Lily Rose: The Fresh Face of Country Music
By Danielle Krantz
After gaining viral fame with her hit song “Villain,” Lily Rose is redefining country music.
“When I moved to Nashville and started co-writing, it was by far the things that made me feel the most like Lily Rose ever. And it was country music,” Rose said.
Hailing from Atlanta, Ga., singer-songwriter Lily Rose Williamson grew popular after posting a clip of her song “Villain” on TikTok. Rose’s newest EP, “Runnin’ Outta Time,” was released on May 10, 2024. The release of the EP marks her first music release since 2022. As a co-writer on the six tracks, Rose explores herself, where she came from, and who she is as a songwriter.
Rose explained the meaning behind the album in a press conference hosted by Universal Music conglomerate 1824 on Thursday, September 19.
Rose said that after gaining viral attention, she kept trying to write a follow-up hit instead of writing from her heart.
“It took me about two years to stop trying to write a follow-up hit for “Villain” and to go back to just writing songs and stories that I’ve lived through and experiences that I’m going through in my life,” she said. “I feel like all of us, the label, everyone could feel the shift of like, “Lily’s not trying to write hits anymore, she’s writing songs again.’”
Rose has toured extensively with fellow genre-blending artist Sam Hunt and opened for country-pop legend Shania Twain. She had a global pop breakthrough in 2023, collaborating with Diplo on the EDM-country hit “Sad in the Summer,” which introduced her to a broader audience through performances on NBC’s “The Voice” and ABC’s “Good Morning America.” She is an Academy of Country Music Award’s Best New Female Artist nominee and the recipient of GLAAD’s Outstanding Breakthrough Artist Award in 2022. Rose, a proud lesbian, is the first country artist to win a GLAAD award. GLADD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, is a non-governmental organization that works towards understanding and acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community.
Rose said she spent time off-stage with Twain and received excellent advice from her. Twain told Rose her voice was unique and did not need to be defined by one genre. “I’ve always thought that about myself,” Rose said. “But it was really cool to hear an icon kind of reiterate what I’ve always felt of who I am as an artist.”
After supporting artists on their tours, Rose is headlining her own. The “Runnin’ Outta Time” tour will stop in 23 cities, including Boston, Mass., on October 24 at Paradise Rock Club. Artists Jordan Gray, Michael Warren, Payton Smith, and Harper Grace will support as opening acts.
“Now, on her North American headline tour, Lily is taking her bold music to fans across the country,” said Evan Tom, a public relations representative for 1824 and an Emerson College student. “‘Runnin’ Outta Time serves” as a perfect soundtrack to her next chapter, capturing both the Saturday night energy of life on the road and the Sunday morning moments of reflection.”
As Rose’s fan base grows, so does her music. Rose said that when she first signed a record deal in 2021, most of her fans were lesbian and bisexual women and couples who had never felt represented in country music. However, Rose’s music took off with a new demographic by touring with Twain, Hunt, and Luke Bryan.
“I’m seeing our crowds really transition to being heterosexual couples, gay men, young kids,” she said. “It’s really cool that our nucleus and our home base that we know for a fact are going to continue to show up as long as I show up for them is the LGBTQ community. But it’s been really, really special to see this thing grow.”
18-year-old Payton Marrison is a big part of Rose’s fanbase. She runs the “lilyrdaily” fan page and loves community participation. Back in May, Marrison attended the “Runnin’ Outta Time: The Immersive Live Experience.” Hosted at Nashville’s Cannery Hall, the one-night performance utilized state-of-the-art video technology. Marrison said she loved the fan’s passion, as only one person there was from Tennessee, while everyone else traveled out of state to see the show.
“Early this year, my now good friend added me to a group chat with a bunch of other super passionate Lily fans,” Marrison said. “We were all able to meet up at that show and her open debut. We had all traveled over six hours to be there, and after talking online for months, we got to all meetup and support our girl. This was especially cool, being that I started LilyRDaily to meet people just like them!”
Rose closely connects with her fans, mentioning Marrison and her family.
“We love Payton and the whole Marrison fam. They come out to a lot of shows. They’re good people,” she said.
As Lily Rose continues to evolve, her impact on country music grows deeper. She’s breaking genre boundaries and creating a space for fans from all walks of life to feel seen and heard. With her latest EP and headline tour, Rose is carving out a new chapter in her career that blends raw storytelling with personal reflection. Her connection with fans remains at the heart of her journey, proving that her music isn’t just about hits—it’s about building a community that embraces authenticity, diversity, and growth.