The Gulf Coast knows heartbreak ballads, backroad anthems, and songs that hit like a late-night confession—and Corey Kent just delivered one that checks every box.
After teasing “Empty Words” online and watching it explode past 20 million views across social media, the multi-platinum country star did what Gulf audiences appreciate most: he listened. Fast-tracking the song’s release in response to overwhelming demand, Kent turned viral momentum into a full-throttle moment.
Penned alongside Austin Goodloe, Lydia Vaughan, Matt Roy and Joybeth Taylor, “Empty Words” blends Red Dirt soul with country-rock grit. It’s reflective without being soft, powerful without being overproduced — the kind of track that feels just as at home cruising Highway 98 as it does blasting from a beachside stage.
The chorus lands with a slow burn that cuts deep:
She’s over empty words
Half-heart apologies
My broken promises
My don’t give up on me’s…
It’s the realization that talk doesn’t fix what action broke: a theme that resonates with anyone who’s learned the hard way that love demands more than promises.
The release follows Kent’s rising collaboration “Rocky Mountain Low” with Koe Wetzel, currently climbing country radio charts, and marks the first new music since his 2025 EP Poster Child. Kent’s trajectory has been nothing short of explosive.
Photo: Danya White
Surpassing one billion career streams this year, he notched his second No. 1 with “This Heart,” certified GOLD, while “Something’s Gonna Kill Me” edges toward PLATINUM. And of course, there’s the TRIPLE-PLATINUM No. 1 “Wild As Her,” the swaggering anthem that launched him into country’s top tier. But what makes Kent connect so strongly with Gulf audiences isn’t just chart stats, it’s the grit behind the glow-up. After losing his first publishing deal during the pandemic, the Oklahoma native moved to Texas and worked on a paving crew to make ends meet, refusing to walk away from music. Honky-tonks, dancehalls and long highway miles shaped the artist he is today: resilient, road-tested and real.
Now touring internationally with dates alongside Jason Aldean and returning to major festivals, Kent is stepping onto bigger stages without losing the raw edge that built his following. “Empty Words” proves that even at full speed, he’s still anchored in authenticity. And along the Gulf, where country music is equal parts salt air and soul, that honesty hits hardest of all.