Country music's next generation of female artists is proving that collaboration, not competition, is defining the genre's future.

Carter Faith, Laci Kaye Booth and Baby Nova have joined forces on "Pearl Handled Pistol," a bold new anthem featured on Faith's deluxe album Cherry Valley Forever, available now via Gatsby Records/MCA. Released alongside a cinematic music video directed by Lily Nelson and Chase Denton, the track brings together three of the most compelling rising voices in country for a fearless celebration of confidence, desire and female empowerment.

Written by Faith, Booth, Jessie Jo Dillon and Chris Tompkins, "Pearl Handled Pistol" pairs razor sharp storytelling with rich harmonies and an unapologetic perspective. The song explores what happens when the wrong woman is underestimated, embracing themes of independence and revenge with a modern outlaw spirit.

While the track nods to the legacy of trailblazing female acts like The Chicks and Pistol Annies, Faith, Booth and Nova create a sound that is unmistakably their own. Their chemistry reflects a broader movement across country music, where emerging female artists are increasingly lifting one another up through creative partnerships.

Booth says she immediately knew the song called for another artist who embodied authenticity and confidence.

"When we wrote this song, I knew from the title, it needed to feel like a woman standing in her own skin, drenched in confidence," Booth shares. "Those kind of songs have always given me life through second hand confidence. When thinking about other women in music whose own authenticity and sexiness also inspires and empowers me, Baby Nova was the perfect voice and artistic presence to bring on."

For Nova, the collaboration marked a full circle moment after Faith supported her music from the very beginning of her career.

"I feel so honored to be pulled in on this track with Carter and Laci," Nova says. "These girls are genuinely two of my favorite artists as a music fan, so getting to be part of this was a dream come true for me. Carter was one of the earliest champions of my own project, so having this full circle moment with her on Cherry Valley Forever is beyond special to me."

The collaboration arrives during a landmark moment for Faith. Cherry Valley Forever expands on her acclaimed debut album Cherry Valley with five new tracks, including "Pearl Handled Pistol" and "Nothin' Better To Do" featuring Wyatt Flores. The original album earned Faith a historic ACM Album of the Year nomination, becoming the first debut album to receive a nod in the category since Chris Stapleton's Traveller in 2016, while Rolling Stone named it the No. 1 country album of 2025.

As each artist continues to build momentum in their own right, "Pearl Handled Pistol" stands as more than just another collaboration. It is a statement from a new generation of women who are writing their own rules and proving that country music's future is strongest when its rising stars stand together.

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and chief editor of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.