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Cole Swindell
View on WikipediaKey Information
Colden Rainey Swindell (born June 30, 1983) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He has written singles for Craig Campbell, Thomas Rhett, Scotty McCreery, and Luke Bryan, and has released four albums for Warner Bros. Records Nashville. He has released thirteen singles, eight of which have reached number one on the Hot Country Songs and/or Country Airplay charts. Five more singles have reached the Top 10. Swindell is known for hits such as “Chillin’ It,” “You Should Be Here,” “Flatliner,” “Never Say Never,” and “She Had Me At Heads Carolina.”
Early life
[edit]Swindell was born in Glennville, Georgia on June 30, 1983, to William Keith Swindell and Betty Carol Rainey. He grew up in Dawson, Georgia, and has two brothers and a stepbrother.[2]
Swindell attended Terrell Academy in Dawson.[3] Swindell attended Georgia Southern University, where he majored in marketing.[4] He met Luke Bryan, who attended the same university some years earlier and was also a fellow Sigma Chi member,[5] at the fraternity house when Bryan came back to Statesboro to do a show. They kept in touch, and after Swindell left college in 2007 and moved to Nashville, he sold merchandise for Bryan for three years, and wrote songs on the road.[6]
Music career
[edit]Songwriting
[edit]In 2010, Swindell signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
Swindell wrote Craig Campbell's "Outta My Head",[7] Luke Bryan's "Just a Sip", "Beer in the Headlights", "Roller Coaster", "Out Like That", "I'm Hungover", "In Love with the Girl", Florida Georgia Line’s "This Is How We Roll" with Bryan, who was featured on the song. Chris Young also had a song on his A.M. album co-written by Swindell, "Nothin' but the Cooler Left"
2013–2015: Cole Swindell
[edit]In 2013, Swindell's independently released debut single "Chillin' It", buoyed by heavy airplay on SiriusXM satellite radio channel "The Highway", became a hit[1] and Swindell signed a record deal with Warner Music Nashville. The demo of "Chillin' It" was sent to radio before it had been mastered.[8]
Swindell released his self-titled debut album on February 18, 2014.[9] Luke Bryan's guitarist, Michael Carter, produced the rest of the album. Along with Lee Brice, Swindell opened Bryan's 2014 That's My Kind of Night Tour.[10] "Chillin' It" became a top-five hit on Country Airplay and number 1 single on Hot Country Songs. The album's second single is "Hope You Get Lonely Tonight", which Swindell and Carter co-wrote with both members of Florida Georgia Line, Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard. The album's third single, "Ain't Worth the Whiskey", was released to country radio on November 3, 2014. It reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in April 2015. The album's fourth single, "Let Me See Ya Girl", was released to country radio on April 20, 2015. It reached number two on the Country Airplay chart in November 2015.
On November 17, 2014, Swindell released a five-song digital EP, The Down Home Sessions. The release coincided with his headlining tour of the same name.[11]
Swindell won the ACM New Artist of the Year Award in April 2015.[12]
2015–2018: You Should Be Here
[edit]The album's first single, "You Should Be Here" was released to country radio on December 14, 2015. It was written with Ashley Gorley. It reached at number one on the Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts in April 2016. The album's second single, "Middle of a Memory" released to country radio on May 2, 2016. It reached at number one on the Country Airplay in November 2016. The album's third single, "Flatliner" (featuring Dierks Bentley) released to country radio on January 23, 2017. It reached at number two on the Country Airplay in August 2017. The album's fourth single, "Stay Downtown" released to country radio on September 5, 2017. "You Should Be Here", "Middle of a Memory" and "Flatliner" all hit No.1 on Mediabase country radio singles chart.[13]
Swindell also released a music video for the song which featured a video of him telling his father he received a record contract and subsequent montages of Cole and his brothers grieving outside of the family home and at their father's grave. The video also shows images of Swindell's rising popularity while clearly conveying that he wanted to be able to see his father and share this fame experience with him.[14]
2018–2024: All of It and Stereotype
[edit]Swindell released "Break Up in the End", the lead single from his third album, on February 23, 2018.[15] Swindell's third album, All of It, was released on August 17, 2018.[16] After the album became available for pre-order in July 2018, Swindell released the number-one track "Love You Too Late" as a promotional single.[17] "Love You Too Late" was announced as the album's official second single, being released to radio on November 19, 2018.[18]
The lead single from Swindell's fourth studio album, "Single Saturday Night", was released on May 22, 2020.[19] It was followed by "Never Say Never", a duet with Lainey Wilson, on November 19, 2021.[20] Swindell released his fourth album Stereotype on April 8, 2022.[21] Swindell followed the album up with its third single, "She Had Me at Heads Carolina", a remake of Jo Dee Messina's 1996 single "Heads Carolina, Tails California". This single has gone on to become the biggest single of Swindell's career so far, having spent four weeks at number one on the Country Airplay chart, as well as becoming his first Top 20 single on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified three-times Platinum by RIAA.
