and ACM award winning singer-songwriter says, “We’ve all filed an edge down here or there at someone else’s request. ‘Arkansas Mud’ is about rediscovering and re-honing those edges.”

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She continues, “It takes some gumption to sing a line like ‘Romans 3 and 23, don’t you point your book at me,’ and I know a lot of that gumption comes from growing up in the woods in the middle of the Ozark Mountains.”

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“Arkansas Mud," a rock-heavy, sharp-tongued track written by a trio of GRAMMY Award-winning hitmakers – McBryde, Jessie Jo Dillon, and Chris Tompkins – tackles returning to one’s most authentic self after years of shapeshifting in the name of palatability.

“Dimming your light or denying yourself causes all kinds of problems. Drinking problems, substance problems…,” McBryde shared on social media earlier this week. “Even as the chick that’s known for sticking to her guns, there are parts of me I still let slip away. I don’t mind telling you now, I tried to fill those spots with all the wrong things. And that time has passed.”

McBryde, who was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2022, performed at the storied venue on February 22. Hailed as “one of Nashville’s most reliable and sophisticated songwriters” by the Los Angeles Times, McBryde released road-worn fan favorite “Rattlesnake Preacher” in June to rapturous reception. She opened her non-alcoholic forward concept, Redemption Bar, at home on the fifth floor of Eric Church’s Chief’s in Nashville last August, paired with her Redemption Residency at Chief’s Neon Steeple through mid-2026.

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This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”