Crys Matthews Unleashes Powerful New Single «Forged In Fire» as Political Turmoil Fuels Her Rise

Award‑winning Nashville artist Crys Matthews releases her powerful new single «Forged In Fire», a bold anthem born from political unrest and social justice struggles. Backed by powerhouse vocalists and a new deal with TRO Essex Music Group, Matthews cements her place as one of America’s leading protest‑music voices.

Crys Matthews, the Nashville firebrand redefining modern protest music, has unleashed a blistering new single that’s already sending shockwaves through America’s cultural and political landscape. The award‑winning singer‑songwriter, long hailed as one of the most fearless voices in contemporary folk and Americana, steps into her boldest era yet with «Forged In Fire»,  a track born from political chaos, civic unrest, and a nation on edge.

Matthews, known for blending Country, Folk, Blues, Americana and Bluegrass into a sound as rich as it is uncompromising, says the song was sparked «just a few short months into a precarious interpretation of American democracy courtesy of the second Trump administration». The week she wrote it was a storm of headlines: a federal judge blocking a birthright citizenship ban, protesters clashing with federal agents in California, journalists facing detention, and sweeping crackdowns on vulnerable communities. Nearly a year later, she says the song feels like a rallying cry echoing the Civil Rights era,  a reminder that history repeats itself, and resistance must rise with it.

Her preacher’s‑kid roots roar to life in the recording, with powerhouse vocalists Kyshona, Kiley Phillips, Nickie Conley, Wil Merrell and Jason Eskridge delivering a full‑throttle gospel surge behind her. Matthews’s message is clear: hopelessness is not an option. Produced by Seth Glier, the track is already being hailed as one of her most urgent and electrifying releases.

And the industry has noticed. Matthews has just signed an exclusive publishing and recording deal with TRO Essex Music Group, the legendary home of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Pete Townshend, Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath — along with its label arm, Shamus Records. It’s a major leap for an artist whose rise has been nothing short of meteoric.

Her accolades speak for themselves. Matthews is the 2025 and 2022 International Folk Music Awards Song of the Year winner — the first artist ever to win the honour twice and was crowned 2024 Artist of the Year. But for her, the mission goes far beyond trophies. She says her purpose is to amplify the unheard, illuminate the unseen, and remind the world that hope and love remain the most powerful tools in the fight for justice.

With «Forged In Fire», Crys Matthews isn’t just releasing a song. She’s issuing a warning, a prayer, and a battle cry and cementing her place as one of the most vital truth‑tellers of her generation.