You ever listen to an album that feels like a voice memo, a diary entry, and a therapy session all in one? Well, welcome to Kolby Cooper’s Love You, Goodnight.
The East Texas firestarter just released his most emotionally honest, musically fearless, and soul-crushing (in a good way) record yet, and we’ve got the full scoop—with exclusive quotes that’ll make you wanna call your ex and hug your mama.
The 14-track project—out now via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville—goes full throttle on what makes Kolby, well, Kolby: gritty storytelling, Southern rock swagger, and lyrics so personal, you’ll feel like you read his text messages.
“Making this album really kicked my ass,” Kolby says in a statement. “There’s the part of me that is focused on being a great husband and dad to my wife and kids, and then there’s the other side that is trying to make this dream happen out here on the road.”
That life includes being a husband, father of three, road warrior, and rising star with over 440 million streams and a growing list of accolades—including opening for Jelly Roll and Koe Wetzel, debuting at the Grand Ole Opry, and headlining his own 2025 tour.
The title track, “Love You, Goodnight,” was born during one of the most bittersweet moments of Kolby’s career. After two weeks on the road, he returned home only to repack and leave again.
“Saying goodbye to my wife and babies for another four days broke my heart,” he recalls to Celeb Secrets. “We landed in Des Moines, and my guitar player Beau left his guitar on the bed. I hit record on my phone and started writing the most honest song I’ve ever written.”
That moment of raw emotion became the centerpiece of the album—a project rooted in real-time reflections of what it means to chase a dream while missing your real life.
“I wrote the first verse, chorus and second verse alone in a hotel in about 10 minutes. A month later, I finished the bridge just as quickly. It just… poured out,” he shares.
While some songs came from heartbreak, others came from high-energy chaos—like “Lost Gets Found,” which was born during a late-night writing session that included a bottle of Angel’s Envy Rye and a 30-pack of beer.
“By the end, [co-writer] Michael Whitworth was laid out on the couch saying, ‘I’m in no condition to finish this song,’” Kolby laughs. “But I talked him into rallying, and we locked back in and finished it.”
The final product? A mood board-worthy album that Kolby describes as “a massive, dark room with one bright light at the far end—and a couple dive bars, a busted-up couch, truck stop coffee, friends and family.”
The tug-of-war between career and family is a major theme throughout the album. Songs like “Hello From The Road” and “Empty Handed” peel back the curtain on the emotional toll of touring while trying to stay grounded.
“FaceTime is my lifeline,” he says. “I genuinely don’t know what I’d do without it. Being able to call just to say ‘I love y’all’ makes the distance feel a little smaller.”
Even as he climbs the ladder of country stardom, Kolby never loses sight of what matters most.
“Every lyric, every decision, every long night—I think about them,” he says of his kids. “I want them to see someone who stands up for what’s right and believes in himself.”
One of the standout moments on the record is “One Last,” a powerful duet with fellow Texan Danielle Bradbery.
“Was I nervous? Absolutely,” Kolby admits. “But I think we’re like-minded, and she’s just so damn incredible. My family and I have been fans for a long time, so to have her on the song was surreal. She absolutely crushed it.”
The song adds another layer of texture to the album, blending vulnerability with vocal power and a cinematic sense of longing that’s impossible to ignore.
Despite being hailed as “country music’s newest badass,” Kolby doesn’t take himself too seriously. One of his favorite fan interactions?
“How tall I am! I’m 6’3”, but people always say, ‘Whoa, I didn’t realize you were that tall,’” he laughs. “I need to start taking pictures next to a fridge or something so folks get the idea—I’m built like one.”
From Blink-182 to Waylon Jennings, Kolby’s musical DNA is as wide-ranging as his life experiences. His go-to driving song when he’s in his feels? Waylon’s “Drinking and Dreaming.”
“That was one of my dad’s favorite songs,” he says. “He used to say, ‘This one’s about my life.’ I get it now.”
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Between now and September, Kolby will be hitting cities across the country on his Love You, Goodnight Tour, with stops at major festivals like Voices of America and Bourbon & Beyond. But even with a jam-packed schedule, he’s not done dreaming.
“My next goal? Becoming General Manager of the New York Yankees,” he jokes. “No idea how that happens, but if they’re looking—I’m their guy.” We don’t doubt him.
In a world dominated by singles and algorithms, Love You, Goodnight feels refreshingly intentional. From the lyrics to the sequencing, Kolby crafted this record as a full body of work meant to be played front-to-back.
“We made a real album—song by song, story by story. We poured our lives into it,” he says. “So go back, spin it again, and tell your friends.”
Consider it done. Hit play, turn it up, and prepare to feel all the feelings. You’ll laugh, cry, slam your steering wheel, and probably text someone you shouldn’t.
