Cole Swindell is riding high with his latest single, “She Had Me At Heads Carolina.” The song, which Swindell wrote with Thomas Rhett, Ashley Gorley and Jesse Frasure, is a nod to Jo Dee Messina‘s “Heads Carolina, Tails California.”
Swindell reveals on social media that the video for the song, which will be out on August 11, appears to feature Messina as a bartender.
THURSDAY. 90's Country Fans. Let's Go! pic.twitter.com/MTDsodor28
— Cole Swindell (@coleswindell) August 10, 2022
Swindell chose to put his own take on Messina’s hit, which was her debut single from her eponymous freshman album, because of his love of that era of country music, and specifically that song.
“Out of all the ‘90s country songs we all love, I don’t think anybody would have thought we would have picked that one, but I think that’s what makes it special,” Swindell admitted during a recent media event.
After “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” was written, Swindell reached out to Messina to tell her about his take on her classic hit.
“I finally got her contact info,” shared the singer. “I had been wanting to reach out to her, and tell her what a fan I was. I think I might have met her at a festival years ago, briefly, when I was selling t-shirts. We don’t really know each other … I just got her number and just sent her a text letting her know that it was me and that I’ve been wanting to reach out and that I finally got her contact. [I] just let her know what a fan I was and that the original song, without that, obviously, I would have never had this idea. I just wanted her to know I wanted her to be as much of a part of it as she wanted to be. Or if not at all, that’s fine too.”
“She Had Me At Heads Carolina” is the Georgia native’s fastest-rising single to date, landing in the Top 10 only eight weeks after it was released. The song is from Swindell’s fourth studio album, Stereotype, out now
Swindell will kick off his Back Down To the Bar Tour on September 23 in Helotes, Texas. Swindell recently added a second night to his headlining show at the Ryman Auditorium, taking place on November 2, after his November 3 date sold out. Find music and tour dates at ColeSwindell.com.