Ashley McBryde is back with a song that feels built for the long haul. Today, the Grammy, CMA, and ACM-winning songwriter released her anthemic new single, “What If We Don’t,” marking the first official preview of what’s next in her ever-evolving catalog.

True to form, McBryde leans into emotional weight rather than easy resolution. “What If We Don’t” wrestles with regret, risk, and the quiet consequences of the choices we make or avoid. It’s a slow burn, anchored by her unmistakable vocal grit, and it lands more like a reckoning than a radio play grab.

The song was co-written with Terri Jo Box and Randall Clay Sitting around a fire pit, a detail that somehow feels exactly right. McBryde has described the track as being about “the leaps of faith you do or don’t take, and having to learn to live with those consequences either way.” That tension runs through every line.

Alongside the single, McBryde also released the official music video, directed by Brandon Campbell. The visual takes inspiration from a true story and unfolds as a flashback during an EMDR therapy session, reinforcing the song’s themes of memory, healing, and unresolved choices.

“What If We Don’t” officially impacts country radio on February 23 and serves as the first taste of McBryde’s highly anticipated fifth studio album. While full album details haven’t been revealed yet, the tone suggests another deeply personal project from an artist who has never shied away from emotional honesty.

The release also coincides with the return of McBryde’s Redemption Residency, which resumes this week at Eric Church’s Chief’s in Nashville. The 2026 run includes her intimate “Just Me + My Shadow” solo acoustic shows, followed next month by Postcards From Lindeville, where she brings character-driven songs from across her catalog to life with special guests.

At a time when so much of mainstream country feels engineered for immediacy, “What If We Don’t” stands as a reminder of why Ashley McBryde continues to be one of the genre’s most trusted voices: she writes for the people who are still sitting with their feelings long after the song ends.