Country star Craig Campbell, fresh off the national success of his 2025 single “Missing You,” is kicking off 2026 with a deeply personal new release. “Drink For That,” written by Anthony Smith and Lilly Nelsen and produced by Campbell himself, drops February 20, 2026 via Grindstone Recordings through Vydia.
“I’d open another bottle of forgive me,
but all of the whiskey in Tennessee won’t bring her back.
Lord I wish they had a drink for that.”
The heartfelt lyrics strike a chord with anyone who’s experienced loss, regret, or longing. “Anthony and Lilly wrote an amazing song, and I knew I had to record it,” Campbell shares. “You can pour a shot or a drink for your 21st birthday, New Year’s Eve, your honeymoon, or anything else—but there's no drink to bring her back. Wow!”
Campbell will debut the song live while sailing on Team Cocktail’s Sound The Sirens cruise aboard the Norwegian Epic this weekend. The journey departs from San Juan and includes stops in Tortola, Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas. Following the cruise, Campbell hits the road to promote “Drink For That” across the country.
A Career Built on Patience and Perseverance
In an era obsessed with overnight fame, Campbell’s career stands out as a testament to persistence and grit. The Lyons, Georgia native began his musical journey on his mother’s piano and singing in church before taking a job as a corrections officer. In 2002, he moved to Nashville to pursue his dreams, paying his dues as a demo singer by day and performing on Lower Broadway by night.
Campbell’s talent quickly earned him a spot touring with Luke Bryan as a keyboardist, followed by a year-and-a-half stint with Tracy Byrd. He eventually became bandleader at The Stage on Tuesday nights, catching the attention of industry executives. By 2009, Campbell had secured his first record deal.
His debut single, “Family Man,” broke into Billboard’s Top 15 in 2011, followed by hits like “Outta My Head” and the streaming sensation “Fish.” Despite the closure of his label during the climb of his 2014 breakout hit “Keep Them Kisses Comin’,” Campbell’s team pushed the single to the Top 10, a rare achievement without label support.
Later, with Red Bow Records, he released “Tomorrow Tonight” and the deeply moving “Outskirts of Heaven” in 2018. In 2020, he launched Grindstone Recordings, releasing projects like The Lost Files: Exhibit A & B, Class of ’89, and Almost Greatest Hits while signing new talent.
Giving Back and Building Community
Beyond music, Campbell and his wife Mindy realized a lifelong dream in 2022 by opening Grindstone Cowboy in Eagleville, Tennessee—a coffee shop, restaurant, and music venue that quickly became a local favorite and was featured on Tennessee Crossroads. A second location opened in downtown Shelbyville in November 2025.
Campbell also honors his late father through the Kenny Campbell Foundation, supporting colorectal and colon cancer awareness. He has raised over $1 million for related causes, including $30,000 at his 11th Annual Celebrity Cornhole Challenge and $10,000 at the inaugural Kenny Campbell Foundation Benefit Concert at the Ryman Auditorium with Bradley Gaskin.
With “Drink For That,” Campbell delivers a track that is both intimate and universal, continuing a career defined by authenticity, resilience, and a deep connection to fans. For those ready to pour a glass in reflection, Campbell has written the song to do exactly that—but, as the lyrics remind us, some losses can’t be washed away.