After a five-year hiatus, the award-winning duo came back stronger in 2018, doing what nobody thought would happen. Sugarland’s “Babe” was released as the second single of the duo’s album, Bigger. Taking it a step further, country-singer-turned-pop-superstar Taylor Swift also appeared on the track as a featured artist.
Not only did it have country fans shaking in their boots – with the song peaking at No. 8 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart – but it was also a hit to pop radio fans. It was a minor crossover success, reaching No. 72 on Billboard Hot 100.
Taylor Swift wrote “Babe” with Patrick Monahan of the rock band Train for her 2012 studio album, Red – her final country album before officially crossing over to pop. However, it never made it to the final track-list and was never recorded.
Fast forward to six years later, Swift – who admits being a big fan of Sugarland – was among the excited ones to hear the good news that the group was getting back together after many years of hiatus. So, she reached out to the duo and offered them the mid tempo country ballad.
Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush never really put a song by anyone else on their records – but they know it was too good to be missed. Even though “Babe” is distinctly upbeat, it absolutely pays attention to the old habits of writing country ballads about heartbreak. The breakup song finds Nettles and Swift blaming a cheating lover for destroying the relationship.
This is one of the few Sugarland songs that Nettles and Blush didn’t co-write. As to who or whatever inspired Swift to write the track – whether it’s about one of her ex-boyfriends – well, Nettles is not telling a single thing.
Make sure to listen to “Babe” by Sugarland in the video below.
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Sugarland, taylor swift