2025–present: Spanish Moss
[edit]On March 25, 2025, Swindell announced his fifth album Spanish Moss. It was released on June 27, 2025. The title track was released on March 28, 2025.[22] On September 26, 2025, Swindell released "Make Heaven Crowded", a song inspired by the assassination of Charlie Kirk.[23]
Personal life
[edit]In 2019, Swindell was confirmed to be dating professional wrestler and model Barbie Blank, best known for her time in WWE under the ring name "Kelly Kelly". The couple broke up three months after making their first public appearance at that year's Academy of Country Music Awards.[24][25]
In 2024, Swindell married Courtney Little, a former member of the Charlotte Honey Bees.[26][27] On March 3, 2025, the couple announced that they are expecting their first child.[28] On August 7, 2025, their daughter was born.[29]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
- Cole Swindell (2014)
- You Should Be Here (2016)
- All of It (2018)
- Stereotype (2022)
- Spanish Moss (2025)
Tours
[edit]Headlining
Supporting
- Burn It Down Tour with Jason Aldean (2015)
- The Big Revival Tour with Kenny Chesney (2015)
- Dig Your Roots Tour with Florida Georgia Line (2016)
- What the Hell Tour with Dierks Bentley (2017)
- Sunset Repeat Tour with Luke Bryan (2019)
- Center Point Road Tour with Thomas Rhett (2021)
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Awards | Category | Recipient/Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | CMT Music Awards | Breakthrough Video of the Year | "Chillin’ It" | Nominated | [32] |
| 2015 | Academy of Country Music Awards | New Artist of the Year | Cole Swindell | Won | [33] |
| 2015 | iHeartRadio Music Awards | Best New Artist | Nominated | [34] | |
| 2016 | Country Music Association Awards | New Artist of the Year | Nominated | [35] | |
| 2017 | iHeartRadio Music Awards | Country Song of the Year | "You Should Be Here" | Nominated | [36] |
| Best Lyrics | Nominated | ||||
| CMT Music Awards | Video of the Year | "Middle of a Memory" | Nominated | [37] | |
| 2019 | CMT Music Awards | Male Video of the Year | "Break Up in the End" | Nominated | [38] |
| 2019 | Grammy Awards | Best Country Song | "Break Up in the End" | Nominated | [39] |
| 2019 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Song of the Year | "Break Up in the End" | Nominated | [40] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Leggett, Steve. "Cole Swindell biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ Swindell family (September 4, 2013). "William Swindell Obituary". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
- ^ "Swindell talks wild year, Terrell Academy days". WALB. May 6, 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ Cindy Watts (June 14, 2015). "Cole Swindell savors his 'defining days'". The Tennessean.
- ^ Brian Mansfield (February 16, 2014). "On the Verge: Cole Swindell no longer cooling his heels". USA TODAY.
- ^ Annie Reuter (February 13, 2014). "New Music to Know: How Cole Swindell Went From Luke Bryan's Merch Guy to Opening Act". Radio.com.
