Come On Cowboy,” Touring With Luke Bryan & Never Giving Up | RaeLynn
RaeLynn returned to Heart of the Gulch during CMA Fest 2026 to talk new music, life on the road with Luke Bryan, the Grand Ole Opry, songwriting, and the perseverance that has kept her moving forward through 14 years in country music.
Friend of the show RaeLynn is entering another chapter of a career that has already taken her from “God Made Girls” and “Love Triangle” to some of country music’s biggest stages.
Sitting down with Heart of the Gulch host Tony Mendoza at CMA Fest 2026, RaeLynn opened up about where that journey is taking her next—including her new song “Come On Cowboy (Giddy Up).”
RaeLynn visits Heart of the Gulch CMA Fest show
“Come On Cowboy” Brings the Energy!
RaeLynn describes “Come On Cowboy (Giddy Up)” as a fun, rowdy and dance-driven country song built to get people moving.
The new track arrives as RaeLynn continues a busy stretch of touring and performing, including bringing her music to the CMA Fest Riverfront Stage.
And there may be another surprise coming.
During the conversation, RaeLynn teased an upcoming duet with a country music legend, although she's keeping the identity of her mystery collaborator under wraps for now.
From Jason Aldean to Luke Bryan.
Life on the road has become a major part of RaeLynn's latest chapter.
After playing 33 shows with Jason Aldean, RaeLynn is now hitting the road with Luke Bryan, adding another major tour to a career that has taken her across the country and beyond.
She also reflected on performing at the Grand Ole Opry and traveling overseas for USO appearances supporting members of the military community.
For RaeLynn, those experiences are milestones—but they aren't reasons to slow down.
Tony Mendoza, host of Heart of the Gulch interviews RaeLynn at CMA Fest 2026
Fourteen Years of Chasing Country Music
The conversation eventually moved beyond tours, singles and career highlights.
After 14 years in the music industry, RaeLynn spoke candidly about something nearly every artist eventually faces: rejection.
There are great days. There are disappointing days. And there are moments when a career can feel like it's moving backward instead of forward.
Her approach is refreshingly simple: allow yourself to have the bad day, but don't stay there.
Wake up the next morning and find the next thing you can conquer.
It's a mentality that has helped RaeLynn continue navigating an industry where success rarely happens in a straight line.
From “God Made Girls” to What's Next??
RaeLynn has already experienced career moments many aspiring artists dream about.
“God Made Girls” became her breakout hit. Songs like “Love Triangle” showed another side of her storytelling, while newer releases such as “Fall Together” continue expanding her catalog.
But there's still one box she wants to check.
A No. 1 song at country radio.
Even after more than a decade of recording, touring, writing and performing, RaeLynn isn't talking like someone looking backward at her career.
She's still chasing what's next.
RaeLynn Heart of the Gulch interview 2026
Inspiring the Next Generation:
RaeLynn also reflected on seeing young girls in the audience who now look at her the same way she once looked at the women in country music who inspired her.
That responsibility isn't lost on her.
Her career has become about more than songs and chart positions. It's also about showing younger fans what persistence can look like—and proving that a difficult day doesn't have to become the end of the story.
From “God Made Girls” and “Love Triangle” to “Come On Cowboy (Giddy Up),” RaeLynn's career continues to evolve.
Fourteen years in, she's still climbing.
And she's nowhere close to finished.
Watch RaeLynn on Heart of the Gulch
Watch the full RaeLynn interview from CMA Fest 2026 as she joins Tony Mendoza to discuss “Come On Cowboy (Giddy Up),” touring with Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, the Grand Ole Opry, songwriting, country radio and the lessons she's learned throughout her career.
Interview Chapters
0:00 — RaeLynn Interview | CMA Fest 2026
0:42 — Country Fashion, Tour Life & Owning Her Tour Bus
1:41 — RaeLynn's Favorite Songs From Her Christmas Album
2:54 — The Story Behind “Come On Cowboy (Giddy Up)”
3:46 — New Music, Surprise Duet & Touring With Luke Bryan
4:19 — Grand Ole Opry, Jason Aldean Tour & Career Highlights
5:14 — Why RaeLynn Refuses to Stop Being Herself
5:51 — “Love Triangle,” “God Made Girls” & CMA Fest Fans
6:42 — RaeLynn's Most Underrated Song “Fall Together”
7:10 — RaeLynn's Songwriting Process & Nashville Co-Writers
8:17 — Why Country Music Fans Are Different
9:30 — RaeLynn's Next Big Career Goal
10:12 — 14 Years in Country Music & Never Giving Up
12:13 — Inspiring Young Girls & Being a Role Model
13:03 — New Music, Luke Bryan Tour & What's Next
Tony Mendoza is the Nashville-based host and creator of Heart of the Gulch, featuring conversations with country artists, songwriters and personalities from Nashville and beyond.
