Abbey Cone: "Thanks for having me." 

FD: So I just want to kick things off by talking about “If You Were a Song,” because obviously, that is what you have been playing probably the most…it has amassed over 15 million streams. How did this kind of shape your journey as an independent artist right now? 

AC: "Well, “If You Were a Song” was my first song that I put out independently in the beginning-ish of 2023.  I mean, it shaped my independent journey in a massive way. I just put that song out after getting out of my first record deal, just wanting to put new music out and not really caring if it got 100 streams or not! So, for it to do what it did and be supported like that really set the tone for the independent era of my career and encouraged me a lot. It was kind of the boost I needed to keep going after the years before it… Yeah, I'm really grateful for that song."

FD: You recently signed a distribution deal with Downtown Artists and Label Services. Could you tell us more about the process of assembling your new team, the partnerships, and how they have helped launch this era of your career? 

AC: "One of my favorite things about being independent thus far is truly getting to a la carte with my team. I know so much more about what I need now and what I was missing before.

It's really exciting right now to be able to try out different partnerships and stuff like that. I have the luxury of pivoting, being fluid, and personalizing my career experience. I really love that aspect of it. I've just been really lucky over the last year to find some really incredible people who really support me and are passionate. I've learned so much of what I need now."

FD: There's a lot of creative expression that comes with freedom. Let's talk about CMT’s Next Women of Country. How did that impact you and elevate your career? 

AC: "Well, I love CMT, first of all. I watched CMT when I was a child, and Leslie Fram is just like an icon…A truly, truly, supportive person. I was in the CMT Next Women in Country class of 2020, which was an interesting year to be in that class. We had Madison Kozak, Caylee Hammack, Gabby Barrett… I looked at the picture the other day and was like, that class slayed. So, I think if you're a girl in Nashville and you know CMT at all, you want to be in Next Women of Country. I just remember feeling like it was such a milestone. I actually did this thing that I wanted to do! I just think it's a really great event, and it's nice to feel accepted by the community in that way. And once you're in it, you get to be a part of so many things as an alumni of it, which is really cool."

FD: It seems like friendships come out of that program. 

AC: "Yeah, me and Madison Kozak even started our own writers round together last year called 'The Pony Show.'"  

FD: Oh, that's so fun!

AC: "Yeah, the big reason we did is because we talked about it while being in the Next Women of Country together and it’s just a great way to create long-standing relationships." 

FD: Love that! Okay, I want to talk a little bit about how you moved to Nashville so young. 

AC: "So young." 

FD: What was that like for you making such a significant move here at such a young age? I mean, I was terrified to move here at 17 and a half. I can’t imagine just putting yourself out there on the line at 16!

AC: "The older I get, the more I realize how young that was. I feel like 16 to 20 for me was like, kind of a blur. I started coming here so young. The first time I came here, I was 12, and I did the whole thing that most young girls that come here do. They go to the Opry, you know, and I guess I kind of got bit by the bug then. And then I had been consistently traveling here from like the time I was 14. So I know it sounds crazy, but by the time I was 16, I had been spending like a week a month here for like a couple of years already. I don't really remember all of it. Knowing myself, it probably didn't feel that crazy since this kind of already felt like a second home to me. And I did have a good support system. Part of me feels like I definitely could have waited.

FD: What do you think really made you make that leap? Was there anybody that was significant at that time, maybe around your age that had a career that you were like, 'Wow, I can do that' or somebody that really inspired you?

AC: "I felt like women have a shorter window of time to be successful, and so kind of like the earlier, the better. I felt I didn't feel as young as I was. I do have determination and a very strong ambition. It's obviously hard, and I'm tired, and it's been rough. I asked myself that a lot, too. 'Why did I do that so young?' And I think I just wanted to."

FD: You had a dream, and I was gonna make it happen! 

AC: "Yes, exactly!"

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FD: You've co-written with some of my favorite people: Brittney Spencer, Kassi Ashton, Maddie and Tae, all these lovely, incredible people! Lori McKenna…let's just talk about it! What are some of the lessons that you've learned from these collaborations? 

AC: "Brittney and I met in 2021 when I opened for her on her club tour, and I just hopped in a van with her, and we didn't know each other. We had Mickey Guyton as a mutual friend, so Mickey introduced us to each other, and we've been best friends ever since then. We actually just wrote our first full song together about a month ago. It took us years to actually write a song. And I'm not sure why! I think we're both so picky, and we love our friendship so much. It just had to be perfect. 

