"Act Like You Don't" is a song written and recorded by American
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
singer
Brooke Eden
Brooke Eden Helvie (born December 30, 1988), known professionally as Brooke Eden, is an American country music singer and songwriter. Eden auditioned for both the seventh and tenth seasons of ''American Idol'', making it to Hollywood week on t ...
for her second extended play, ''Welcome to the Weekend'' (2016). Inspired by a real-life breakup, Eden co-wrote the
country pop
Country pop (also known as pop country or urban cowboy) is a fusion genre of country music and pop music that was developed by members of the country genre out of a desire to reach a larger, mainstream audience. Country pop music blends genres ...
ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...
with
Cary Barlowe
Cary Barlowe (born 1982) is an American country music songwriter, and a former member of the rock band Luna Halo.
Born in Virginia and raised in North Carolina, Barlowe originally performed with his older brother Nathan in the rock group Luna ...
and
Jesse Frasure
Jesse Vernon Frasure (born September 18, 1981), also known as DJ Telemitry, is an American music publisher, record producer, songwriter, and DJ.
Biography
A Detroit native, Frasure (DJ Telemitry), now lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wif ...
.
It was released to American country radio via
Red Bow Records on February 13, 2017 as the EP's second single.
Composition
"Act Like You Don't" is a
country pop
Country pop (also known as pop country or urban cowboy) is a fusion genre of country music and pop music that was developed by members of the country genre out of a desire to reach a larger, mainstream audience. Country pop music blends genres ...
ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...
about the struggle of moving on from a relationship that ended amicably.
The song's lyrics find Eden "pleading for space" from an