- ^ "Craig Campbell's "Outta My Head" Lyric Video". Country Weekly.
- ^ Watts, Cindy (12 February 2014). "Father and son producers Jeff Stevens, Jody Stevens celebrate No. 1 and No. 2 hits". The Tennessean. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ "Cole Swindell Rides 'Chillin' It' to Label Deal". Billboard. 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2013-07-31.
- ^ "Luke Bryan Announces 2014 Tour: Lee Brice, Cole Swindell Will Open Shows". CMT. 2013-10-17. Archived from the original on October 18, 2013.
- ^ Chuck Dauphin (November 20, 2014). "Cole Swindell Brings His Fans 'Down Home' With New EP". Billboard.
- ^ Swindell Talks ACMs Best New Artist Award: 'I Never Want to Let It Go'[permanent dead link] ET Online. 19 April 2015.
- ^ "Cole Swindell's "Flatliner" Reaches #1 At Country Radio". Headline Planet. 2017-08-13. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
- ^ Cindy Watts (December 14, 2015). "Cole Swindell tells dad: 'You should be here' in song". The Tennessean.
- ^ Tom Roland (April 4, 2018). "It's Personal: Cole Swindell Finds the Heart Of 'Break Up In The End'". Billboard.
- ^ Carena Liptak (June 1, 2018). "Everything We Know About Cole Swindell's New Album, 'All of It'". The Boot.
- ^ Hermanson, Wendy (12 July 2018). "Cole Swindell Teases New Song, 'Love You Too Late'". Retrieved July 13, 2018.
- ^ Jacklyn Krol (July 31, 2019). "Cole Swindell Brings the Action in 'Love You Too Late' Video". Taste of Country. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
- ^ Cillea Houghton (May 22, 2020). "Cole Swindell Finds Love in 'Single Saturday Night' [LISTEN]". Taste of Country.
- ^ Billy Dukes (November 22, 2021). "Cole Swindell + Lainey Wilson's Smoldering 'Never Say Never' Recalls the Best Bad Decisions [Listen]". Taste of Country.
- ^ Buddy Iahn (February 4, 2022). "Cole Swindell announces 'Stereotype'". The Music Universe.
- ^ LB Cantrell (March 25, 2025). "Cole Swindell Readies Fifth Studio Album, 'Spanish Moss'". Music Row. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ "Cole Swindell's 'Make Heaven Crowded' Lyrics About More Than Charlie Kirk". Taste of Country. 2025-09-26. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
- ^ "Cole Swindell and Barbie Blank Split 3 Months After Going Public". Us Weekly. July 9, 2019. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
- ^ "Cole Swindell & Barbie Blank Split". Extra. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
- ^ "Singer Cole Swindell and Courtney Little Wed in Sonoma, 1 Year After Engagement". Peoplemag. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "Who Is Cole Swindell's Fiancée? All About Courtney Little". Peoplemag. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ Charna Flam (March 3, 2025). "Cole Swindell and Wife Courtney Expecting First Baby Together". People. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
- ^ Kelly Fisher (August 8, 2025). "Cole Swindell, Wife Courtney Welcomes Baby No. 1: 'Our Greatest Blessing'". iHeart. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
- ^ Cillea Houghton (23 July 2018). "Cole Swindell Announces Tour With Dustin Lynch, Lauren Alaina". Tasteofcountry.com. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
- ^ "Cole Announces The Down Home Tour presented by Monster Energy Outbreak". Cole Swindell. August 25, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ^ "2014 CMT Music Awards Nominees Announced". Taste of Country. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
- ^ "ACM Awards 2015: And the Winners Are ..." Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
- ^ "2015 iHeartRadio Music Awards Nominees Announced!". E! News. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
- ^ "Nominees - 2016 CMA Awards". 2016 CMA Awards. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
- ^ "Here's The Complete List Of #iHeartAwards Winners | iHeartRadio Music Awards | iHeartRadio". iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
- ^ "CMT Music Awards 2017 Nominees Announced". Us Weekly. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ Freeman, Jon (6 June 2019). "2019 CMT Music Awards: The Complete Winners List". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
- ^ "COLE SWINDELL'S GRAMMY AND ACM NOMINATED "BREAK UP IN THE END" CERTIFIED PLATINUM BY RIAA - Cole Swindell Official Blog". Cole Swindell Official Website. Retrieved 2019-11-22.
