Drake Milligan Talks About His Single With Chris Owen and WYRK

If you follow country music history closely, then you likely know about the class of 1989.

That class featured Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Clint Black and Travis Tritt debuting at country radio, which started the '90s country movement; making that traditional-minded country music cool again and what country radio mostly played. Randy Travis and Dwight Yoakam, who both broke through three year prior, also deserve a ton of credit.

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If you love that '90s country sound, with both '80s and early 2000s vibes thrown into the musical makeup, then Drake Milligan is the new country artist you should be listening to.

Milligan finished third on this year's America's Got Talent competition, bringing his sound of traditional-minded country music back to the national spotlight.

Howie Mandel called Drake the "Elvis of country music," and impressed all four judges during his AGT audition, including Simon Cowell.

Milligan wasn't brand new to performing or the music industry, however.

He signed a record deal in 2021 with Stoney Creek Records/Broken Bow Records Music Group and released an EP as well. He also had screen time with CMT and a stint on American Idol, along with performing with his band in Texas and Nashville.

Drake is this week's guest on the "Nine O'clock News."

He talked about his time on America's Got Talent, his brand new album called Dallas/Fort Worth and his debut country radio single, "Sounds Like Something I'd Do."

Milligan said that he and co-writers Brett Beavers and Terry McBride wanted to write a "barnburner," and specifically mentioned the huge Dierks Bentley number one debut hit from 2003, "What Was I Thinkin'," which Milligan described as an amazing debut single.

This album is phenomenal and I don't say that lightly. It was produced by Brandon Hood and the legendary Tony Brown.

"Don't Look Down," which was written by Milligan, John Pierce and Brandon Hood gives off a Roy Orbison vibe, with tones of Dwight Yoakam and The Mavericks, while "She" (also a Milligan, Pierce and Hood write) delivers one of the strongest melodies of the year behind a great story. Milligan described it as reminiscent to a '90s George Strait love ballad.

"Dance of a Lifetime" is another winner, written by Milligan, Hood and Phil O'Donnell, while "Hating Everything She Tries On" (written Milligan, Brent Anderson and Lynn Hutton) sounds like a future radio single to my ears.

Listen to Drake's interview on the "Nine O'clock News" below.