Lori McKenna is just like a masterclass. You know, I've only written with her one time, but the song is called “Bein' Myself.” I should cut it one day. It's a really special song to me. Lori is just a really great example of a songwriter that makes artists feel safe, you know? 

I see myself one day as a songwriter… I would love to write for other people. And that's something that I strive to do and would want to do if I was in the room with another artist-give them a safe space. I'm like a truth monster! I just want people to sing about their deepest, darkest truths. It doesn't have to be dark or sad or anything, but I love it when I believe an artist. When I feel like, 'Oh, I think you're actually singing about your real life.' 

I mean, Lori just is such a great collaborator and safe space. So I guess that's something that, I don't know if I learned that from her, but she made me feel that way."

FD: What a cool experience and so inspiring! Can we talk about C2C Festival in London?

AC: "That was really cool. Yes, London." 

FD: How did it feel to connect with those international audiences? 

AC: YYou know, I didn't know what to expect. That was my first time in Europe too. That was after four weeks of touring here. I kind of have imposter syndrome, I didn't think anyone would know any of my songs. So I'm like, 'Why would anyone show up in London?' But they did. They really listen, and they really love female songwriters. It just feels different because they’re almost more timid and more timid of crowds because they're really listening. You almost want them to be a little more unhinged or something.

I kind of felt like, "Are you okay? Do you like me?" And they just really are respectful. So it was really nice to play for super respectful crowds! Even the meet and greets were chill and respectful, and I loved that. It was also the first time that anyone had ever done the little phone lights for me. They did that on “If You Were a Song,” and that made me cry. 

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FD: Let's talk about your last tour with the standout group Trousdale.

AC: "So incredible. The harmony singing blows me away. They're the first group that I've been around where I can't decide who's my favorite singer because all three of them are such good vocalists. That tour was amazing. And when they're together, it's just even better. That's probably my favorite touring experience, but that's also the longest I was ever out on the road. I kind of loved it! Touring is so weird because right when you get into a flow, it's over. I finally just got used to being out here, you know? It's hard. But I got to see so many new cities, and just watching them every night, and the crowds, which their fans are really, really sweet. The girlies and the gays."

FD: Let’s not glide over your Grand Ole Opry debut. The clips I saw were incredible! What did that moment feel like for you? 

AC: "I mean, it's literally a full circle moment coming and visiting, seeing Vince Gill, and then him asking me to make my Opry debut! It was like an objectively perfect day, and I am proud of myself because I really stayed centered. I didn't dissociate at all! I wanted to so bad, and as I said on stage: 'If I never do anything else in my career, at least I made it here. I made it here, and that's enough for me.' It’s so silly, but I just think it's so cool that one day I'll have a kid, and they'll be like, 'My mom played the Opry.' I want to do it again. So bad. "

FD: We're manifesting!

AC: "We're manifesting. I honestly feel like I manifested it, because before I got booked to play the Opry, you can go and you meet the staff, and they give you a whole tour backstage. And this was like a couple months before getting asked. I didn't know that Vince was going to be the one to ask me - but I took a photo in front of the plaques when I was there. So, I have a photo from like two months before I got asked to do it. And it's me in front of Vince Gill's plaque. And it's just my fingers crossed."

FD: That's so cool, so wild how the world works. Lastly, I want to talk about your upcoming tour dates. Who are you going to be with? What can we expect from you next?

AC: "My fall is kind of busy! Kimberly Perry, Morgan Wade, and Mickey Guyton, which I'm like, 'Wow, what a time to be alive.' Kimberly is on the CMT tour, which I'm excited about.I did that with Maddie and Tae, and I'm so excited. I got to meet Kimberly at the CMT Awards a couple of months ago, and she is so sweet. I am excited to go to some new cities (and some other ones that I've already been to) doing that.

Then I'm doing three dates with Morgan Wade, which I'm just dead over because I'm such a fan of hers. Obsessed with her. Can't wait to watch her and can't wait to watch everyone soak it in. And oh my God, I'm so excited to work with Mickey. She's one of my best friends. I've known her since I was 16. That's a CMT tour as well. 

I'm releasing some new music in July and working on finishing up an EP right now. I'm going to put out an EP this year! I'm not set on the title of the EP yet, but I'm really excited about it. Hopefully, it'll be out by October. I'm in like a little incubator of control right now. I'm healing myself and truly doing what I want to do. I hope it resonates, but ultimately I'm just going to put out music that I really love."

Credit: Bethany Reed.