- ^ "Academy of Country Music 54th ACM Awards Nominees". Academy of Country Music. Retrieved 2019-11-22.
Cole Swindell
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Family background
Colden Rainey Swindell, professionally known as Cole Swindell, was born on June 30, 1983, in Glennville, Georgia, a small town in the state's coastal plain region.[3] Although some accounts mention early family ties to other locations, his birth and formative years were rooted in Georgia, with no verified connection to Memphis, Tennessee, as a birthplace or primary relocation site.[10] Swindell grew up in the rural community of Bronwood, Georgia, alongside his parents, William Keith Swindell and Betty Carol Rainey, who divorced when he was young, on the family's farm situated in the heart of Vidalia onion country.[10][11] This agricultural setting shaped his early life, immersing him in the traditions and rhythms of Southern farm living in a region renowned for its Vidalia onions, a staple of Georgia's economy. He was the youngest of three brothers, with two older siblings and a stepbrother, fostering a close-knit household environment typical of small-town Southern families.[3] From a young age, Swindell was exposed to country music through everyday family activities, such as singing along to radio tunes during car rides with his mother, which highlighted the genre's presence in their home.[12] Swindell's family experienced a profound loss later in his adulthood when his father, William Keith Swindell, died unexpectedly on September 2, 2013, at age 65, in a tragic accident involving a truck.[13] This event, occurring well after his childhood, underscored the enduring impact of family bonds formed during his rural upbringing in Bronwood.[14]Education
Swindell attended Terrell Academy, a private high school in Dawson, Georgia, where he graduated as part of a small class of about 60 students.[15] During his time there, he participated in various sports but showed no early signs of pursuing music professionally.[16] After high school, Swindell enrolled at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia, where he studied marketing.[17] He did not complete his degree, leaving the university in 2007 to pursue opportunities in Nashville.[18] At Georgia Southern, Swindell joined the Sigma Chi fraternity, through which he connected with fellow member and alumnus Luke Bryan, who had attended the school several years earlier.[19] This fraternity involvement introduced him to performing, as he began singing covers at parties and events on campus after Bryan visited and performed at a Sigma Chi gathering around 2005.[19] During his college years from approximately 2004 to 2006, Swindell experimented with music by writing his first original songs and honing his skills through casual performances.[17] These early efforts, often shared in fraternity house settings, marked the beginning of his shift from academics toward a music-focused path, influenced in part by the country music exposure from his family's farm background in rural Georgia.[4]Music career
Songwriting beginnings
After leaving Georgia Southern University in 2007 with a few credits short of his marketing degree, Swindell moved to Nashville on August 23 to pursue a career in country music, drawing on songwriting he had begun during his college years at fraternity parties.[20][21] To support himself, Swindell took a job as Luke Bryan's merchandise manager, traveling on tour with the artist from 2007 to 2010 and using the opportunity to network within the industry while continuing to hone his songwriting skills in his spare time.[22][23] In 2010, Swindell signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing, shifting his focus to writing songs for other artists and recording early demos, including a rough version of "Chillin' It" that featured only his vocals and basic instrumentation.[17][24] Through this deal, Swindell co-wrote several hits for other performers, including "This Is How We Roll" for Florida Georgia Line, which topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart in 2013, and "Get Me Some of That" for Thomas Rhett, a No. 1 hit in 2014.[25][26][18] His songwriting often reflected emotional themes inspired by his father's influence, as seen in the heartfelt narratives he crafted for others during this period.[17] This phase culminated in 2016 when Swindell received the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) Songwriter/Artist of the Year award, recognizing his contributions as a writer before his rise as a recording artist.[27][28]2013–2015: Debut album
