At this point in her young career, Ashley Monroe is perhaps best known as one-third of the critically-acclaimed trio Pistol Annies (with Miranda Lambert and Angaleena Presley), but the east Tennessee native has also collaborated with a wide array of singers, songwriters and musicians, including Jack White, Ronnie Dunn and the band Train. Still, all of those impressive accomplishments nearly pale in comparison to what she's managed to do with her latest album, Like a Rose, a remarkable collection destined to be counted among the year's best.

Ashley's sweet, soulful and unmistakably pure country voice calls to mind such singers as Lee Ann Womack and Alison Krauss, and her writing has the depth, humor and sense of place of Dolly Parton's best work, which makes one wonder just what there is in that east Tennessee water. Yet, one of the most memorable songs on Like a Rose has another much more potent potable at its core. "Morning After" addresses more than just an hangover, though. It's a song about how one wrong move can change one's life for good. As the lyrics say, "nothing hits, nothing hurts, like a morning after." As the singer-songwriter explains, however, the first time you experience that "morning after," thanks to over-imbibing in alcohol, it makes for a memorable, although not exactly enjoyable experience. Listen to the world premiere of "Morning After," exclusively on The Boot, below.

Listen to 'Morning After'


"I'm so grateful for that song," Ashley tells The Boot. "It slays me. Everybody can relate to it one way or another. I have an older brother. He's five years older. The first time I went to a party with him, I'm from east Tennessee, so it was back in the woods. Of course, I was like, I'll drink some Smirnoff Ice and Zima, your starter drinks. I took a couple of sips of those and somebody came up and said, 'Here, eat this moonshine peach.' I was like, 'OK.' Oh my gosh! And then I think somebody handed me some Mad Dog 20/20. Then I went home and slept in my waterbed. [laughs] That was rough. That was just rough all the way around. I remember waking up thinking, 'What do I do? And what have I done?'"

"Morning After" was co-written with Lori McKenna and Liz Rose. Like a Rose was produced by Vince Gill and Justin Niebank and will be released Tuesday (March 5) on Warner Music Nashville.

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