If you’ve been riding with Frankie Ballard since the Sunshine & Whiskey days, consider this your official heads up: the Frankie you’re about to hear is the same one you fell for — just sharper, steadier, and fueled by something deeper.
After quietly clearing his social media and reintroducing himself on his own terms, Ballard is officially back with “Money Runs Out,” a gritty, guitar-laced country rocker that marks the first taste of a brand-new chapter. And no, he’s not calling it a comeback.
“This is a new start,” Frankie tells Celeb Secrets exclusively. “I’ve been out of the country music scene for more than a minute, so it felt good to take the Etch A Sketch and shake it out and just start fresh. I’m a new man and I have a new purpose.”
But don’t mistake “new” for unfamiliar.
“It is a new chapter — but maybe not the beginning of a book,” he explains. “A continuation in the series.”
And this continuation? It’s intentional.
Written alongside Dave Barnes and produced by GRAMMY winner Tyler Bryant, “Money Runs Out” blends the bluesy swagger and country-rock edge that defined Frankie’s early hits with lived-in wisdom that only comes from experience.
“I can hear ‘Money Runs Out’ and ‘Young & Crazy’ holding hands,” he says. “Sonically, I wanted to get back to the country sound that I started with and remind fans I’m still that guy.”
But lyrically? He’s asking bigger questions. At its core, the track explores who sticks around when the spotlight fades — a theme that hits differently when you’ve experienced both mountaintops and valleys.
“There’s several milestone moments that are full of people — maybe even so-called friends,” Frankie reflects. “But things are different when you’re not on that mountaintop anymore. It helps you see who the real ones are.”
Instead of bitterness, though, there’s clarity. It’s toe-tapping truth with purpose. And in true Frankie fashion, the song was built with the band he shares the road with.
“We used my touring band to record it,” he reveals. “We have a special relationship because we spend so much time together. We even tried this song out live before recording it, which makes it special.”
Nearly a decade ago, Frankie was stacking wins: three consecutive Billboard No. 1 singles — “Helluva Life,” “Sunshine & Whiskey,” and “Young & Crazy” — and sharing stages with superstars like Taylor Swift and Keith Urban. The momentum was undeniable. But today, his definition of success looks radically different.
“I used to think success was having a song on the radio and having big tours call you,” he tells us. “Now, success is just being able to put my two feet on the ground in the morning and make music. If I’m able to do that, then I’m extremely blessed.”
That shift from competition to contentment is the heartbeat of this era.
“I have a lot more peace this time around,” he says. “Peace is better than competition.”
And that peace didn’t come from stepping away from music — it came from rediscovering why he started in the first place.
“It wasn’t about the music business anymore,” he explains. “It was about getting back to what I love to do.”
Becoming a dad in 2020 changed Frankie’s perspective on everything as it reshaped not just what he sings about, but why he sings at all. It’s a level of intentionality that feels both grounded and bold — especially in an industry often driven by validation.
“When my daughter asks me about the music I make, I want to be able to say, ‘When you were born, my perspective really changed,’” Frankie shares. “I want her to be proud of the work that I did.”
“I’m motivated primarily by honoring God,” he explains candidly. “I believe God has given me the opportunity to make songs and sing songs, and I want to honor Him in that.”
If you’re wondering whether “Money Runs Out” is a one-off or the start of something bigger, Frankie’s answer is simple: buckle up.
“There’s a lot of songs,” he teases. “We’re gonna keep ’em coming.”
Rather than waiting to package everything into a full-length project, he’s opting to roll them out one by one — giving fans steady access to this evolved, energized version of himself. And when it’s time to hit the road?
“It’s time to get back to doing what I was born to do,” he says. “Putting my toes over the front of the stage and delivering it live.”
Overall, Frankie Ballard isn’t trying to recreate 2014. He’s not interested in reliving a first wave of fame. He’s building something stronger.
“My dream was to be a musician,” he tells Celeb Secrets. “That’s what I got to wake up and do this morning. My dream’s come true just sitting here talking to you.”
And if “Money Runs Out” proves anything, it’s that this chapter isn’t about how high he can climb but rather about how firmly he can stand. And from where we’re sitting? He’s never sounded more sure of who he is.
For more on Frankie Ballard’s new music, make sure to watch our full interview below, and don’t forget to let us know if you’re loving “Money Runs Out” by either leaving a reaction the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecretscountry.
Interview quotes have been edited and condensed for clarity.