Swindell signed a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records in July 2013, marking his transition from songwriter to recording artist after building buzz with his independently released demo of "Chillin' It," which had already sold over 100,000 copies.[29] The track, co-written by Swindell and Shane Minor, was issued as his debut single to country radio on July 15, 2013, and became his first No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in February 2014, also peaking at No. 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart.[30] This success, bolstered by his prior songwriting credits for artists like Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line, propelled him into the spotlight as a performer. His self-titled debut album, Cole Swindell, was released on February 18, 2014, and produced by Michael Carter—Luke Bryan's guitarist—and Jody Stevens.[31] Featuring 12 tracks largely co-written by Swindell, including uptempo party anthems like "Hey Y'all" and "Swayin'," the album showcased his blend of contemporary country and personal storytelling, with highlights such as the introspective "Ain't Worth the Whiskey."[32] It debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with over 63,000 copies sold in its first week and topped the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, certifying platinum by the RIAA later that year.[33] The album spawned additional singles that extended its chart dominance, including "Hope You Get Lonely Tonight," co-written with Florida Georgia Line's Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard, which reached No. 1 on Country Airplay in October 2014. Follow-up "Let Me See Ya Girl" peaked at No. 1 on Country Airplay in November 2015, solidifying Swindell's radio presence with four consecutive No. 1 hits from the project. During this period, he gained live experience opening for Luke Bryan on the 2013 Dirt Road Diaries Tour and sharing stages with Florida Georgia Line, honing his stage presence before larger audiences.[34] In recognition of his breakout year, Swindell won the Academy of Country Music Award for New Artist of the Year in April 2015, beating nominees Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett.[35]2015–2018: You Should Be Here
Following the success of his debut album, Cole Swindell released his second studio album, You Should Be Here, on May 6, 2016, via Warner Bros. Nashville. The project, produced by Buddy Cannon and Scott Hendricks, debuted at number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 2 on the Top Country Albums chart, with 75,500 equivalent album units in its first week (including 65,000 pure sales). The album featured 12 tracks that showcased Swindell's evolution as a songwriter, blending uptempo country rock with introspective ballads, and marked a significant step in his rising prominence within the genre.[36] The lead single, "You Should Be Here," was released to country radio on December 14, 2015, and quickly ascended to number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in early 2016, holding the position for multiple weeks. Co-written by Swindell and Ashley Gorley, the song was inspired by the unexpected death of Swindell's father in 2013, capturing themes of grief and absence during joyful moments; it has been certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA. Subsequent singles from the album included "Middle of a Memory," which reached number 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart in January 2017, exploring the lingering pain of a breakup through vivid, emotional imagery. "Flatliner," a duet with Dierks Bentley released in January 2017, peaked at number 5 on the Hot Country Songs chart, blending high-energy instrumentation with lyrics about an intoxicating romance.[37] In 2017, Swindell expanded his live presence by joining Thomas Rhett as a supporting act on the Home Team Tour, performing across multiple U.S. cities and connecting with fans through high-energy sets that highlighted tracks from You Should Be Here. This touring schedule, combined with extensive radio airplay—particularly for the album's singles, which collectively amassed billions of audience impressions—helped solidify his growing fanbase and established him as a consistent radio mainstay.[38] Critics praised You Should Be Here for its shift toward more personal and vulnerable lyrics compared to Swindell's debut, noting the title track's raw emotional depth as a standout that elevated the album's authenticity. Rolling Stone described it as Swindell's "A-list claim," commending the balance of heartfelt ballads like the title song with radio-friendly anthems, while AllMusic highlighted the record's polished production and Swindell's improved vocal delivery in conveying intimate stories of loss and love.[39] The album's reception underscored Swindell's maturation, earning a 3.5-out-of-5 rating from AllMusic for its blend of commercial appeal and genuine sentiment.[40]2018–2022: All of It
Swindell's third studio album, All of It, was released on August 17, 2018, through Warner Bros. Records Nashville. The project debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and No. 7 on the all-genre Billboard 200, marking his first chart-topping effort on the country albums tally. Produced by Michael Carter, the album features 12 tracks that blend upbeat party anthems with introspective ballads, reflecting Swindell's maturation as an artist.[41][42][43] The album's lead single, "Break Up in the End," became Swindell's eighth No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in October 2018, earning a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song in 2019. Follow-up single "Love You Too Late" followed suit, topping the Country Airplay chart in October 2019 and securing his ninth career No. 1 as a performer. Another track, "Dad's Old Number," was released as a live version in June 2019, capturing a heartfelt tribute to familial bonds amid the album's exploration of relationships and personal reflection. These releases highlighted the album's thematic depth, delving into the nuances of love's highs and lows without shying away from regret and redemption.[44][45][46][47][48] Swindell headlined the Reason to Drink Tour from February 2018 through December, expanding it into a co-headlining run with Dustin Lynch and Lauren Alaina for fall dates across 25 cities. The tour showcased high-energy performances of All of It material, solidifying his live draw with sold-out arenas. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted 2020 plans, leading to the rescheduling of his Down to Earth Tour dates. In response, Swindell adapted with virtual concerts, including a September 2020 Fireplay livestream that simulated a live crowd experience for fans during lockdowns.[49][50][51][52] Songwriting played a central role in All of It, with Swindell co-penning five tracks alongside collaborators like Ashley Gorley, Dallas Davidson, and Jon Nite. The album's overarching theme captures life's complexities—celebrating small joys while confronting emotional turmoil in relationships and self-growth. By 2020, these efforts contributed to Swindell's milestone of eight No. 1 singles as a songwriter, underscoring his dual prowess in the studio and behind the scenes.[53][54]2022–2025: Stereotype and Spanish Moss
In 2022, Cole Swindell released his fourth studio album, Stereotype, on April 8 via Warner Music Nashville.[55] The project debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.[56] It featured three consecutive No. 1 singles on the Billboard Country Airplay chart: "Single Saturday Night," which topped the chart in early 2022; the duet "Never Say Never" with Lainey Wilson, marking Swindell's 11th career No. 1 later that year; and "She Had Me at Heads Carolina," his 12th No. 1 and fastest-rising single to date, which held the top spot for five weeks in late 2022.[57][58] The latter track also won ACM Song of the Year in 2023.[59] To support the album, Swindell launched his headlining Back Down to the Bar Tour in February 2022, with dates extending into the fall, featuring openers Travis Denning and Ashley Cooke.[60] In April 2023, Swindell issued a deluxe edition titled Stereotype Broken, adding four new tracks, including the single "Drinkaby." Critics praised the expansion for blending introspective ballads with the album's signature upbeat energy, highlighting its role in showcasing Swindell's evolving songwriting.[61][62] Swindell announced his fifth studio album, Spanish Moss, on March 25, 2025, with a release date of June 27 via Warner Music Nashville.[63] The 21-track collection drew from his Georgia roots, exploring themes of Southern life through nostalgic imagery like Spanish moss-draped oaks, alongside reflections on family, loss, and resilience.[64] Lead singles included "Forever to Me," which became his 13th No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in early 2025, and "We Can Always Move On," released to radio in May 2025.[6][65] Reviewers lauded Spanish Moss as an ambitious set that balanced reflective ballads and anthemic tracks, marking a mature evolution in Swindell's catalog.[64] In September 2025, Swindell released the standalone single "Make Heaven Crowded," inspired by an emotional speech from Erika Kirk following the death of her husband, Charlie Kirk, which resonated deeply with fans and prompted overwhelming responses urging its creation. The track, a heartfelt ballad emphasizing faith and unity, quickly gained traction on streaming charts.[66]Personal life
