For Immediate Release:
JANUARY 16, 2026
MCA and Freddy Wexler Sign Breakout Country Artist Madden Metcalf
Rising Star from Florida’s Gulf Coast Releases New Single “Like My Hometown”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – MCA and GRAMMY-nominated songwriter/producer Freddy Wexler have officially signed Madden Metcalf, one of country music’s most exciting new voices. The signing coincides with the release of Metcalf’s new single, “Like My Hometown,” out now.
The move follows a period of focused development led by Wexler, whose cross-genre work has helped shape Madden’s artistic direction and sharpen his identity as a songwriter and performer. Together, they’ve built a clear creative vision centered on authenticity, storytelling and long-term growth – one that now finds its home at MCA.
“Madden has all the things you can’t teach—great instincts, authenticity, charisma, star power,” Wexler shares. “He’s also someone with an infectious sense of gratitude. It makes you want to move a mountain for him. I’m incredibly excited to work with MCA as we help Madden build something real and lasting.”
At just 20 years old, Madden brings a distinctive perspective shaped by his upbringing in Panacea, Florida – a fishing town with fewer than a thousand residents, where his family has lived for four generations. Raised between early mornings on the crab boat and late nights working at a local restaurant, his songs reflect a lived-in sense of place, family, and small-town grit that feels both timeless and current.
“I still can’t believe that a Gulf Coast kid from a small fishing town of about a thousand people gets an opportunity like this,” Madden says. “I’m just incredibly thankful to God, to my family, to my team, and to everyone who’s been with me from the start.”
“Like My Hometown” serves as a defining statement for Madden’s next phase – a love song that uses the language of home to describe knowing someone completely. The release offers an early glimpse into his upcoming EP, Saltwater Southern, due spring 2026, which blends modern country hooks with deeply personal storytelling drawn from his Gulf Coast upbringing.
“Madden has a clear voice and uncommon level of conviction for someone so early in his career,” says Mike Harris, President & CEO of MCA. “His music reflects real life, real place, and real identity — and that’s the foundation of what makes an artist stand out. We’re proud to be his label home and help amplify what he’s building.”
The new single follows Madden’s debut release “IDWK,” which introduced listeners to his emotionally grounded songwriting style. Together, the songs establish a foundation for a career focused on substance, identity and longevity.
With new music rolling out throughout 2026, Madden Metcalf’s signing to MCA signals the arrival of a compelling new voice – one shaped by where he comes from and guided by a clear creative vision for what comes next.
Tags: Madden Metcalf, Like My Hometown, MCA Nashville, Freddy Wexler, country music, Saltwater Southern, new single, rising star, Florida artist, songwriting, debut EP
