When I learned that country riser Austin Snell had nearly half a billion streams in his short career, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It turns out he is one of the most fearless songwriters I have ever encountered, which makes him super relatable to his diverse fanbase.
Snell was born and raised in Dublin, Georgia, about 45 miles south of Macon. While no one in the household was a performer, there was always music going on in his house. Snell listened to a variety of artists, from Nickelback and Three Doors Down to Alan Jackson and Keith Whitley.
He recalled always being super infatuated with certain parts of songs, lyrics, or guitar riffs, and when he showed a friend, they often wouldn’t care.
But he grew up with a troubled home life, and the pain he endured and witnessed often became a catalyst for some of the songs he would eventually write.
When Snell graduated from high school in 2016, he joined the Air Force mainly to get out of his hometown. He stated, “While I was a big fan of music, I never planned to do it as a career.”
After basic training, Snell was sent to Charleston, South Carolina, for follow-up training, which meant working on airplanes. His day started at 5 AM and ended by 3 or 4 PM, leaving him with lots of free time. He bought a guitar and started playing covers to pass the time.
He graduated from learning covers to writing songs, and then to posting the songs that he was writing via social media. That built him a following of sorts.
By the time he finished his four years in the Air Force in 2020, he was very invested in songwriting. Snell returned to Dublin and worked construction for a bit. But in 2022, he moved to Nashville.
“I was here for about six months before I wrote the song that would change my trajectory,” he explained.
The song “Excuse The Mess” was more rock than country and speaks of fighting his demons since his girl left him. In 2022, the song went viral on TikTok and got the attention of a lot of people. By March of 2023, Snell was signed to River House Artists and named as a SiriusXM Highway Find and the network’s first-ever Artist Accelerator Program selection.
In 2024, he released “Pray All the Way Home” and “Wasting All These Tears,” which became even bigger hits for the singer/songwriter. Besides his rough upbringing, he has had his heart broken a few times.
“It’s something you really can’t avoid, a relationship not working out,” he stated. However, he goes deep into the subject with no holds barred. He lays his feelings out there for all to witness.
Snell released his full-length debut, Still Bleeding, in 2024, and in 2025, he put out his Home Sweet Hell EP, a set of songs filled with inner conflict, breakdowns, and redemption. The title track, “Home Sweet Hell,” was an honest look at his home life.
He explained, “I had to watch my dad not be the healthiest husband to my mom. I think that’s where a lot of the songwriting comes from. I was watching them argue and watching my mom cry. At nine years old, that leaves a big impact.”
The song and the video are especially heart-wrenching and will have a lasting impact on anyone who engages with them.
Now, in 2026, Snell is at a different place in his life. He has released an emotional, seven-song collection that cracks open the kaleidoscope of his artistry. Colors illustrates a raw, understated side of Snell and provides a glimpse of what’s to come for this burgeoning singer/songwriter.
Entirely co-written by Snell with heavy hitters like Tucker Beathard, Laura Veltz, Jimmy Robbins, Dallas Wilson, Jake Mitchell, and more, each track touches bruised territory as Snell navigates his most vulnerable, unguarded project yet.
The EP begins with a continuation of his unstable upbringing with the song “Daddy’s Eyes.” The truthful song discloses that while he may act and look like his dad in many ways, he doesn’t see the world the same way his father did. The heavy words assert I don’t see the world the way he did/ Don’t look to put me first/ Couldn’t see that girl watch that kid go through so much hurt/ There’s a list of things ain’t hard to trace the apple back to the tree/ But the man I saw in him sure ain’t the man I see in me.
He continues the theme of reeling from the girl who walked out on him with “Everything But Okay” and “My Favorite Scar.” With the words “Two kids trying on each other/ Didn’t mean anything/ But I remember everything Snell shows a vulnerability not often displayed by men.
“I try to be realistic, and say the things people aren’t saying,” he shared. “That’s the part of country music I love the most.”
The song “Circles” was released earlier this year and is about someone you should quit seeing, but can’t seem to manage it. And now that he has a girl in his life who matters, he offers her the chance to “Have It All.” The song sweetly says, “I don’t have much, but you can have what’s left.”
The final song that was released ahead of the EP was “You Being You.” Snell weaves his teasing, tongue-in-cheek lyrics into the charming song. Baby, I’ll wait in line with every guy in the room/ To buy you a drink/ And look like a fool/ Baby, don’t be surprised/ You should try being me/ With you being you.
After all the trauma that Snell has endured, the Air Force veteran now thinks he has found “the one.” The title track “Colors” is inspired by that. “Songs like that always are super exciting to write, but they’re also so scary because I don’t want to mess it up for anyone. My lady (now fiancée) struggles sometimes, like a lot of us do, with mental health, having a similar upbringing to mine. I wrote the song for her, and it’s our song. Part of the heartfelt lyrics include, “I don’t mind the black and blue, I want every shade of you.”
While Snell will be playing several festivals this summer, he is most excited to play the Opry again, this time on the release day of his Colors EP.
What impresses me most about Austin Snell is his fearless songwriting. He is unafraid to confront his past head-on while cautiously and hopefully approaching his future. He is a songwriter first, using his lyrics as therapy to help him make sense of his former adverse circumstances. And what helps heal him also helps heal others. That’s why his fans love him.
Weaving country, rock, and hip-hop influences into an addictive catalog of his own originals, the emerging veteran songwriter continues to write relatable hits that any record label or publishing company would be thrilled to claim on their roster.
You can follow Austin Snell on his website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and all streaming services.
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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and TikTok.
Colors EP Tracklist
- Daddy’s Eyes (Austin Snell, Dallas Wilson, Tucker Beathard)*
- Everything But Okay (Austin Snell, Jaxson Free, Logan Maggio)*
- Circles (Austin Snell, Andrew Baylis, Austin Nivarel, Michael Whitworth)^
- My Favorite Scar (Austin Snell, Laura Veltz, Jimmy Robbins)*
- You Being You (Austin Snell, Conor Matthew, James Maddocks)*
- Have It All(Austin Snell, Larry Fleet, Jake Mitchell)*
- Colors (Austin Snell, Lalo Guzman, Johnny Clawson)*
* produced by Logan Maggio
^ produced by Andrew Baylis
Bethany Writes 
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