STUDIO VERSION OF FAN FAVOURITE OUT AUGUST 2ND
Hear Preview and See Fan Reaction HERE
Jackson Dean has announced the studio version of his live show staple and fan-favourite, “Heavens To Betsy,” will arrive this Friday, August 2 via Big Machine Records. The beloved track will be Dean’s next single. The song, which places Dean in the shoes of a regret-filled man attempting to send a transmission from the beyond to right the wrongs of his past and seek redemption with his daughter, has struck a deep chord with listeners of all ages who have found a cathartic connection to its characters and its soul-stirring plea for atonement.
Watch Fan Reaction and Hear Preview HERE
With its palpable remorse accentuated by Dean’s strong, gravel-toned vocals, the song was written when he (at just 19 years old) heard the minced oath “heavens to Betsy!” for the first time and was struck with a flash image of an image of a man sitting on the outskirts of heaven, trying to communicate with his daughter via a CB radio. Taking listeners on the emotional journey of a man finally addressing the things he once couldn’t bear to face, the song starts out sincere but reserved and apprehensive, backed by light acoustic guitar. By the chorus, words begin to flow out of him as his comfort grows and the song swells until the desperation and despair bursts out alongside a piercing electric guitar that continues to build and build until its final breath.
“’Heavens to Betsy’ is like the little song that could. We wrote it and never thought it’d see the light of day but I started playing it on radio tour to get it out of my head… and kill time and I saw a grown man break down and cry to it. That’s an image that will hit you like a ton of bricks. So we started incorporating a bigger version of it into our live shows and I thought the Live At The Ryman version would be the only place it lived. But once again this song exceeded my expectations… night after night people tell me how it’s helping them through their grief – which is such a beautiful thing,” shared Jackson Dean. “Just the other day someone told me that their father died 11 years ago and hearing ‘Betsy’ gave them the closure they’ve been seeking. That’s the reason we do this. Being able to connect in such a big, meaningful way is an honor I do not take lightly. I hope it goes out into the world and continues to heal, inspire, and move folks.”
PRE-SAVE “HEAVENS TO BETSY” HERE
Only ever planning to share the live versions of the track (one from his Live From The Ryman album and another from his Apple Music Sessions), upon seeing the fierce reaction and way it has impacted people, Dean worked with his bandmates, some of Nashville’s best musicians and his producer, Luke Dick to create a studio version of the heart-wrenching song, written by Dean, Benjy Davis, and Driver Williams.
“I still sometimes get a lump in my throat singing ‘Betsy’ because I’ve seen that dynamic play out too many times. Breaks my heart that when people let their demons get the best of them, it’s usually their loved ones that end up with the most scars,” added Dean. “I hope this song serves as a reminder that it’s never too late to right your wrongs and inspires folks to look things square in the eye and say it out loud.”
Giving folks a lot to ruminate on, Dean also leaves room for interpretation and even more things to ponder. Did Betsy ever get the message? Was this meant to heal Betsy or himself? Was he even really let into the pearly gates? It might take more than one listen to find your conclusion.
“Heavens To Betsy” follows Dean’s US Top 10 sophomore single “Fearless” and his US No. 1 debut single “Don’t Come Lookin’,” from his debut album Greenbroke.
This summer, Dean will take his talents across the US as direct support for the GRAMMY® Award-winning ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson on her Country Is Cool Again Tour.
More information, including tour dates, can be found at https://www.jacksondean.com/.
ABOUT JACKSON DEAN:
Fast-rising singer/songwriter Jackson Dean is quickly earning a reputation for his old school, gritty, lyric-driven, outlaw style of Country following a breakout year that landed him on Pandora’s Ten for 2023 (all genre), Spotify’s Hot Country Artists to Watch 2023, Apple Music’s Country Risers, the CMT Listen Up class of 2023, CRS New Faces 2023, Amazon Music’s 2023 Breakthrough Artists to Watch: Country Class as well as a slew of other artist to watch lists.
Mature beyond his years, Jackson opted to move out to a cinderblock, concrete floor, one-room shack on the back of his grandfather’s property with no heat and no plumbing at just 18 years old. An adventurous and carefree spirit, the 23-year-old multi-instrumentalist, is also an old soul and skilled artisan whose pastimes include making leather goods, wood-burned art and disappearing into the woods to sleep under the stars.
Bringing that same sense of adventure and downhome vibe to his songwriting, the “modern-day Country rambler” (Taste of Country) burst on the scene, showing people how real music can be with his atmospheric, musically-forward debut album Greenbroke and Live From The Ryman album (both out now via Big Machine Records). The Maryland native’s single, “Don’t Come Lookin’” was the fastest debut to reach No. 1 in 2022 and cemented Jackson as the youngest solo male Country artist to reach the top of the charts with a debut.
Landing spots on the Billboard Hot 100, the soundtrack for Netflix’s The Ice Road and a John Dutton scene in Yellowstone. The rugged music video for the track also earned a nomination at the 2023 CMT Music Awards for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year. His sophomore single, “Fearless (The Echo)” peaked at No. 7 on the Country radio charts and No. 1 on CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown.
His fan favourite, “Heavens to Betsy” will be his next single and will be available August 2. Following an early career of local performances in his hometown, Jackson has joined bills with superstar acts like Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Brantley Gilbert, Kane Brown, Jake Owen, Brooks & Dunn, Lee Brice, HARDY and Brothers Osborne and found himself on the bill for credible events like Austin City Limits and Stagecoach.
The young talent recently wrapped big tours with Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, and Jon Pardi as well as his first headlining tour (Head Full of Noise Tour) and is going on tour with Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson this summer.