
Colin Stough had finally released to us “White Trash.” Credit to David Bradley.
Los Angeles, California (May 4, 2025)- Colin Stough may have grown up on the border of Mississippi and Alabama, but his sound travels straight through the heart of Southern rock and country soul. With a skinned-raw voice, dirt-under-the-nails storytelling, and a guitar he bought from a pawn shop as a kid, Stough is quickly becoming one of country music’s most compelling new voices — not because he chases trends, but because he stays rooted in truth.
Raised on a steady diet of The Allman Brothers, Conway Twitty, and Koe Wetzel, Stough’s musical upbringing was as gritty as the red clay roads he came from. He first picked up a guitar at age 8, teaching himself to play with relentless curiosity and the kind of hunger only second chances can feed. Years later, he’d trade in some of his most prized possessions to buy his first acoustic — a weathered guitar he still plays on stage today. Before music opened its door, he was working full-time as an HVAC technician, quietly carrying the weight of his dreams and experiences.
Everything changed when his mom nudged him to audition for American Idol Season 21. That encouragement led to a life-altering journey, where Stough captured the nation’s attention and landed a standout third-place finish. His authenticity, coupled with a raw vocal power, caught fire with audiences, earning him a deal with 19 Recordings / BMG Nashville and setting the stage for his debut.
With songs like “Bad Day” and “I Still Talk to Jesus,” Stough doesn’t just perform — he testifies. His lyrics are lived-in and unpolished, offering a window into the highs and heartbreaks of a young man navigating life’s unrelenting curveballs. His EPs Promiseland and Lookin’ For Home are no-frills reflections of his 20-year-old soul: torn between scars and salvation, but always charging forward with faith and fire.
Stough’s music is deeply personal, but universally felt. It’s not about polish or pretense — it’s about the power of staying honest in a world that often isn’t. That truth-telling has resonated far and wide, building him a loyal fanbase of nearly 750,000 across social platforms, and placing him alongside country’s new class of grassroots powerhouses. He’s already opened for acts like Chase Matthew, Drake White, and Kidd G, sharpening his live show and carving out a lane all his own.
With his latest release, “White Trash,” Stough digs deeper into the underdog narrative that’s become his signature. It’s not a song for the spotlight — it’s a song for those living in the shadows, trying to claw their way out. It embraces the label society gives and flips it into something powerful: pride in survival, strength in humility, and the unshakable belief that where you’re from doesn’t define where you’re going.
A student of Skynyrd and the outlaw spirit, Colin Stough isn’t interested in the fast track to fame. He’s doing things his way — slow-burning, story-driven, and soul-soaked. As 2025 unfolds, he’s hitting the road with even more live shows, staying true to the songs that got him here and the fans who keep pushing him forward.
Colin Stough doesn’t sing for the spotlight — he sings for the second chance. And if his journey so far is any indication, he’s just getting started.
