Ashley McBryde’s “Rattlesnake Preacher” Arrives June 26 Following Fan Demand

Ashley McBryde performs at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest on Sunday, June 8, 2025. | Photo Credit: Kayla Schoen for CMA

After closing out her second year of co-hosting CMA Fest with an electrifying performance at Nissan Stadium Sunday night – including a “scintillating” rendition of fan-favorite “Rattlesnake Preacher,” as praised by Tennessean – Ashley McBryde announces the long-awaited studio version of the live staple, available on June 26 via Warner Music Nashville. Pre-save “Rattlesnake Preacher” HERE.

“‘Rattlesnake Preacher’ has been a staple in our live show since the bar days, and we’ve constantly been asked by fans when it’ll make it onto a record,” shares McBryde. “As we were gearing up for my second year of co-hosting CMA Fest, it felt like the perfect time to finally get this one out there. It’s my way of saying thank you to the fans who have shown up, listened and gave this song life long before it was ever recorded.”

The forthcoming track also holds personal significance for McBryde. Written by her late friend and collaborator Randall Clay, the release of “Rattlesnake Preacher” also honors his legacy.

“I’ve written nearly every song on all my records, so when I cut one I didn’t write, it means something,” shares McBryde. “Randall was part of a group of songwriters that helped me write some of the most formative songs of my career, and his songs will always find a home with me to continue his legacy.”

Produced by John Osborne, McBryde was joined by her band Deadhorse in the studio to capture the same energy the track emanates when performed live. Opening with searing fiddle and white-hot electric guitar, the Arkansas native’s vocals soar:

He knew the Good Book real good
Knew the bad all too well
He spent his life rattlin’ cages
And runnin’ that devil’s ass back to hell

My daddy was a rattlesnake preacher
My daddy was a man of God
My daddy was a rattlesnake preacher
In south Alabama

My daddy was the devil’s undertaker
My daddy was a saver of souls
My daddy was a rattlesnake preacher
Just like his daddy before him was

Last month, McBryde enjoyed a full-circle moment, receiving her Honorary Doctorate of Music from her alma mater Arkansas State University. You can find Doctor McBryde on the road this summer with headlining shows across the U.S. among festival dates at Country Stampede, Country Thunder Wisconsin, WE Fest and more, before joining Little Big Town and Dwight Yoakam on select dates. For tickets and additional information, visit AshleyMcBryde.com.

Ashley McBryde Tour Dates
June 13            IP Casino Resort Spa – Studio A // Biloxi, MS
June 14            Peach Jam // Clanton, AL
June 20            Golden Nugget Lake Charles Hotel & Casino // Lake Charles, LA
June 21            Wild Adventures Live! 2025 // Valdosta, GA
June 26            Country Stampede // Topeka, KS
June 27            The Claude Cox Omniplex & The Bob Arrington Rodeo Arena // Okmulgee, OK
June 28            Billy Bob’s // Fort Worth, TX
July 4              Freedom Over Texas // Houston, TX
July 10            Weldon Mills Theatre // Roanoke Rapids, NC
July 11            Paramount Center for the Arts // Bristol, TN
July 12            Country Concert 2025 // Fort Loramie, OH
July 17            Kresge Auditorium // Interlochen, MI
July 18            Country Thunder Wisconsin // Twin Lakes, WI
July 19            The Amp at Log Still // Gethsemane, KY
July 24            River Run Day Lodge // Ketchum, ID
July 25            Night in the Country Nevada 2025 // Yerington, NV
July 28            Uptown Theatre Napa // Napa, CA
July 29            Cascade Theatre // Redding, CA
July 31            Spokane Live // Airway Heights, WA
Aug. 1             Happys Inn // Libby, MT
Aug. 2             Big Valley Jamboree // Camrose, AB
Aug. 7             WE Fest // Detroit Lakes, MN
Aug. 8             Bourbon Theatre // Lincoln, NE
Aug. 13           Put In Bay // Put-In-Bay, OH
Aug. 15           Country Thunder Alberta // Calgary, AB
Aug. 22           MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre // Tampa, FL with Little Big Town
Aug. 23           The Wharf Amphitheater // Orange Beach, AL with Little Big Town
Sept. 5             First National Bank Arena // Jonesboro, AR with Dwight Yoakam
Sept. 6             Black Oak Mountain Amphitheater // Lampe, MO with Dwight Yoakam
Sept. 12           Point of the Bluff Vineyards // Hammondsport, NY
Sept. 13           Spyglass Ridge Winery // Sunbury, PA
Sept. 14           Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre // East Meadow, NY
Sept. 26           Grand Ole Opry: Live in London at Royal Albert Hall // London, U.K.
Oct. 3              McKnight Center for the Performing Arts // Stillwater, OK
Oct. 4              Stars Over Texas Music Festival 2025 // Ennis, TX
Nov. 7             Tuacahn Amphitheatre // Ivins, UT

Cover art for Ashley McBryde’s “Rattlesnake Preacher,” set for release June 26 (Warner Music Nashville) |

Ashley McBryde | Photo Credit: Katie Kauss

About Ashley McBryde
GRAMMY, CMA and ACM award winner Ashley McBryde cut her teeth playing country songs in biker bars – and it shows. The Grand Ole Opry member’s 2018 major label debut Girl Going Nowhere (Warner Music Nashville) charmed The New York Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, Paste, The Washington Post and more, all en route to landing a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album. McBryde closed out 2019 with ACM New Female Artist, CMT Breakout Artist, a New Artist of the Year win at the 53rd Annual CMA Awards and two nominations for the 2020 GRAMMYs for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance for “Girl Goin’ Nowhere.” Follow-up Never Will was tagged by Rolling Stone as one of the most anticipated of the year alongside NPR, who also ranked her Top 10 RIAA Platinum-Certified single “One Night Standards” as one of the best songs of 2019. The album earned McBryde a 2021 GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album, making Never Will the only album nominated for Country Album of the Year by the ACMs, CMAs and the Recording Academy in the same award season. Her GRAMMY-winning duet with Carly Pearce, “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” went all the way to No. 1 and earned McBryde and Pearce the ACM and CMA award for Musical Event of the Year. McBryde was honored with the 2022 CMA International Artist Achievement Award for the most significant creative growth, development and promotion of the country music industry outside of the United States. Her collaborative project Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville earned McBryde her third consecutive GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album, making her a six-time nominee. Her latest album The Devil I Know was released to critical acclaim, earning a title as one of the best country albums of the year from Rolling Stone, Billboard, Slate, PASTE, Holler and more. Following her second year co-hosting CMA Fest, McBryde will release the studio version of fan-favorite live staple “Rattlesnake Preacher” on June 26. Hailed as “one of country’s most cherished singer-songwriters” by Cowboys & Indians, her latest release offers poetic nostalgia on “Ain’t Enough Cowboy Songs,” available now. This summer, the Arkansas native performs headlining shows across the U.S. among festival dates at Country Stampede, Country Thunder Wisconsin, WE Fest and more, before joining Little Big Town and Dwight Yoakam on select dates. For more information, visit Ashley McBryde.com or follow her Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and YouTube.