Marriage
Swindell has largely kept his early romantic relationships out of the public eye, though he was briefly linked to professional wrestler Barbie Blank in 2019.[67] The country singer began dating Courtney Little, a model, influencer, and former NBA dancer for the Charlotte Hornets, around mid-2021 after initially meeting her several years earlier at a NASCAR event, where Swindell, a longtime fan, connected with Little through her work with Monster Energy.[68][69] Their first official date took place on the set of Swindell's "Some Habits" music video, marking the start of their relationship, which they made public on Instagram later that year.[70] On May 7, 2023, Swindell proposed to Little in a personal gesture that came full circle, recreating the setting of their first date on a gravel drive near his home; he presented her with an oval-cut diamond ring and announced the engagement the following day, just before the 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards.[71][72] The couple made their red carpet debut as fiancés at the event, where Swindell received multiple nominations.[68] Swindell and Little married on June 12, 2024, in an intimate outdoor ceremony in Sonoma, California, attended by close family and a small circle of friends.[73][74] The pair later hosted a larger surprise reception in Nashville with over 250 guests, including fellow country stars like Luke Bryan.[75] Following the marriage, Swindell has described adjusting to married life as a grounding influence, which inspired themes of commitment and enduring love in his music, such as the 2024 single "Forever To Me."[76] The couple's union has also coincided with family expansion, as detailed in his personal life overview.[77]Family
On March 3, 2025, Courtney Little Swindell announced the couple's pregnancy via Instagram, captioning a series of photos with "Baby Swindell 2025."[78] The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Rainey Gail Swindell, on August 7, 2025.[79] The name Rainey honors Swindell's middle name as well as his late mother Betty Carol Rainey's maiden name, while Gail pays tribute to family heritage.[80] Swindell has described himself as a "softie" and expressed profound emotion upon becoming a girl dad, noting that hearing his daughter's heartbeat during pregnancy left him lying still for several minutes in awe.[81] He anticipates tearful moments at future milestones, drawing from his brother's emotional experience at his own daughter's wedding. In the lead-up to Rainey's birth, Swindell indicated plans to write "daddy songs" inspired by his new role as a father for upcoming releases.[82] Following the birth, Swindell took time to bond with his newborn before resuming professional commitments, launching his 2025 Happy Hour Sad Tour on September 4.[83] He has leaned on a network of friends with young children for parenting advice while balancing tour dates and promotion for his album Spanish Moss amid early fatherhood.[81] This family expansion builds on the foundation of his 2024 marriage to Courtney.Musical style and influences
Musical style
Cole Swindell's music is characterized by a blend of uptempo bro-country tracks and heartfelt ballads, reflecting the contemporary country-pop genre he helped define in the 2010s.[1] His debut single "Chillin' It" exemplifies the breezy, party-anthem style with its infectious energy and lighthearted lyrics about carefree summer nights, capturing the essence of bro-country's accessible, radio-friendly appeal.[84] In contrast, ballads like "You Should Be Here" showcase a more introspective side, drawing from personal experiences of loss to deliver emotional depth through stripped-back arrangements that highlight vulnerability.[85] His production style adheres to a polished Nashville sound, featuring acoustic guitars, pedal steel, and catchy pop-country hooks that ensure broad commercial viability.[64] Early works emphasize high-energy rhythms and layered instrumentation to drive uptempo songs, while later albums evolve toward more varied textures, including remixes on Stereotype that incorporate duet elements and subtle electronic flourishes for added dynamism. This approach maintains a clean, professional sheen suited to mainstream country radio, balancing traditional instrumentation with modern production techniques. Lyrically, Swindell's songs revolve around themes of relationships, heartbreak, Southern pride, and personal loss, often employing vivid storytelling to connect with listeners on an intimate level.