Country artist Kassi Ashton has released her deeply personal breakup song “The Straw,” a track she wrote seven years ago. The song captures the emotional journey of a woman struggling to maintain a deteriorating relationship, ultimately deciding to end it after reaching her breaking point.
In the chorus, Kassi sings, “My back aches, my bones break / I was the only one willing to change / Who cares what made it heavy anyway / The straw,” reflecting the burden of trying to keep the relationship alive.
Kassi shared the backstory of “The Straw” in a press statement, revealing that it’s the oldest song on her upcoming debut album. “I was at a writing camp, fresh from a breakup, and while talking to Lori [McKenna] about it, I mentioned, ‘Well, the straw that broke my back was…’ She immediately said she’d always wanted to write that. I just looked at her and started crying,” Kassi recalled. She co-wrote the song on a baby grand piano with McKenna and Luke Laird.
Kassi also took to Instagram to explain why she held onto the song for so long. “I knew it would be a cornerstone of my debut album, even though I didn’t know it would take seven and a half years to release. I don’t regret a single day of waiting,” she wrote. “My palm is open now, tears of pain exchanged for tears of joy. I hope this song finds you wherever you need it.”
“The Straw” is part of Kassi’s upcoming debut album, Made From The Dirt, set to be released on September 20. The album will feature 10 tracks, including “Called Crazy,” which has already made its way into the top 40 of the country charts.
