If you’re not familiar with Trey Pendley yet, let this be an introduction. Like most small town kids growing up in the ’90s and early 2000s, Pendley – who hails from Toad Suck, Arkansas with a population of 300 – grew up listening to a whole lot of music. Inspired by artists ranging from George Jones to Ozzy Osbourne, he taught himself to play guitar and write songs, and I guess you could say the rest is history. Ultimately moving to Nashville to pursue his dreams in country music, Pendley now resides in the Music City with his wife and three children all these years later, and in addition to having had a song of his cut by Luke Combs, he has experienced considerable success as a solo artist along the way. And his most impressive work yet is set to drop soon. Releasing via Leo33 – the same indie label that boasts Zach Top, Clay Street Unit, Jason Scott & the High Heat and more on their roster – Pendley’s forthcoming EP Podunk marks his first project ever, and features six original tunes that act as a love letter of sorts to his small town upbringing. Although the full project isn’t dropping until tomorrow, Whiskey Riff is excited to give country music fans an early listen of “Like A River,” which may just be the strongest track on the EP. Written as a love song to his wife Lexi – a fellow songwriter whom he met on a writer’s retreat – “Like A River” is a deftly-penned metaphor for love, and one that fans everywhere are sure to appreciate. Speaking to Whiskey Riff, Pendley elaborated a bit on the new song: “I wrote ‘Like A River’ thinking about how love can feel like surrender. You can fight the current, or you can let it carry you. When you find somebody who accepts you as you are, broken parts and all, it makes you want to stop looking back and start imagining a future, and that’s exactly how it happened when I met my wife, Lexi.” With that context in mind, check out Trey Pendley’s track “Like A River” before it drops with his Podunk EP tomorrow. “When you held me in your arms My rough edges get smooth Put the light back in your eyes You’ve never seen a brighter blue You say I rolled in right on time If you look too hard, it gets hard to find” Featuring six tracks – including “Drunk As Any Rich Man” which was quick to gain traction upon its release last summer – Podunk is a perfect representation of Pendley’s personality and songwriting prowess. Traversing between lighthearted, cleverly penned tracks and soulfully heartfelt ballads, Pendley’s ability to capture the feeling of small town America through the lens of his own experiences is noteworthy, and most importantly, he does so in a way that avoids cliches and beams with originality. Podunk Tracklist: “Drunk As Any Rich Man” “Podunk” “Like A River” “As Good As It Gets” “The Dog” “TV Tray” Aside from a rogue show supporting legendary southern rockers Blackberry Smoke in Myrtle Beach this spring, there aren’t many opportunities to hear these songs live on the calendar at the moment… But hey, maybe this is your excuse to head out to Alaska this summer? Trey Pendley Tour Dates: 4/26 – House of Blues – North Myrtle Beach, SC* 7/15 – The Backyard Country BBQ – Anchorage, AK+ 7/16- The Backyard Country BBQ – Anchorage, AK+ 9/10-9/13 – Nashville Nights 2026 – Odense, Denmark^ *supporting Blackberry Smoke +supporting The Band Perry w/ Kendall Marvel & Ken Peltier ^festival dateThe post Be The First To Hear Trey Pendley’s New Heartfelt Love Song “Like A River” Ahead Of His EP Release first appeared on Whiskey Riff.