[11] Tracks like "She Had Me at Heads Carolina" illustrate this through narrative-driven tales of romance and nostalgia, weaving in regional references to evoke a sense of place and emotional authenticity.[86] Swindell's vocal delivery features a smooth baritone with considerable emotional range, allowing him to convey both playful exuberance in anthems and raw sentiment in ballads.[87] Often compared to peers for its warm, resonant timbre, his voice adapts seamlessly to the genre's demands, providing a consistent thread across his catalog that enhances the music's relatable and heartfelt quality.[88]Influences
Swindell's musical influences are deeply rooted in his upbringing in southwestern Georgia, where he grew up in the small town of Bronwood, surrounded by farmland.[89] This rural environment, combined with exposure to 1990s country radio, shaped his appreciation for storytelling and traditional sounds in the genre.[90] He has cited artists like George Strait for their embodiment of classic country authenticity and Tim McGraw for emotional depth in songcraft, influences that resonated during his formative years listening to the era's hits.[91] The loss of his father in 2013 further informed Swindell's approach to authentic narratives, inspiring songs that reflect personal grief and small-town life.[92] This experience, alongside his farm upbringing, fostered a focus on relatable, heartfelt country themes drawn from everyday Southern existence.[93] Among contemporary figures, Luke Bryan stands out as Swindell's biggest influence, not only for his music and stage presence but also for his mentorship.[94] The two first connected during their college days at Georgia Southern University through their shared Sigma Chi fraternity, where Bryan offered early advice that encouraged Swindell's pursuit of music in Nashville.[17] Swindell later worked as Bryan's merchandise seller for three years, gaining firsthand insight into the industry.[95] Songwriting collaborations have also impacted his style, particularly with Thomas Rhett, with whom he co-wrote the hit "She Had Me at Heads Carolina" in 2021.[96] This partnership highlighted mutual inspiration in blending nostalgic 1990s elements with modern country.[90] Swindell's admiration for Dierks Bentley's collaborative approach evolved his own use of duets, as seen in their 2016 track "Flatliner," which Bentley influenced through his songwriting and performance ethos.[95] Early exposure to Bentley, alongside Bryan and Eric Church, motivated Swindell to prioritize original songwriting over covers.[97]Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Swindell | Release date: February 18, 2014 Label: Warner Bros. Nashville Format: CD, digital download Producer: Michael Carter | US: 3 US Country: 1 | US: Platinum |
| You Should Be Here | Release date: May 6, 2016 Label: Warner Bros. Nashville Format: CD, digital download Producer: Michael Carter | US: 6 US Country: 2 | US: Gold |
| All of It | Release date: August 17, 2018 Label: Warner Bros. Nashville Format: CD, digital download Producer: Michael Carter | US: 7 US Country: 1 | — |
| Stereotype | Release date: April 8, 2022 Label: Warner Records Nashville Format: CD, digital download Producers: Zach Crowell, Michael Carter, Chris LaCorte, Jordan Schmidt | US: 48 US Country: 6 | US: Gold |
| Spanish Moss | Release date: June 27, 2025 Label: Warner Music Nashville Format: CD, digital download Producers: Various (11 contributors) | US Country: 3 | — |
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Chillin' It" | 2014 | 1 | US: Platinum | Cole Swindell |
| "You Should Be Here" | 2016 | 1 | US: 3× Platinum | You Should Be Here |
| "Middle of a Memory" | 2016 | 1 | US: Platinum | You Should Be Here |
| "Love You Too Late" | 2019 | 1 | — | All of It |
| "Never Say Never" (with Lainey Wilson) | 2022 | 1 | US: Platinum | Stereotype |
| "She Had Me at Heads Carolina" | 2023 | 1 | US: 3× Platinum | Stereotype |
| "Forever To Me" | 2025 | 1 | — | Spanish Moss |
| "Hope You Get Lonely Tonight" | 2014 | 7 | US: Platinum | Cole Swindell |
| "Break Up in the End" | 2019 | 6 | — | All of It |
| "Flatliner" (with Dierks Bentley) | 2017 | 5 | — | You Should Be Here |
| "We Can Always Move On" | 2025 | — | — | Spanish Moss |
| "Make Heaven Crowded" | 2025 | — | — | Standalone |
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