Cade Foehner, ‘Southern Hallelujah’ [Exclusive Premiere]

Former American Idol contestant Cade Foehner is premiering his new single "Southern Hallelujah" with The Boot. Press play below to hear the Southern rock-influenced track.

Foehner co-wrote "Southern Hallelujah" with fellow singer-songwriter David Tolliver, one-half of the country duo Halfway to Hazard. He was on the road for an Idol-related tour and, he tells The Boot, "needed something to bring me home because I could not physically be there."

"This song is for all those who grew up in the Bible Belt, and for those elsewhere to see the unique way we all got to grow up," Foehner shares. "This song is an expression of who I am and where my heart is in a Southern rock 'n' roll way."

Heavy guitars, a steady drum beat and a gospel chorus drive "Southern Hallelujah." In the chorus, Foehner pleads, "Won't you take me back to where I was born / In the waist-deep water in the Texas sun?"

"It's where I drowned my doubt and drowned my sin," he sings. "In a Southern hallelujah, I was born again."

American Idol fans will remember Foehner, a Texas native, from Season 16 of the TV show, its first on ABC. He made it into the singing competition's Top 5 before being voted off -- but, he gained a fiancee out of the experience! Foehner and fellow Idol contestant Gabby Barrett recently got engaged.

Listeners can keep up with Foehner at CadeFoehnerMusic.com.

Listen to Cade Foehner's "Southern Hallelujah"

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