Bailey Zimmerman Hopes His New Single Will Help Listeners ‘Keep Going’ During Tough Times

Bailey Zimmerman performs onstage during the 2024 CMA Music festival in Nashville, Tenn., on June 9, 2024. Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Bailey Zimmerman has unveiled his latest single, “Holding On,” an empowering country ballad the singer hopes will inspire listeners to persevere during tough times.

“‘Holding On’ is out RIGHT NOW,” the 24-year-old shared via Instagram on Oct. 18.

“Everyone is battling something in their life and I know that there are so many of y’all out there struggling to get by daily,” he continued.

“I truly hope that this song reminds you to keep going when you wanna give up… DONT QUIT!! Tomorrow could change your life.”

A portion of the song’s lyrics go: “Will you be strong, and keep holding on? If this was your last breath, would you waste it on me? Stick around when I’m in the dark; be the angel that comes down and picks up my heart when it’s all wrong. Can we be strong and keep holding on?”

Leading up to the release, Zimmerman posted on Instagram that he’s “never been more excited” for his fans to listen to one of his tracks.

“We worked so hard to get this perfect and I truly believe that it’s going to help so many of y’all get through what you’re having to go through,” he shared on Wednesday. “YOU’RE NOT ALONE.”

Rise to Fame

The Illinois native, who moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 2021, is a newcomer to the country music scene. He initially found fame online, sharing videos of himself singing songs on social media.

In December 2020, he posted a video on TikTok singing a song he co-wrote with his friend, Gavin Lucas. The tune, titled “Never Comin' Home,” immediately went viral, leading Zimmerman to officially release it as his debut single the following year.

After garnering a deal with sister labels Warner Music Nashville and Elektra Records, the singer went on to release his first extended play album, “Leave the Light On,” in October 2022.

In May 2023, Zimmerman put out his first studio album, “Religiously. The Album,” which included two tracks from his EP that hit the top spot of the Billboard Country Airplay chart: “Fall in Love” and “Rock and A Hard Place.”

The singer was nominated for “New Male Artist of the Year” at the 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards. That same year, he garnered multiple nods at the iHeart Radio Music Awards, including nominations for “Best New Country Artist” and the “Social Star Award.”

Last month, the Country Music Association announced that Zimmerman had been nominated for best “New Artist of the Year” at the upcoming 58th Annual CMA Awards, slated for Nov. 20.

“LIFE IS A DREAM… WE GOT NOMINATED FOR A @cma AWARD BABY,” Zimmerman shared via Instagram on Sept. 9.

The singer said he was “honored to be a part” of the category, which also includes country singers Megan Moroney, Shaboozey, Nate Smith, Mitchell Tenpenny, and Zach Top.

Using Music to Heal

In an interview with People, published on Friday, the country crooner said the CMA Award nomination left him “speechless.”

“I was so scared coming into Nashville because I had just started singing, and I know how hard people work and how long people work to get where I’ve gotten to be at,” he explained.

“To have country music wrap its arm around me. ... Whether I win or not, whatever, but to just be there and be recognized, get to hang out with guys that I have looked up to my whole life, listened to my whole life, you can’t get better than that,” Zimmerman continued.

Touching on the healing nature of music, the singer said his songs have helped him to navigate unresolved feelings from his past.

“At 18, I was carrying all this weight and all this stuff, and now it feels like I wake up every day, and I get it all off my chest in my songs,” he told the publication.

“I feel like that’s what it does for other people too, is it gets the weight off for a little bit when you can scream those words that you’ve been feeling.”