Little Big Town Debut Fun-Loving ‘Hell Yeah’ at the 2022 CMT Music Awards
Little Big Town gave their brand-new single "Hell Yeah" the live treatment at the 2022 CMT Music Awards on Monday night (Apr. 11). The country quartet introduced fans to the song during the show, right before they plan to send it to country radio.
The band performed atop a large neon-edged cube and in front of a barn backdrop — the same one that graces the cover of the single. And as fans have come to expect from Little Big Town, the harmonies were perfect.
The new single is a chill, backbeat-driven tune about, well, being stuck a rut. Philip Sweet takes the lead on the entire song, using his smooth baritone to carry the wistful vibe. "You've moved on and I'm still here in hell, yeah," the quartet sings.
LBT teased the song last Wednesday (Apr. 6), pointing out that it's the first new song they've released in two years, following "Over Drinking," "The Daughters" and "Wine, Beer, Whiskey." It's also the first new material to follow the band's 2020 Nightfall album cycle, heralding a new chapter of music that — at least, by the sound of "Hell Yeah" — will be a whole lot of fun.
Before they premiered the track, the group's Jimi Westbrook explained that he and band mate Phillip Sweet co-wrote "Hell Yeah" with Corey Crowder and Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard.
“I remember when Corey brought that hook in that day," he details. "He sang his idea and when he turned that phrase at the end of the chorus, we were all like, ‘Hell yeah!’ We always have a blast writing with those guys.”
"This song is a classic breakup song, flipped upside down," Sweet added.
It's a busy night for Little Big Town, as they're also joining Jimmie Allen and R&B legend Monica for a performance of "Pray," their collaboration off of Allen's Bettie James Gold Edition.
The 2022 CMT Awards aired live from Nashville on CBS. Kelsea Ballerini, Anthony Mackie and Kane Brown co-hosted the show. Brown was a last-minute addition to the hosting lineup, as Ballerini had to bow out of attending in person after receiving a positive COVID-19 test. She'll still do her part to host virtually from home.