Ashley Cooke's Brave Album Mirrors Painful Breakup

Country artist Ashley Cooke has released her self-titled sophomore album, a project deeply intertwined with her recent, painful breakup.

Cooke, 29, revealed that her ex-boyfriend, Johnny Clawson, who is also a country songwriter, sings background vocals on all 15 tracks. She described their separation as "not amicable" and "hard," with many difficult emotions surrounding the album's creation.

Despite the emotional toll, Cooke views the album as a "time capsule" of her past relationship and her healing process. She expressed initial fear about releasing such personal music while still healing but felt reassured by her decision, seeing it as a brave act of honesty.

The album's sonic style is designed to evoke the feelings of a rom-com, a genre Cooke admires. It also features a collaboration with friend JP Saxe on the track "man behind the glass."

Cooke found support from loved ones and her therapist, Frances, who inspired the song "famous to frances." She is proud of the album's emotional depth and hopes it can serve as a soundtrack for others navigating similar experiences. Cooke is set to embark on her headlining "Baby Blues" world tour in September, following the album's release.