Backstage at CMA Fest 2025, the energy was buzzing — and not just from the scorching Nashville sun. Rising country girl group Just Jayne was all smiles, all giggles, and all about connecting with their fans in a big way. From navigating canceled sets to crashing the street stage (yes, literally performing for crowds on the sidewalk), these girls know how to roll with the punches — and make it look seriously fun while doing it.
Their latest single, “The Way We Were” (out now!), is the newest gem in their growing catalog, and it’s basically a nostalgic rom-com wrapped in dreamy harmonies and country-pop sparkle. Whether you’re sipping iced coffee on the porch or road-tripping with the windows down, this song belongs on your summer playlist yesterday.
“This one tells the story of a memorable love that grew fast and is hard to forget,” the girls shared in a statement. “We’ve loved playing this live for y’all and we’re so excited it’s finally out in the world!”
And the fans? Obsessed. After hearing it live during their run on Maddie & Tae’s Love & Light Tour, crowds were already singing along like it was a chart-topper. Now that it’s officially streaming, there’s no doubt this track is about to have its moment.
Taylor Edwards (California/Arkansas), Rachel Wiggins (Georgia), and Jillian Steele (New York) first crossed paths at Belmont University as songwriting majors. A few writes later, something clicked — and Just Jayne was born. The name? A creative mashup of all three girls’ names into one fictional bestie: Jayne.
“Everyone’s a little bit of Jayne,” they joked to us, adding that their music is all about “being friends, being there for the girls, and being relatable.”
That relatability is a big part of their songwriting process. The group admits they “pulse check” every idea with each other — if all three have lived it, chances are their listeners have too. That check-in system has already birthed a few fan favorites, like their debut track “This Morning,” a female flip on Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night,” the sentimental slow-burn ““New Boots,” and their happy-go-lucky love song “All Backroads.”
“We wrote ‘This Morning’ in like 30 minutes,” they said of their first-ever session together. “It just felt magical.”
And in classic girl group style? They even perform a live mashup of both “This Morning” and “Last Night” during their sets. Iconic behavior.
Even though “The Way We Were” was one of the first songs they ever recorded, the girls knew they had to wait for the right moment to drop it — and summer 2025? It’s definitely the moment.
“It kind of feels like a cornerstone of our sound,” Taylor shared. “It’s a little moody, but still a summer anthem. It just hits.”
With three wildly different hometowns, solo careers before the group, and enough sonic flavor to keep things fresh, Just Jayne is serving something we haven’t had in country in a long time: a true girl group with range, heart, and sisterhood.
And don’t let their polished harmonies and adorable stage banter fool you — these girls are also lowkey superhuman. Rachel’s the “dad” of the group (she can change a tire, fix anything, and probably build a stage if needed), Taylor’s a secret florist (future side hustle?), and Jillian somehow meets someone from New York no matter where they go.
Catch them next on tour with Billy Currington this August, and keep your eyes peeled for even more new music before summer’s over. If Just Jayne isn’t already on your radar, consider this your official invite to the fan club.
For more on Just Jayne, make sure to watch our full interview from CMA Fest below.
Interview quotes and condensed and edited for clarity. For more coverage from CMA Fest 2025, click here.
