Carter Faith recently released the official music video for her single Bar Star, featuring Academy Award-winning actor Billy Bob Thornton. This unexpected pairing brought a touch of Hollywood flair to the project, elevating the storytelling and drawing attention to Faith’s rising career in country music.
Faith, a native of North Carolina, had admired Thornton’s screen presence for years and believed he was the ideal figure to embody the character in her song. After co-writing the track with Aaron Raitiere, Tofer Brown, and Tyler Halverson, she envisioned Thornton’s involvement as central to bringing the song’s narrative to life.
The Story Behind ‘Bar Star’ and Its Defiant Celebration of Love
The song’s lyrics unfold from the perspective of a woman smitten with a charming yet wild man known for his late-night escapades and heavy drinking. While many might judge these traits as flaws, the narrator views them as part of a captivating personality and describes her man as a “work of art.” Despite his tendencies, he treats her well, honors his mother, and possesses an irresistible charm.
Faith’s vocal delivery balances innocence with confidence as she defends her partner’s imperfections with clever, heartfelt lyrics:
My baby’s a bar star/ A damn living drinking work of art/ He gets to sipping and he goes too far/ But I don’t mind it, kinda like it when he goes too far/ He’s a happy hour hero/ He’s always getting Keystone/ Bless his liver and his honky-tonk heart/ ‘Cause my baby’s a bar star.
—Carter Faith, Songstress
By framing the story in this way, the song emphasizes embracing a loved one fully, including their rough edges. This theme is central to both the song and the accompanying video.
Visualizing the Song’s Narrative Through a Gritty Bar Atmosphere
Faith’s vision for the music video was realized through Thornton’s compelling performance. The setting—a gritty, lively bar—captures the environment where the honky-tonk man thrives. Faith appears wearing a rhinestone-accented denim outfit and fronts the old-fashioned microphone, delivering the song with sincerity and warmth. Meanwhile, Thornton’s character increasingly flirts with several women in the bar, becoming rowdier as the night progresses.
Faith describes the character at the heart of her song:
‘Bar Star’ is a fun song about a lovable honky-tonk man,
In simple terms, he’s the star of the bar—for better or for worse—but damnit, she loves him.
—Carter Faith, Songstress
A Surprising and Grateful Collaboration with Billy Bob Thornton
Faith was elated when Thornton accepted her invitation to join the music video, a decision she describes as a dream come true. She expressed her gratitude for his participation and the friendship that developed through the process.
I can’t believe I somehow convinced Billy to be in my music video,
He is the ultimate bar star in my opinion, and I’m so grateful to him and for his friendship.
—Carter Faith, Songstress
In addition to the video, Faith honored Thornton with a bonus track titled Billy Bob Thornton (Worktape), inspired by her admiration of him. She explained the motivation for writing this song:
I wrote this song about Billy Bob Thornton because I literally love him. I’ve always thought he was so talented, and I’ve wanted to marry many of the characters he’s played over the years…I just had to write about it, and I hope people like this little glimpse into my one-track mind.
—Carter Faith, Songstress
Anticipating Carter Faith’s Upcoming Album ‘Cherry Valley’
Bar Star is a glimpse into Carter Faith’s eagerly awaited debut album, Cherry Valley, which is scheduled for release on October 3 through MCA Records. The project follows her previous releases, including singles like If I Had Never Lost My Mind…, Grudge, and Sex, Drugs and Country Music, each offering insight into her journey and artistic growth.
This album will come after her 2023 EP, The Aftermath, which featured a duet with Alison Krauss. Cherry Valley chronicles Faith’s path from her hometown to Nashville, exploring themes such as success, romantic relationships, family dynamics, and personal challenges.
Breaking New Ground with Gatsby Records and Industry Leaders
The release of Cherry Valley marks a significant moment for Carter Faith, as she has been announced as the first signee on the newly created Gatsby Records. This label operates under MCA and was founded by esteemed songwriter Jessie Jo Dillon, alongside executives Dave Cobb and Mike Harris.
Dillon explains the label’s mission as a sanctuary for artists who are unafraid to embrace their unique sounds and stories. She stated:
Like Fitzgerald’s Jay Gatsby, I believe in the ‘green light’ – the unwavering hope of a dream coming true. This imprint is a home for artists who aren’t afraid to be themselves, sound different and transform. If it’s raw, if it’s beautiful and if it even scares you a little, then it belongs at Gatsby Records,
Carter Faith isn’t just a rising voice in country music – she is a unique storyteller who blends vulnerability with edge. We share a strong creative synergy and vision and I couldn’t be prouder to work alongside her to bring the world of Cherry Valley to life. I’m so excited for this new venture and deeply grateful to Dave Cobb, Mike Harris and MCA for collaborating with me to bring my lifelong aspiration of Gatsby Records to fruition.
—Jessie Jo Dillon, Founder & President of Gatsby Records
Faith also expressed her appreciation for the collaboration with Dillon and MCA on launching her album:
Cherry Valley is an album that is deeply personal to me and I’m so grateful to be working with Jessie Jo Dillon and MCA to launch this music on Gatsby Records,
Jessie Jo is building this label with heart and with soul – she has a true passion and talent for making sure artists get heard. I’m proud to be working with her and so honored to be the first artist on Gatsby Records.
—Carter Faith, Songstress
Upcoming Tours and Continued Momentum for Carter Faith
With this new chapter unfolding, Carter Faith is building on her recent success. She has just completed touring with Little Big Town and is preparing to support Noah Cyrus during her September shows. In addition, she is slated to perform alongside Marcus King and Kelsea Ballerini during a winter tour, further expanding her presence in country music.
