Belles poured “a lot of love and life” into her debut studio album.

The rising country artist, 27, released Midwestern on Friday (October 16). The 12-track album features “The Ballad of Buster B. Cheating,” “Hell I Won’t,” “I Think You Like My Boyfriend (a little too much),” “Everything but Over You,” and more, plus her “clever” twist on late legend Dolly Parton’s classic anthem, “Jolene.” Parton released the timeless single on October 15, 1973. It inspired Belles’ “Son Of Jolene,” continuing the story in the next generation. Parton sang the song with Belles and released earlier this year. It was the final duet Parton released during her lifetime (her final recorded collaboration was “Torn,” with U2’s Bono, and her first song to release posthumously was “Bound to Ride,” appearing on a new tribute album to The Stanley Brothers). Parton died on August 25 in Nashville, Tennessee, following a battle with cancer. She was 80. Belles said at the time she was “absolutely heartbroken” to lose Parton, and expressed her gratitude “for giving me the greatest gift I will ever receive. I will carry your words with me for the rest of my life.”

The Nashville-based artist from Omaha, Nebraska made history in another significant way during her journey to deliver her debut album. Over the summer, she became the first female artist from Nebraska to step into the storied circle on the historic Grand Ole Opry stage. Next month, she’s set to deliver her debut performance at the Ryan Auditorium in Nashville. Belles wrote in a caption on Instagram that she’s “so excited I can finally share these songs with y’all! Thank you for following along with me on this crazy, wild dream of mine. I hope you love it as much as I do!”

Belles “is ushering in the next generation of female Country music,” states a press release announcing Midwestern’s arrival. “The album reflects on her upbringing and is a culmination of influences that weaves a narrative about chasing big dreams, falling in and out of love, and staying grounded to your roots. …Belles is a legacy in the making.”

The rising country star is spotlighting the “fun-loving party anthem,” “Disco Rodeo,” from the new record, describing it as “a magical bar I made up in my head - a place where you can let loose, be completely yourself and become whoever you want to be. All you need is a pair of cowboy boots and a little imagination.”

Find “Disco Rodeo” and more from Midwestern on iHeartRadio here.

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Jean Marie