Two years on from the double whammy of Strays and Strays II, country artist Margo Price returns with news of her fifth album, Hard Headed Woman, which drops on August 29.

Out today, lead single "Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down" was co-written with longtime songwriting partner Jeremy Ivey and country legend Rodney Crowell, who helped them to "refine the lyrics in a way only he can – sharp, poetic, and honest."

Watch the Ian Blair-directed video of Price's new track below:

As Price writes on her Substack:

"I’ve been a fan of Rodney’s work for years. He has a singular voice—southern, soulful, and deeply human. Songs like “Ain’t Livin’ Long Like This,” “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight,” and “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” have been part of my musical education and personal inspiration. Getting to write with him was a full-circle moment."

If the album nods to the 1958 track of the same name by Elvis Presley (and improved by Wanda Jackson in '61), the title of the single was inspired by the late Kris Kristofferson, who famously whispered the words in the ear of Sinéad O'Connor after she was booed on stage at a Bob Dylan tribute show in NYC. (Her response? "I'm not down.")

The line is also the title of a Kristofferson song from his 1990 album Third World Warrior, though the sentiment dates all the way back to World War II.

In addition to duets with Jesse Welles and Tyler Childers, Hard Headed Woman features a closing cover of Waylon Jennings' 1996 track "Kissing You Goodbye" – recorded at the urging of his widow and outlaw country star Jesse Colter. It's also the first album that Price has made fully in Nashville, the city she's called home for more than 20 years, and marks her return to a more classic country sound. Also returning is producer Matt Ross-Spang, who co-produced Price's 2016 breakthrough, Midwest Farmer's Daughter.

Expanding on the intention behind Hard Headed Woman, Price says:

"I always hope to do like Johnny Cash did, which is speak up for the common man and woman. But there have been so many threats and anger and vitriol over the years, when I am only coming from a place of love. So I made the decision to rebuild everything from the ground up. I hope this album inspires people to be fearless and take chances and just be unabashedly themselves, in a culture that tries as hard as it can to beat us into all being the same."

Hard Headed Woman is out on August 29. Pre-order here. Full tracklist:

1. Prelude {Hard Headed Woman}
2. Don’t Let The Bastards Get You Down 
3. Red Eye Flight
4. Don’t Wake Me Up (feat. Jesse Welles)
5. Close To You
6. Nowhere Is Where
7. Losing Streak
8. I Just Don’t Give a Damn
9. Keep A Picture
10. Love Me Like You Used To Do (feat. Tyler Childers)
11. Wild At Heart 
12. Kissing You Goodbye

Price kicks off the live side of the album campaign tomorrow at a sold-out pop-up show in NYC, before flying to Europe for a headline show in London and festivals in The Netherlands and Spain. She'll then return to the US for more festivals and headline shows, also opening for Mumford & Sons at three shows on the east coast and for Greensky Bluegrass at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado.

Price will also perform at an Emmylou Harris tribute in San Francisco as part of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival's 25-year anniversary celebrations. Full list of dates below:

06/18 London, UK @ Scala
06/20 Grolloo, NL @ Holland International Blues Festival
06/21 Vitoria-Gasteiz, ES @ Azkena Rock Festival
06/28 Eau Claire, WI @ Blue Ox Music Festival
07/27 Newport, RI @ Newport Folk Festival
07/29 Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park *
07/31 Huntsville, AL @ Orion Amphitheater *
08/01 Huntsville, AL @ Orion Amphitheater *
08/03 Portland, ME @ Back Cove Music & Arts Festival
09/06 Grand Rapids, MI @ Grand Rapids Riverfest
09/07 Evanston, IL @ Evanston Folk Festival
09/13 Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks **
09/14 Templeton, CA @ Whale Rock
09/20 Minneapolis, MN @ Farm Aid
09/27 Dana Point, CA @ Ohana Music Festival
10/02 San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic (A Tribute to Emmylou Harris)
10/05 Ocean City, MD @ Country Calling Festival
10/11 Livingston, KY @ Moonshiners Ball
03/20 Miami, FL @ Outlaw Country Cruise
03/25 Miami, FL @ Outlaw Country Cruise

* with Mumford & Sons
** with Greensky Bluegrass
*** Emmylou Harris tribute show

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