The past two years have been a real whirlwind for country artist Katilin Butts. In 2024, she released Roadrunner!, a highly-acclaimed album that served as a modern-day reimaging of the soundtrack to Oklahoma!, one of Kaitlin’s favorite musicals. She also made her Lollapalooza debut; opened for Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, and Flatland Cavalry; and went on her first-ever headline tour around the U.S. So far this year, Kaitlin saw viral success with her single “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me),” which gained over 157M views on TikTok and over 67M global streams. There’s also touring with Lainey Wilson, a feature in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibition, being a part of the 2025 Opry Next Stage Class, and being in the CMT Next Women of Country: Class of 2025. Now, she is making her debut with Republic Records with the release of “The Middle,” which will be featured on her upcoming EP, Yeehaw Sessions.
Accompanied by acoustic guitar, slide, fiddle, and dobro, Kaitlin’s soulful country vocals take center stage on her version of “The Middle.” She earnestly sings the encouraging lyrics of the famous indie rock track while still making it her own. But even if the vibes of the cover are a little different from the original, fans can still sing along to the catchy choruses, as the melodies remain recognizable. Overall, this cover is a beautiful tribute to the original, and a solid introduction to Kaitlin’s Yeehaw Sessions EP.
Telling us more about the inspiration behind the cover, Kaitlin shares,
“It has been such an incredible year! And in the midst of these great things—viral songs, huge tour opportunities—all that positive attention can bring with it some negative moments too. I was feeling particularly down about myself after some of those negative comments online and starting to wonder if maybe they were right. Then, one night at karaoke with friends—because that’s what I, as a professional singer, do to make myself feel better—this girl started singing ‘The Middle,’ a song that I was very familiar with but reading the lyrics on the screen, it was the first time I was able to take in what the song meant, and I started to tear up. I needed to hear those words in that exact moment. It was a reminder to me that I’ve worked my entire life for this dream, and I’ll be damned if I let some keyboard warrior rain on my parade. I hope my version meets someone the way that song met me in that moment.”
About the concept for the music video, Kaitlin explains,
“In Jimmy Eat World’s original music video, a girl shows up to a party, strips her coat at the door, and walks into a party where everyone is in their underwear. In this video, I wanted to pay tribute to that and throw my band in the back of a truck, like we were on our way to that party. I called up Chris Beyrooty to direct, and we headed to Taylor Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch in Weatherford, TX. With the band dressed in their skivvies, we hit record and captured something hilariously beautiful.”
“The Middle” is out now via Republic Records. You can listen to it here.
Kaitlin’s upcoming EP, Yeehaw Sessions, pairs with the happy vibes of Roadrunner!, serving as an antithesis to her Sad Yeehaw Sessions EP from 2022. Along with “The Middle,” the project will include covers of Chappell Roan’s “Red Wine Supernova,” The Chicks’ “Sin Wagon,” and Don Williams’ “Tulsa Time.” Fans will also be treated to a new recording of her viral hit “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me).”
You can pre-save Yeehaw Sessions, out November 14, here.
To celebrate the EP, Kaitlin will headline Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, TX, on the release day. You can get tickets here.
Keep up with Kaitlin Butts: Instagram // X // Facebook // TikTok // YouTube // Linktree // Website
