Trey Pendley is an Arkansas-born singer-songwriter who trades gloss for grit. He grew up on cassette tapes and vinyls spun in a house with no internet, learning chords off his grandfather’s old Sigma guitar while the world beyond his dirt road felt distant and loud. That Arkansas upbringing is the grain in his voice and the backbone of his songs. 

His new single "Podunk," the title track of his forthcoming debut EP (out Feb. 27), refuses to clean up or dress down small‑town life. Built on Pendley’s trademark storytelling and soul-touching vocals, “Podunk” builds on the momentum of breakout cuts like "Drunk As Any Rich Man" and the recent fan favorite "The Dog."

Pendley is a songwriter who doesn’t aim for polished material. He chases truth and humor. These specific and often messy details only come from actually living a story. Fans should listen because Pendley offers something increasingly rare in modern country. Whether you love outlaw country, rootsy Americana, or rock‑tinged storytelling, "Podunk" and the EP that follows promise songs that feel immediate, familiar, and impossible to ignore.

Fandom Daily recently caught up with Pendley to learn more about his craft, who he is as an artist, and his highly anticipated debut EP. Keep reading, and don’t forget to join his fandom.

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Fandom Daily:  Before we dive into “Podunk” and your upcoming EP, let’s bring it back to the beginning – you grew up listening to cassette tapes and vinyl because you didn’t have internet at home. Is that right?

Trey Pendley: Absolutely. No internet at home,  just cassettes and records. I think it forced me to have an older soul. I wasn’t distracted by all the world’s problems, I just listened.

Fandom Daily: Was there a cassette or vinyl you were obsessed with back then?

Trey Pendley: There were a bunch. I loved Willie’s Red Headed Stranger. We also had a taped record that got passed around. Some Eddie Van Halen and other stuff. I still have milk crates full of vinyl to this day.

Fandom Daily: You taught yourself to play on your grandfather’s guitar. Tell us about that? 

Trey Pendley: My grandpa had an old classical Sigma hanging on his wall,  that was my first acoustic. My parents were busy, I was out in the middle of nowhere, so I spent a lot of time with that guitar. Funny thing… It was a classical body with steel strings. I still have it and I pull it out all the time, it’s my favorite! 

Fandom Daily: When did music stop being a hobby and become something you’d chase as a career?

Trey Pendley: I fought it for a long time because I was raised around hard-working, blue-collar folks who expected you to do the same. Once my parents realized I could do it, they pushed me. Then I got married, had kids, and decided I wanted to show them you could try something different, that where you’re from doesn’t have to determine who you are.

Fandom Daily: You moved to Nashville fairly recently — when was that?

Trey Pendley: Just a little over a year ago. Brand new to town.

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Fandom Daily: Your wife sings with you. What’s it like raising kids in a musical household?

Trey Pendley: It’s our glue. We met through music, and it’s held us together. The kids love music. One of them really stands out vocally. It’s a balancing act…writing, touring, meetings, being around town late. I’m still learning how to be an artist and a dad, but the plan is to bring the family with me when things really take off.

Fandom Daily: People describe your sound as outlaw country mixed with heavy rock and folk Americana. How would you describe it?

Trey Pendley: It’s a mixture of everything I love. I just listen to good music. My songwriting leans toward Hag-style storytelling…raw honesty, good times and bad. There are hints of rock, gospel, blues, a little Motley Crue grit, but I can’t help being country – that’s me.

Fandom Daily: Your songwriting is very vivid. Let’s talk about "Podunk," the title track to your debut EP. How does it feel to see it out and the EP nearly here?

Trey Pendley: It’s wild and exciting. We’ve been working on it since I got to Nashville, and it finally came together. The response has been great so far.

Fandom Daily: Walk us through the inspiration and writing process for "Podunk."

Trey Pendley: I wrote it with Delaney Ramsdell. It’s basically solid truth – a snapshot of growing up in a tiny town of about 200 people, full of wild characters. Every story in that song is true. It’s a love letter and a clear-eyed look at poor, rural America. The  fights, the alcohol, the chaos, the Sunday forgiveness in the Bible Belt. I didn’t try to romanticize it. 

Fandom Daily: What specific memories shaped the song?

