Through high school, Cooper Ledford wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life. That is, until he got on stage for the first time at an open mic.
From there, his sights were set on forging his path in music. With neo-traditional influences like Keith Whitley, Brooks & Dunn and Tracy Lawrence in tow, Ledford shifted his focus towards originals, and with three singles now under his belt, Ledford has cemented himself as a premiere artist to watch.
We chatted with Ledford about that open mic night, his three single releases, what’s coming next and more!
Pro Country: Your bio mentions drawing influence from neo-traditional artists like Keith Whitley, Tracy Lawrence and Brooks & Dunn. What was it about that style of country music that connected with you?
Cooper Ledford: I’ve always been drawn to the raw emotion in ‘80s and ‘90s country. Somewhere along the way, as production got bigger, I think some of that heart and storytelling got lost. Not to say there’s not great music today, there totally is, but I’ve always connected with the kind of songs that make you feel something. That’s what I try to bring into my own writing.
PC: You’ve mentioned that an open mic night served as your first gig, and after that, you knew that you wanted to pursue music as a career. What was it about the way you felt that night, and the way you feel on stage and writing songs, that brought that revelation?
CL: For most of my life, especially high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I loved to sing and write, but I never thought it was a real option. One night, I went to an open mic just down the road and sang “Joy of My Life” by Chris Stapleton. After the first couple words, the whole room went quiet and just listened. That feeling of people truly connecting with what I was doing; that’s when I knew I never wanted to stop.
PC: What emotions were you feeling as you were preparing to release music for the first time with your single “Ain’t Your Story to Write”?
CL: Releasing “Ain’t Your Story to Write” was a big step. I knew a lot of folks wouldn’t really get it; especially choosing to release a song at 18 instead of going to college, but I wasn’t willing to let that stop me. I’ve always wanted to do something that matters.
PC: “Ain’t Your Story to Write” has earned over 25,000 streams on Spotify alone, with several thousand more across platforms. How encouraging was it to see your debut single, and a song you wrote during your senior year of high school that tells a personal story of pursuing music, earn that success?
CL: I’m the son of a preacher and a teacher, so I know words carry weight. Seeing something I wrote, especially something so personal, connect with people the way it has; that’s been a dream come true.
PC: Your second single, “Go That Way,” is another song about resilience and living and learning. As someone who so young at the time of the release, how much of “Go That Way” is a message to yourself?
CL: “Go That Way” came right after “Ain’t Your Story to Write,” and they kinda go together. Both are like letters to my past self; reminders to trust God, stop forcing things, and just be grateful for the path I’m on, even when it’s hard. They’re comfort songs, for me and hopefully for others too.
PC: You released your newest single, “Miss Carolina,” at the end of May. Can you take us in the room and talk about the inspiration behind the song and how it came together?
CL: When I wrote “Miss Carolina,” I had already decided I was moving to Nashville. That song’s about realizing life keeps going even when you’re not there. I wrote it like a love song to make it more relatable, but to me, it’s about leaving home and watching everything change. It’s one of those songs that can mean whatever you need it to.
PC: In just over a month, “Miss Carolina” has already surpassed 10,000 streams on Spotify with thousands more across platforms. What has it been like to see the response and life that the song has had since its release?
CL: The response to “Miss Carolina” has been incredible. Way bigger out the gate than anything I’ve put out so far. Every message or comment about how much it means to y’all just fires me up more. I’m really excited to see where it goes from here.
PC: You’ve shared newly-written songs on social media recently. What information, if any, can you give about new music in the works? What can people expect to hear?
CL: I won’t give away too much yet, but I will say this: new music’s coming very soon, and it’s gonna hit hard. Have some tissues ready.
PC: As we said, your bio mentions three of our favorite artists, Keith Whitley, Tracy Lawrence and Brooks & Dunn as major influences. Can you tell us a your favorite song by each?
CL: If I had to pick right now, I’d say my favorite Brooks & Dunn song is “Believe,” for Tracy Lawrence it’s “Used to the Pain,” and for Keith Whitley, “I Wonder Do You Think of Me.”
PC: With “Miss Carolina” released, what do you have planned for the rest of 2025?
CL: The rest of 2025, I’m just grinding, writing the best songs I possibly can and showing y’all what I’m capable of. I want to give you songs you can really live with.
PC: Is there anything you’d like to add?
CL: Make sure you follow me on socials @coopertledford for updates and more of the journey. We’re just getting started.
Pro Country 
Leave a comment