Why Ashley Cooke's 'Revenge' Against Her Ex Paid Off Big Time

Ashley Cooke’s “revenge song” about her ex-boyfriend launched her to an unchartered milestone in her career.

Cooke’s “your place” calls out a boundary-crossing ex after the relationship has come to an end. The Top 15 single climbing at country radio appears on the singer-songwriter’s 24-track debut album, shot in the dark, which arrived last year. She marked that occasion with an exclusive iHeartCountry Album Preview Party hosted by iHeartRadio's Brooke Taylor in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee. On Sunday (April 7), Cooke took the stage at Moody Center in Austin, Texas, where she won the first-ever award of her career as a recording artist.

“This is my vert first CMT Award, and award in general,” Cooke gushed in front of the cheering crowd as she held up her trophy at the 2024 CMT Music Awards. She earned it in the Breakthrough Female Video of the Year category for “your place,” and caught up with iHeartCountry on the red carpet beforehand.

“To me, the song is just so — it’s so much about understanding and regaining your power in a relationship sense and knowing your worth,” Cooke said. “I think it’s a really important message to have, and also kind of like an ‘F you’ song to my ex, so it kind of is Inspirational and also a very good revenge song. So, I’m very happy people are loving it.”

Cooke walked the red carpet in a mermaid-“vibe” gown, accessorized with “all of my grandma and my mom’s jewelry tonight…to have a piece of home and family with me.” She reflected on the moment her manager called to tell her that she’d been nominated in the Breakthrough Female Video of the Year, alongside other “really dope girls,” Cooke said, referring to Anne Wilson, Brittney Spencer and Tigirlily Gold. She admitted she was “really not expecting” a victory, but “it’s very exciting” to be nominated.

Lainey Wilson surprised the 26-year-old, Florida-born artist months ago before a show. They were performing at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville Tennessee, when Wilson handed Cooke an envelope with a slip of paper posing the question: What does Ashley Cooke have in common with Carly Pearce, Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson? Cooke is the iHeartCountry On The Verge Artist, Wilson revealed at the time.it was a moment she remembered as “one of the biggest turning points in my life, period.”

Cooke remembered that moment while speaking with iHeartCountry before accepting her inaugural award. She said it’s “really is cool to know that I’m among so many amazing (artists, and I’m) honored that iHeart chose me for it.”

Through late 2024, Cooke is joining “Next Thing You Know” hitmaker Jordan Davis on his headlining “Damn Good Time World Tour,” along with Mitchell Tenpenny. the next show is set for Thursday (April 11) in Moline, Illinois. Find the list of dates here.