Old Dominion Embraces Creativity and Intimacy with New Album ‘Barbara’

Old Dominion’s album Barbara blends personal storytelling and quirky artistry, showcasing their unique flair in country music.

A Band That Loves to Get Weird

If you’re a fan of contemporary country music, chances are you’ve heard of Old Dominion. But what truly sets them apart isn’t just their string of nine No. 1 country singles—it’s their unmistakable willingness to get a little weird, a little playful, and a lot personal.

From the jump, Old Dominion’s creative spirit has been clear. Take their 2015 debut album, Meat and Candy: the cover art featured a waitress overseeing a bizarre feast of candy and meat, a surreal and unexpected image in a genre often dominated by traditional, straightforward portraits.

Old Dominion shows off their unique style and personality.

Fast-forward to their sixth studio album, Barbara, released August 22 under Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville, and the band’s penchant for the eccentric shines even brighter. The cover introduces a new character, “Barbara” herself—a sassy, aging beauty parlor queen lounging beneath a hair dryer, decked out in pink, cat-eye sunglasses, costume jewelry, and a cigarette dangling from her fingers.

Barbara: More Than Just Album Art

While most country artists stick to portraits of themselves on album covers, Old Dominion treats the album art as another creative playground. Lead singer and guitarist Matthew Ramsey explains that Barbara is meant to encapsulate the band’s entire body of work and their playful personalities.

“The character ‘Barbara’ that we created, we wanted her to be sophisticated and trashy at the same time. She looks like somebody that you would want to hang with and listen to the stories and the life lessons that she has.” — Matthew Ramsey

Fans have even embraced Barbara’s quirky vibe, showing up to concerts dressed in curlers, faux fur, and sunglasses—fully committing to the character’s vibe.

Keyboardist and guitarist Trevor Rosen adds, “We really love the old school album covers—the Blink-182 and the Cars album covers—and we just try to be a little more artistic with it. Barbara definitely throws back to that spirit and mentality.”

The band’s hands-on involvement extended to casting the actress who embodies Barbara, Shalene, who had to master the art of cigarette holding despite never having smoked before.

Barbara’s quirky glamour perfectly captures Old Dominion’s playful yet sophisticated persona.

A Deeply Personal Album Wrapped in Playfulness

Despite the whimsical cover, Barbara is Old Dominion’s most personal album to date. Recorded in Nashville with producer Shane McAnally, the 13 tracks delve into themes of longing, loss, love gone wrong, and the evolving Nashville music scene.

One standout track is “Miss You Man,” a tribute to the band’s late friend and collaborator Andrew Dorff, who passed away in 2016. The song is filled with raw emotion, opening with vivid imagery:

“Sometimes I swear I smell your cigarette in the backseat of my car / What I wouldn’t give for one more hit behind the Jacksonville Walmart / Tonight I broke when I thought of a joke that only you would get.”

This song has become a powerful anthem for fans mourning loved ones. In an emotional moment on their summer tour, Ramsey performed “Miss You Man” during the encore for a young fan named Jordyn, who had brought a sign covered in photos of her late father.

“Everyone on stage was crying. I couldn’t make it through the song… It was brutal. But that’s what you want, man. To watch it immediately have such an impact on people’s lives, it was very emotional.” — Matthew Ramsey

Old Dominion pouring their emotions into every performance.

Home at the Historic Ryman Auditorium

In February, Old Dominion celebrated their seventh consecutive CMA Group of the Year award with a seven-show residency at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Known as the “Mother Church” of country music, the Ryman is a hallowed space steeped in history.

Spending days at the venue, playing multiple shows, felt like finding home for the band, despite the weight of its storied past.

“When you’re there, you can’t help but be faced with [the history], and accept the fact that you are a part of it... You can see the history, you can feel it, you can smell it, and then you realize, ‘Oh my gosh, we are a part of this, the fabric of this town.’” — Matthew Ramsey

(L-R) Trevor Rosen, Matthew Ramsey, and Geoff Sprung at the 2024 CMA Music Festival in Nashville (Credit: Terry Wyatt/WireImage)

The residency culminated with the album’s outro, “Goodnight Music City,” a bittersweet ode to Nashville that captures both affection and frustration with the city’s rapid transformation.

“We look at it with such reverence, but also a middle finger sometimes. Like any relationship, it doesn’t come without the dirty side of it too.” — Matthew Ramsey

Trevor Rosen reflects on Nashville’s evolving landscape: “Music Row doesn’t look the same as it did anymore... but at the heart of it, it’s still a songwriter town, and there’s still great songs being written here every day.”

From Struggling Songwriters to Chart-Topping Stars

Most band members hail from Virginia but found each other in Nashville after years of trying to break through. Ramsey arrived in 2002, Rosen in 2003, but it wasn’t until 2015 that their debut album Meat and Candy launched their career.

Early on, they crammed into Ramsey’s green minivan—dubbed “the Green Room”—towing a U-Haul with gear through nearby states. Success felt distant, and doubts crept in.

“It all happened right about that breaking point... I remember we were driving to our first No. 1 party as a band—it was when ‘Break Up with Him’ went No. 1. My uncle said, ‘Did you ever imagine this would happen?’ and I said, ‘Yeah, I had to, or I would’ve given up.’” — Matthew Ramsey

With that breakthrough, their trajectory shifted forever.

Old Dominion’s Barbara stands out not only for its vivid, quirky album art but for the heart and soul poured into every song. It’s a bold statement from a band that embraces creativity, nostalgia, and personal truth in equal measure.

FAQs

• What inspired the album cover for Barbara?
  The band wanted a character that embodied both sophistication and silliness, reflecting their playful and artistic spirit.
• Who is “Barbara” in Old Dominion’s album?
  Barbara is a fictional, aging beauty parlor queen created to personify the themes and vibe of the album.
• What makes Barbara Old Dominion’s most personal album?
  The songs explore themes of loss, love, and Nashville’s evolving music scene with heartfelt storytelling.
• How did Old Dominion honor their late friend Andrew Dorff?
  Through the emotional tribute song “Miss You Man,” which resonates deeply with fans mourning loved ones.
• What significance does the Ryman Auditorium have for Old Dominion?
  Playing at the historic venue connected them to country music’s legacy and made them feel part of Nashville’s musical fabric.

If you love Old Dominion’s unique blend of storytelling and artistic flair, why not bring a piece of their world into your home? Shop your favorite album cover posters at our store here and celebrate the spirit of Barbara every day.