KIRSTY LEE AKERS UNVEILS STUNNING NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR HEART-WRENCHING BALLAD ‘MARLBORO MAN’
Australian country powerhouse Kirsty Lee Akers has just dropped the emotionally-charged music video for her latest single, ‘Marlboro Man’, and it’s everything fans of real-deal heartbreak country could hope for-and more.
The music video, directed by husband Jesse Anderson, brings Akers’ raw, soul-baring ballad to life with a retro Western aesthetic that smokes with style and sorrow. With a nod to the classic Marlboro branding-red, white, and black-the visuals serve up dusty heartbreak, cinematic longing, and that unmistakable country twang that hits you right in the chest.
Co-written in Nashville with Byron Hill-yes, that Byron Hill, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer whose fingerprints are on some of the genre’s most iconic hits-‘Marlboro Man’ tells the story of a love that starts like a fairytale but ends like a ghost town. A cowboy fantasy that rides in strong, only to leave even stronger-without a trace.
“I’ve always been drawn to stories of love that are both beautiful and bittersweet,” says Akers. “Marlboro Man tells the story of a romance where you fall for someone who sweeps you off your feet, only to realise they’re not the one who stays. Writing this song with Byron was full-circle magic-he was the first person I ever co-wrote with when I landed in Nashville as a teenager. To still be working together all these years later is something special.”
Backed by the haunting harmonies of Melody Pool, the Dobro-driven production, and Akers’ unmistakable vocals, the track is a modern-day classic soaked in the spirit of vintage country radio. Akers and her long time drummer Paul Bain, co-produced the track, creating a rich, emotive soundscape that walks the line between timeless and trailblazing.
Already a two-time Golden Guitar winner, Akers continues to prove that country music can be honest, fearless, and beautifully bruised. Marlboro Man isn’t just a song-it’s a gut-punch in slow motion.