LISTEN HERE | WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO HERE
“Marlboro Man” Single Art | Download HERE
Courtesy of Big Machine Records
NASHVILLE, TN — January 16, 2026 — GRAMMY-nominated, neotraditional country trailblazers Midland are back in the saddle today, returning with new song “Marlboro Man” – listen HERE.
Penned by powerhouse songwriters Dean Dillon, Tim Nichols, and Josh Thompson and produced by Trent Willmon,“Marlboro Man” is an anthem for the red dirt drifter; a wistful, stubborn tune about the freedom, grit, and loneliness of living like the “Marlboro® Man.” It follows a weathered drifter yearning for the one he left in the rearview and battling a lingering sense of regret for choosing the pull of the road over the promise of settling down.
The classic country revivalists sing:
That was me, a jaw like steel, a heart like stone
Leather tough to the bone and always gone
Born to run to anywhere than where I was
I’d leave it all in the dust, just like us
Ain’t much changed in all this time
Still leavin’ everything I love behind
Too much pride to need a thing
But this hat, these boots, these worn-out jeans
Mountains in the background, hell of a view
But all I see is me missin’ you
Just cussin’ myself for who I am
Alone again like that damn Marlboro® man
“‘Marlboro Man’ is a soaring ballad that reflects on the 12-year journey of this band and how the road has left its scars like old leather,” Midland front man Mark Wystrach shares. “On the road, images of home haunt us at every turn and the landscape is filled with vistas of the same old regrets, yet the sun continues to come up, the bus marches on and the cycle continues.”
“You always strive to learn and grow,” he continues, “but the core of a man never changes from summer to snow as we keep riding on along, mile after mile, to get to the next show — like that damn Marlboro Man.”
To pair with the first release of a new chapter of music, Midland also released the official music video for “Marlboro Man” today. Directed by CMA and ACM Award-winner Justin Clough and shot in Wystrach’s hometown of Sonoita, AZ, the video cuts between shots of all three band members cruising desert dirt roads. On horseback, motorcycles, driving vintage cars and beat up trucks, the trio stay independently in motion, searching for the next town and gig like they have for the last decade. Watch HERE.
“Marlboro Man” Music Video | Watch HERE
Midland | Photo Credit: Harper Smith | Download HERE
ABOUT MIDLAND
GRAMMY® nominated traditional country revivalists Midland are the sound of the Southwest, a trio of Texas trailblazers at the forefront of a sort of post-Urban Cowboy country subgenre that’s spreading in popularity like wildfire. Front man Mark Wystrach, bassist / vocalist Cameron Duddy and guitarist / vocalist Jess Carson carve a singular lane with a relaxed, throwback sound that’s bred breakout hits like 5X Platinum “Drinkin’ Problem,” Platinum-certified “Burn Out,” and Gold-certified hits “Cheatin’ Songs,” “Make A Little,” and “On The Rocks.” Critically acclaimed albums like 2017 debut On The Rocks, Billboard chart-topping sophomore effort Let It Roll, 2022’s The Last Resort, and latest Barely Blue united fans of classic country music and critics alike, with rousing endorsements from Entertainment Weekly, GQ, The Washington Post, Vogue, Esquire, Variety, Rolling Stone and NPR.
Born of Dripping Springs, Texas, the trio of artist-writer disciples of Tornillo, Texas’ storied Sonic Ranch have “never met an audience they couldn’t conquer” (Rolling Stone), building a following that’s sold out the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show, packed out multi-night stands at Ft. Worth’s iconic Billy Bob’s and re-opened North Hollywood’s legendary Palomino Club for one night only. Bringing listeners a resurgence of rich harmonies, sad melodies, tart, cheeky lyrics and steel guitar-dressed records, the retro-Nuevo trio has grown from bar band to an in-demand headliner. Midland is finalizing their next chapter of music now, previewed by their newest release, “Marlboro Man.”
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