"Cowboys Cry Too" is a song performed by American singer-songwriters Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan. It was released on June 28, 2024, as the lead single from Ballerini's fifth studio album, Patterns.[1][2] Ballerini and Kahan co-wrote the song with Alysa Vanderheym, who also co-produced the track with Ballerini.[3]
| "Cowboys Cry Too" | ||||
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| Single by Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan | ||||
| from the album Patterns | ||||
| Released | June 28, 2024 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 3:50 | |||
| Label | Black River | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Kelsea Ballerini singles chronology | ||||
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| Noah Kahan singles chronology | ||||
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Content
editBallerini wrote the chorus of "Cowboys Cry Too" in November 2023 on her back porch, before coming to the conclusion that the song needed a male's perspective to bring it to the next level. She first met Noah Kahan at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards on February 4, 2024, where he complimented her songwriting skills for her 2016 single, "Peter Pan", and she described their connection as "songwriter synergy".[4] She later sent a DM to Kahan to suggest he collaborate on the track with her. He wrote his part while on tour, and the two united with Alysa Vanderheym in the studio to record the song shortly before they performed a mashup of "Stick Season" and "Mountain with a View" together on the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards on May 16, 2024.[1][5]
Lyrically, the song is written from a female perspective addressing the concept of toxic masculinity, with Ballerini saying that "in our world and culture and echo chamber of highlight reels and pretty things, sometimes real feelings start to feel like something you just set aside or push down to keep up. Especially the way so many men grow up, that kind of toxic masculinity mindset of 'saddle up, brush it off'. I wanted to write my perspective and essentially celebrate the vulnerable men in my life, and Noah adding his really unfiltered perspective into it just brought it to life in a more meaningful and beautiful way."[3] She described the song as a way to honor "the men in [her] life that are emotional".[4]
Ballerini announced that her fifth studio album was already finished at the time of the release of "Cowboys Cry Too" and that the song would be the only collaboration on the record.[6]
Critical reception
editTaste of Country placed "Cowboys Cry Too" at number 31 on its list of the Top 40 Country Songs of 2024.[7]
Commercial performance
edit"Cowboys Cry Too" was the most-added song at the country radio format upon release,[8] and debuted at number 27 on the Billboard Country Airplay dated for July 6, 2024,[9] and at number 16 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart the following week.[10] It debuted at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Ballerini's highest debut on the chart to date.[11]
Charts
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Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
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References
edit- ^ a b Billy Dukes (June 27, 2024). "Why Kelsea Ballerini Picked Noah Kahan for Cowboys Cry Too". Taste of Country. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ Liptak, Carena (August 8, 2024). "Kelsea Ballerini's New Album, 'Patterns', Is On Its Way". Taste of Country. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ a b Kory Grow (June 28, 2024). "Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan Give Cowboys Permission to Cry on New Song". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ a b Luke Chinman (June 28, 2024). "Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan Drop Country Ballad 'Cowboys Cry Too' — See the Initial Text that Kicked Off the Duet". People. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ "Noah Kahan and Kelsea Ballerini drop collaborative single, 'Cowboys Cry Too'". ABC News. June 28, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ Lauren Boisvert (June 27, 2024). "Kelsea Ballerini Announces New Song "Cowboys Cry Too," Shares Why She Picked Noah Kahan for the Duet". American Songwriter. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ Billy Dukes (December 5, 2024). "2024's Top 40 Country Songs Proves Country Music Is in Good Hands". Taste of Country. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ "Country Aircheck Weekly July 1, 2024, Issue 916" (PDF). Country Aircheck. July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. June 28, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
- ^ @billboardcharts (July 8, 2024). "@KelseaBallerini & @NoahKahan's "Cowboys Cry Too" debuts at No. 50 on this week's #Hot100" (Tweet). Retrieved July 8, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
- ^ "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- ^ "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2024.