Lily Rose came across my radar in 2021 when her mega-hit “Villain” hit the airwaves and she was soon named to the 2022 CMT Next Women of Country.
Rose hails from Atlanta, Georgia. At age nine, she first became interested in music when she asked her parents for a drum set. Then she picked up guitar and piano and realized she was passionate about music. By age 14, she was composing her own songs.
She cites Bruce Springsteen, Keith Urban, and Katy Perry as artists who inspire her.
By the time the 31-year-old got to college, she decided to give the artist thing a go. And though Rose looks a bit different than your average female country singer (she doesn’t have big hair or false eyelashes), her song, “Villain,” was so relatable that it placed her firmly on the country music map.
Written alongside Kyle Clark and Mackenzie Carpenter, Rose had the title “Villain” on her phone for about a year before they wrote it.
Rose explained, “About a year prior to that, I had gone through a breakup, and I thought we ended on amicable terms. Now you're making me out to be a villain, and there was no villain in the story.
Carpenter agreed, “My last relationship ended that way too."
It turns out all three had exes who deemed them villains, so the song was easy to write and relate to. Originally, Clark sang the demo, and Rose had no aspirations to cut the song, but the longer she thought about it, the more it felt like it should be hers.
Now, with more than 500 million streams, “Villain” has become the breakout song of Rose’s career. Before the viral smash hit, she worked several jobs and only had a few dollars to her name. But in January of 2021, Rose signed a record deal and everything changed.
Another huge hit from that year was “Know My Way Around,” a song that starts out talking about knowing your way around your hometown and then morphs into knowing more about a new love interest.
In 2023, Rose was featured on "Sad in the Summer," a summer fling song released on Diplo's Country project, Thomas Wesley Chapter 2—Swamp Savant. She made two national television performances that year, taking “Sad in the Summer” to NBC’s The Voice finale and making her morning television debut on ABC’s Good Morning America.
Rose made her Grand Ole Opry debut on May 11, 2024. This debut marked a full circle moment for her, as she used to work at the Opry Mills Mall, stocking shelves overnight as a young artist.
But the day before, on May 10th, Rose released her first EP, Runnin’ Outta Time. With the title track, she states, There’s only one place this train’s headed/ So I’m livin’ fast tryna get there slow/ No way to know when they’ll roll my credits/ But ‘til they do I’mma put on a show. That song perfectly describes her life and the way she lives it.
A co-writer on each track, the EP showcases Lily at her most personal and honest, bundling her beliefs and contradictions into six new songs that explain who she is, where she came from and where she’s heading. Packed with Saturday-night energy and Sunday-morning reflection, the EP serves as the perfect soundtrack for the intense push and pull in Rose’s life, and a potent reminder of how important it is to take a breath and focus on the things that matter most.
A song that instantly caught my attention was the tune, “Back Pew.” With the words, But I got a last ditch prayer/ For the man upstairs/ Oh Lord would you help me through/ Even if I’m in the back pew? The redemptive spirit of the song is a message that many need to hear.
But possibly the most important song on the EP is “True North,” which acknowledges that Rose’s home, even though it’s in the south, is always her true north. It is also a lovely metaphor of her home state of Georgia.
Rose released the heartfelt single, “Let You Know When I Get There, " at the beginning of this year.” It's a song that many can relate to as mamas worry about their kids as they embark on their own.
On February 28, Rose released her 2nd single of 2025, “I Know What I Want”(And I Don’t Want You). It’s the perfect song for those who have had enough of a relationship that has run its course.
In the past, Rose has toured with Sam Hunt, Shania Twain, Cole Swindell, and Luke Bryan. But now, after the newly independent artist’s sold-out headlining show at The Basement East on January 15th, Rose will embark on her 14-stop Runnin’ Outta Time Tour 2025 with special guest Payton Smith. The tour builds on the momentum of her fall headlining run, which saw 23 packed shows.
Rose is grateful to her die-hard fans who “would truly do anything for me and I'd do anything for them.”
As she continues to create relevant music, she admitted, “More dudes are coming out to shows and like dads and all. It shows that if I keep making music and being true to myself, my career is not going anywhere. I just want to tour forever and spend time with the fans.”
Be sure to follow Lily Rose on her website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, and all streaming services.
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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and X.