Trey Pendley: My family had a lot of dysfunction and alcoholism. The song opens with "son of a third-generation drunk." We had after-school fights where we charged admission. There’s also the religious flip –men who’d act wild all week and then straighten up on Sunday. It was dangerous and messy, but it made me who I am.

Fandom Daily: Have people from your hometown reacted to "Podunk" ?

Trey Pendley: Yeah, they’ve found all the Easter eggs. People call and point out names, places, lines. It’s funny and heartwarming. They’re like, "How’d you get that in there?" It’s been cool to see them recognize themselves in it.

Fandom Daily: The production on "Podunk" blends traditional country with fresh elements. Was that balance hard to achieve?

Trey Pendley: It came pretty naturally. My producers John Davidson and Jacob Bryant and I all wanted something a little weird and different. We each had tastes and debated choices. But the blend just clicked. None of us expected exactly how it’d land, and when it did, we were all like, "Wow, we killed it."

Fandom Daily: Is the title track a good taste of what the EP will be?

Trey Pendley: Definitely. The EP is me, my life up to now and where I’m headed. It’s mostly honest storytelling. Hometown roots, fatherhood, family, trying to make my wife happy. "Podunk" sets the tone.

Fandom Daily: You mentioned the song "The Dog." Why does that one feel so present-day to you?

Trey Pendley: "The Dog" is about the now - the ship coming in, the push to Nashville, the ups and downs. We’re better off than before but still scrambling sometimes: coming home wanting to give the kids something fun, running out of money, the dog’s always out of food. It’s truthful and relatable.

Fandom Daily: How are fans reacting to the EP songs live?

Trey Pendley: Live, people laugh and then they feel it. I want the hard or boring parts of life to have as much light as the great parts. When fans laugh and then look moved, I know the message is landing.

Fandom Daily: What do you hope listeners take away from the full collection?

Trey Pendley: I hope they want more. There’s more coming. I want the songs to make people reflect, focus on their lives and people, and not get lost in distractions. Life’s short; priorities matter.

Fandom Daily: You’ve written a lot since moving here. Are you planning to expand this EP into a full album?

Trey Pendley: We have plenty of songs! I’ve probably written dozens since I got here. I’ll keep writing but plan to focus more on recording and possibly building out to a full album down the line.

Fandom Daily: You also co-wrote with Luke Combs on “15 Minutes,” a song that’s everywhere. How did that come about and what did you learn?

Trey Pendley: It was surreal. That song is about my dad and experiences around him working in a prison in Louisiana – hearing inmates’ stories and seeing how close anyone can be to making a life-changing mistake. I told that story in the room and we wrote it together. The big lesson: the closer to your heart you write, the more people connect.

Fandom Daily: Did Luke give you career advice in Nashville?

Trey Pendley: Not directly, but his camp and my management have been great resources. I’ve learned a lot from the people around him and the team at Make Wake. Surround yourself with smart, like-minded people.

Fandom Daily: You’ve opened for acts like Ashley McBryde and Jake Owen and are playing with Blackberry Smoke. Is it surreal?

Trey Pendley: It’s wild and a little overwhelming. I came from open mics, and now I’m sharing stages with some of my heroes. It’s helped me see that these artists are just people, too. I’m excited, nervous, loving it, and tired.

Fandom Daily: Your first performance with Ashley McBryde was in Arkansas. What was that like?

Trey Pendley: Rowdy and amazing. It felt like a full-circle moment. People who looked like they came from similar backgrounds were in the crowd, and when Ash brought me out and hyped me, the place went wild. That was special.

Fandom Daily: Will you be touring to promote the EP?

Trey Pendley:That’s the plan. We’ve got options and the “good problem” of choosing who and when to go with. But fans can absolutely expect more live shows.

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Fandom Daily: What else should fans look out for besides the EP and touring?

Trey Pendley: We’re taking a song to radio called “Family Man.”  It’s a big one for me. Wraps up everything I’ve been talking about… I’m just a family man.

Fandom Daily: Since we’re Fandom Daily and we’re all about the fans, do you have any final thoughts or message for the fans? 

Trey Pendley: I’m grateful. The early response has been humbling. I’m just getting started and excited to keep writing, recording, and sharing the truth of these songs with people. Thanks for having me! 

Photo Credit: Natalie Osborne