"Martha Divine" is a song recorded by American country singer–songwriter

Ashley McBryde Ashley McBryde (born July 29, 1983) is an American country music singer–songwriter. Raised in Arkansas, she was drawn to various types of music from a young age. She also developed a passion for writing songs and later moved to Nashville, Tennes ...

. The song was released as a

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

in October 2020, becoming the second release spawned from her second studio album '' Never Will''. McBryde wrote the song with Jeremy Spillman. The song received positive reviews from critics following its release.

Background and recording

"Martha Divine" was co-written by Ashley McBryde and Jeremy Spillman. The song's central concept is centered around a daughter who is angry that her mother is being cheated on. McBryde told Spillman that she wanted a song similar in theme to that of Dolly Parton's " Jolene". "Instead of singing ‘Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, please don’t take my man.’ What if we said, ‘Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, I’m coming after you with a shovel.'," she told CMT. McBryde originally recorded the demo version of the song with a "circus-y" sound. However, once in the studio, producer Jay Joyce brought in a lead guitar and had drums included. "This is going to be a song that hopefully, someday, when you are playing it live, two measures of that drum introduction and people will start cheering," Joyce told her.

Critical reception

"Martha Divine" has received positive reception since its release. Billy Dukes of '' Taste of Country'' commented that "Ashley McBryde carries on the great country tradition of giving bad men what they deserve in her new song "Martha Divine." Only in this case, he gets to live knowing his loose trousers led to a wanton woman's demise." '' Rolling Stones Stephen L. Betts described it as a "dark revenge tune". Stephen Thompson of '' NPR'' commented that "What 'Martha Divine' lacks in healthy boundaries, appropriately placed anger or clarity about the proper legal definition of "murder," however, it more than makes up for in raucous, hooky, fist-pumping catharsis."

Release and music video

"Martha Divine" first appeared as an album track on McBryde's second studio album titled '' Never Will''. On October 19, 2020, it was released as a

to country radio via Warner Music Nashville. The song followed her top 20 country single "

One Night Standards "One Night Standards" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Ashley McBryde. The song was released on September 23, 2019, and served as the lead-off single to her second studio album, ''Never Will'', released via Warne ...

". The song spent two weeks on the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

Country Airplay Country Airplay is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States since January 20, 1990. This chart lists the 60 most-listened-to records played on 150 mainstream country radio stations across the country as monitored ...

chart, peaking at number 59 in April 2021. A music video was released prior to the single itself. The video was directed by Reid Long.

Track listing

Digital single * "Martha Divine" – 3:50

Charts

References

{{Ashley McBryde 2020 singles 2020 songs Ashley McBryde songs Songs written by Ashley McBryde Warner Records singles Murder ballads