Cowboys Wear Stetsons

“Cowboys Wear Stetsons” is Duncan Daniels’ bold embrace of traditional country music—rooted in the genre’s golden-era sounds, yet layered with modern truth. At first listen, it plays like a timeless classic: pedal steel, honest lyrics, and a warm Southern drawl. But look deeper, and you’ll find a subversive anthem that quietly challenges the assumptions of what—and who—country music is for.

Produced by Justine Blazer and recorded at Pentavarit Studios in Nashville, the track assembles a hall-of-fame lineup of Nashville’s finest. Smith Curry, whose pedal steel has graced legendary records from Willie Nelson, Taylor Swift, Maren Morris, Dolly Parton, Pharrell Williams, Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, and Shaboozey’s viral hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” delivers the kind of soul-stirring textures that define the genre’s most unforgettable moments.

Backing Curry is a powerhouse band: Evan Hutchings (drums), Mike Rinne (bass), Devin Malone (acoustic guitar), Justin Ostrander (electric guitar), and Billy Justineau (keys)—each adding layers of depth and authenticity.

The song was co-written by Ron Pope, Darbi Shaun Lacagnina, and Zach Berkman, with Pope also contributing as co-producer and vocal coach. Known for his platinum-selling work and emotionally resonant songwriting, Pope’s influence is woven through the lyrical honesty and heartfelt delivery.

Mixing duties were shared between Justine Blazer and Duncan’s long-time collaborator Alex Solano, who together crafted a lush sonic experience in both Stereo and Dolby Atmos. The stereo version was mastered by Blazer, while the Dolby Atmos master was entrusted to none other than Brad Blackwood, the multiple GRAMMY Award-winning mastering engineer behind countless chart-topping records.

Originally inspired by the racially charged backlash to a Facebook ad featuring a Black cowboy in a Stetson, “Cowboys Wear Stetsons” offers a quietly revolutionary message: being country isn’t about the color of your skin or the coordinates on a map. It’s about what’s in your heart. It’s about dignity, grit, and spirit.

Duncan Daniels delivers the message with quiet strength and pride—his performance honoring both the legacy of country music and the expanding future it’s walking into.

This isn’t just a song. It’s a reclamation. A reminder. A redefinition. And it may just change the way you look at a cowboy hat—forever.