Lauren Watkins Clears The Smoke In “Marlboro Man”

LAUREN WATKINS CLEARS THE SMOKE IN “MARLBORO MAN”

FOLLOWING A STANDOUT OPRY DEBUT, THE RISING BIG LOUD ARTIST CONTINUES HER HOT STREAK WHILE ON THE ROAD WITH RILEY GREEN

NASHVILLE, TENN. –Big Loud songstress Lauren Watkins leans into western nostalgia with the release of “Marlboro Man.” The slow-burning track captures the longing for an old-school cowboy – part myth, part memory – painting a romantic portrait of a love that never stays but always leaves a mark.

Written by Watkins, Natalie Hemby and Jeremy Spillman and produced by ACM and CMA winning producer Will Bundy (“you look like you love me”), “Marlboro Man” offers the timeless country storytelling that listeners have come to expect from Watkins, delivered with a modern edge. A cinematic nod to the rugged westerns and unattainable romance, the track evokes a bygone archetype that still lingers today.

Lauren Watkins - Marlboro Man (Lyric Video)

 “I'd had the idea for 'Marlboro Man' in my back pocket for a while,” shares Watkins. “I'm a pretty nostalgic person by nature – I'm always reminiscing, missing how things used to be. I brought the idea to Natalie and Jeremy because I knew they'd go there with me. I've always been drawn to this image of the 'Marlboro Man' — not necessarily for the cigarettes, but for what he stood for. He was rugged, masculine, quiet and kind of untouchable. There's something romantic about it, and I wanted to write a song that felt like that.”

The new music comes amidst a big summer for the rising artist, with “Marlboro Man” joining the no-nonsense anthem “I'll Get Through It” and April's “Lose My Cool” – her first since her 17-track critically acclaimed debut album The Heartbroken Record. Now happily married, Watkins is moving on from heartbreak and on to greener pastures in her new chapter, with Country Now tapping “Lose My Cool” as “the perfect introduction to Watkins' next project as it perfectly encapsulates what she is feeling right now,” while Holler praised it “as bright and breezy as a fresh spring morning.”

Last month, Watkins fulfilled a lifelong dream by stepping into the coveted Grand Ole Opry circle for the first time. She'll continue to build momentum on the road, touring with Riley Green this summer before joining Lainey Wilson and Kameron Marlowe in the fall. For tour dates and more information, keep up with Watkins at laurenwatkins.com and on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

ABOUT LAUREN WATKINS

Drenched in authenticity and rife with barstool charm with an addictive, Tennessee limestone gravel in her voice, Nashville-born and bred songbird Lauren Watkins writes, breathes and lives country music. 

The 25-year-old originally grew up on the outskirts of Guitar Town, mesmerized by a jukebox rotation of country music, from outlaws like Willie Nelson and Sheryl Crow to chart-toppers Eric Church, Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton. Moving back after four years at Ole Miss, Watkins' unyielding, turn-on-a-dime lyricism quickly caught the attention of GRAMMY-nominated multi-hyphenate Nicolle Galyon, who signed her to publishing and recording contracts with Songs & Daughters / Big Loud Records almost instantly. 

Lauren Watkins-publicity-Image by Luke Rodgers

Honing in on a sound that's both reverent of the genre's roots and in lockstep with where it's headed next, she introduced her take on country music with 17-track, full-length debut THE HEARTBROKEN RECORD, in 2024, the full-circle companion to previous EP releases INTRODUCING: LAUREN WATKINS and INTRODUCING: THE HEARTBREAK.

The Boston Globe praises the record as “inhabiting the same neighborhood as, say, Kacey Musgraves (a few albums ago) or Ashley Monroe,” while Billboard calls out the “effortlessly smoky quality to Watkins' voice, with a style of direct-yet-poetic songwriting reminiscent of Kacey Musgraves or Miranda Lambert.” Country Central smirks, “being 'messy' has never been so cool.” Watkins hit the road hard in 2024, touring fairs, festivals and even opening stadiums for Morgan Wallen internationally on his One Night At A Time Tour. This year she's keeping the momentum rolling, sharing stages with Riley Green, Zach Top and Lainey Wilson while gearing up for a 2025 full of new music, starting with “Lose My Cool” and “I'll Get Through It” out now.