ERNEST Announces Third Full-Length Studio Album Deep Blue Out May 1
Today, GRAMMY®-nominated tastemaker and triple threat ERNEST announces his third full-length studio album, Deep Blue, arriving May 1 via Big Loud Records – pre-order / pre-save / pre-add here.
Deep Blue harkens back thematically to ERNEST's first-ever project, Locals Only (2019 via Big Loud Records), but showcases seven years' worth of growth against the backdrop of a tropical escape.
Heavily influenced and inspired by the sounds and spirit of the U.S. Virgin Islands, a place that's made ERNEST who he is both personally and creatively, Deep Blue takes the listener out to sea on a nostalgic, sentimental trip. ERNEST's artistic growth and maturity is clear, with the same razor-sharp pen and unique turns-of-phrase that have earned him four CMA Triple Play awards and two Variety Hitmakers honours at the centre.
Treating fans today, ERNEST unlocks two more early releases – album title track, “Deep Blue,” and an official studio version of Apple Music Lost & Found Session submission “End Of The Night.”
The 13-track album features previously released singles “Lorelei” which Billboard named “a worthy inclusion to country music's history of balmy, tropical-infused tracks,”and “Boat Named After You,” as well as four outside cuts, a first for ERNEST from any previous project. Pulling from the archives, the award-winning writer unearthed a set of backlog cuts from Music Row legends like Toby Keith, Nathan Chapman, David Lee Murphy, Tony Lane, Scotty Emerick, just-announced 2026 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Paul Overstreet, and more, that perfectly round out the upcoming oceanside set. ERNEST also co-produced the album alongside longtime collaborator Jacob Durrett, another first within the tastemaker's awarded catalogue.
Deep Blue harkens back thematically to ERNEST's first-ever project, Locals Only (2019 via Big Loud Records), but showcases seven years' worth of growth against the backdrop of a tropical escape.
Heavily influenced and inspired by the sounds and spirit of the U.S. Virgin Islands, a place that's made ERNEST who he is both personally and creatively, Deep Blue takes the listener out to sea on a nostalgic, sentimental trip. ERNEST's artistic growth and maturity is clear, with the same razor-sharp pen and unique turns-of-phrase that have earned him four CMA Triple Play awards and two Variety Hitmakers honours at the centre.
Treating fans today, ERNEST unlocks two more early releases – album title track, “Deep Blue,” and an official studio version of Apple Music Lost & Found Session submission “End Of The Night.”
The 13-track album features previously released singles “Lorelei” which Billboard named “a worthy inclusion to country music's history of balmy, tropical-infused tracks,”and “Boat Named After You,” as well as four outside cuts, a first for ERNEST from any previous project. Pulling from the archives, the award-winning writer unearthed a set of backlog cuts from Music Row legends like Toby Keith, Nathan Chapman, David Lee Murphy, Tony Lane, Scotty Emerick, just-announced 2026 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Paul Overstreet, and more, that perfectly round out the upcoming oceanside set. ERNEST also co-produced the album alongside longtime collaborator Jacob Durrett, another first within the tastemaker's awarded catalogue.
“I wanna say thank you to the fans that have been here since the Local Only Days.” ERNEST shares. “If you are new here, thank you for joining the ride. Most importantly, I wanna thank the ocean and the islands. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for them. I found myself in that Carribean water and will always call it home away from home.”
Deep Blue will be released on exclusive deep blue–colored vinyl — pre-order HERE. A limited run of signed copies will also be available.
ERNEST on the road now headlining his nationwide Live From The South Tour. Tonight, the tour hits New York's iconic Irving Plaza, before travelling to Houston, Fort Worth, Knoxville, and more, wrapping this April. Joining him on tour are breakout artist-writers Rhys Rutherford, Chandler Walters, and Cody Lohden, all three signed to ERNEST's record label, DeVille Records, and his publishing company, Cadillac Music Publishing.
Deep Blue Tracklist
ERNEST's Upcoming Live From The South Tour Dates
3/27 – New York, N.Y.– Irving Plaza*
3/28 – Bensalem, Pa. – Parx Casino*
4/2 – Houston, Texas – White Oak Music Hall*
4/3 – New Braunfels, Texas – Gruene Hall*
4/4 – Ft. Worth, Texas – Billy Bob's*
4/16 – St. Louis, Mo. – Hawthorn #
4/18 – Minneapolis, Minn. – First Avenue #
4/23 – Knoxville, Tn – The Mill & Mine #
4/25 – Asheville, N.C. – The Orange Peel #
4/26 – Chattanooga, Tn – The Signal #
* Support By Chandler Walters
> Support By Cody Lohden
# Support By Rhys Rutherford
For more information or tickets, please visit ernestofficial.com.
KEEP UP WITH ERNEST
WEBSITE | TIKTOK | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE
Deep Blue will be released on exclusive deep blue–colored vinyl — pre-order HERE. A limited run of signed copies will also be available.
ERNEST on the road now headlining his nationwide Live From The South Tour. Tonight, the tour hits New York's iconic Irving Plaza, before travelling to Houston, Fort Worth, Knoxville, and more, wrapping this April. Joining him on tour are breakout artist-writers Rhys Rutherford, Chandler Walters, and Cody Lohden, all three signed to ERNEST's record label, DeVille Records, and his publishing company, Cadillac Music Publishing.
Deep Blue Tracklist
- Lorelei (Ernest Keith Smith, Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, Mark Holman)
- Edge Of The U.S.A. (Ernest Keith Smith, Jacob Durrett, Chris Lane)
- What's A Little Rain (Ernest Keith Smith, Rodney Clawson, David Garcia)
- Lucky (Ernest Keith Smith, Cody Lohden)
- Quit While We're Behind (Ernest Keith Smith, Scotty Emerick, Trent Tomlinson)
- Somewhere In The Caribbean (Scotty Emerick, Paul Overstreet)
- End Of The Night (Toby Keith, David Lee Murphy, Bobby Pinson)
- Waste A Day (Ernest Keith Smith, Rodney Clawson, David Garcia)
- Deep Blue (Ernest Keith Smith, Grady Block, Rocky Block, Hank Compton, Jamie McLaughlin)
- If I'm Not Careful (Ernest Keith Smith, Ronnie Bowman, Clint Daniels, Chandler Paul Walters)
- Same Moon (Ernest Keith Smith, Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, Mark Holman)
- Boat Named After You (Nathan Chapman, Tony Lane)
- Time Is A Thief feat. Lukas Nelson (Matt McKinney, Rivers Rutherford, Jimmy Yeary)
ERNEST's Upcoming Live From The South Tour Dates
3/27 – New York, N.Y.– Irving Plaza*
3/28 – Bensalem, Pa. – Parx Casino*
4/2 – Houston, Texas – White Oak Music Hall*
4/3 – New Braunfels, Texas – Gruene Hall*
4/4 – Ft. Worth, Texas – Billy Bob's*
4/16 – St. Louis, Mo. – Hawthorn #
4/18 – Minneapolis, Minn. – First Avenue #
4/23 – Knoxville, Tn – The Mill & Mine #
4/25 – Asheville, N.C. – The Orange Peel #
4/26 – Chattanooga, Tn – The Signal #
* Support By Chandler Walters
> Support By Cody Lohden
# Support By Rhys Rutherford
For more information or tickets, please visit ernestofficial.com.
KEEP UP WITH ERNEST
WEBSITE | TIKTOK | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE
