Fans Think Oliver Anthony Is Taking A Shot At Tyler Childers’ “In Your Love” On Unreleased Track “Hank”

Oliver Anthony throwing shade?

Since breaking onto the country music scene with this viral hit “Rich Men North Of Richmond,” the West Virginia native has not been afraid to speak his mind, often intertwining his political views and Christian beliefs into his music. That, however, his nothing new to country music. Many artists, such as Jason Aldean, Kid Rock, and John Rich, openly share their political views, and numerous artists also incorporate their religious beliefs into the lyrics they sing.

However, Anthony often sings about his strong viewpoints and beliefs, while other artists gently touch on them in their songs.

We also see Anthony speak without filter regarding things in his personal life, as he did on his most recent single, “Scornful Woman.” The lyrics detail a painful divorce, and Joe Rogan shared that they reflect the divorce Anthony was experiencing at the time.

“He starts making millions of dollars, playing arenas. The wife divorces him. She wants everything. She wants EVERYTHING. She wants more than half. She wants all the money he’s going to be making in the future because she was with him when he was broke. It’s f***** crazy.

He’s just tortured. He wants to die. Wants to die — and writes this song.”

Music is healing, and these lyrics feel as though Anthony is wiping his hands of this relationship, in the best way possible. The single honestly rips.

Oliver Anthony’s approach to not holding his feelings back and penning what’s on his mind is no different, as evidenced by a new song he recently previewed for a show. The tune titled “Hank” talks about pursuing a slow way of life in a day where we are filled with modern living. While Anthony admits that he hates the current state of the world, he’s trying to live like his grandfather and create music like the outlaws before him, such as Hank Williams Jr. and Waylon Jennings.

But in the opening lines of the song, it appears as though Anthony is taking a shot at a fellow red-headed country singer:

“Songs about trotting lines 
And coal mines
And chewing on a hickory twig
In this world that I despise
I’m just trying to live life 
The same way that my grandad did
And my songs might be missing
Two ole boys kissin’
But they ain’t gonna 
Miss that soul
Of a young man livin’ 
In a world that’s forgettin’ all the things
That the good Lord told…”

If you’re not picking up what we are putting down by reading the lyrics, with Anthony’s line, “And my songs might be missing / Two ole boys kissin’,” it feels like he is pointing a finger at Tyler Childers‘ music video for “In Your Love.”

In 2023, ahead of dropping Rustin’ In The Rain, Childers shared a very polarizing video for the lead single “In Your Love.” The song itself is a beautiful love ballad that depicts the story of two people wanting to be together, despite their challenges:

“…will wait for you
Til the sun turns into ashes
And bows down to the moon
I will wait for you.”

However, the music video showed an untraditional love story. The video tells the story of two coal miners who are secretly in love during the 1950s.

After hiding their forbidden love, the couple decides to no longer hide and build their dream life on a farm. However, the effects of working in the coal mines have taken its toll on one of the men’s lungs, leading him to fall ill. As the illness takes hold, the man passes away, making the visuals come full circle, revealing that the music video is a flashback from an older man in the first scenes. The entire visual is a flashback of the older man reminiscing about the love he once had.

But given that country music (for the most part) has a right-leaning fanbase, the visual of gay coal miners really ruffled some feathers, leaving many fans to comment hate on the video and began much of the conversation that Tyler Childers is too woke.

“‘Go woke, go broke’ is this year’s slogan.”

“Cue all the white women calling Tyler a hero for his new video.”

“Didn’t know you were gay, bud.”

“Good lord. What in the world with this new video.

“I can’t with this horse s***.”

On the other hand, many other fans found beauty in the creative expression and loved that Tyler Childers was breaking down conservative barriers with this video:

“Tyler makes music that will tug at your heart, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.”

“I like that Tyler has an iconic style without being stuck in a singular sound.”

“Man, I did not expect to be ugly crying this am, but here we are. What a beautiful song and video.”

“In true Childers fashion, this is equally devastating and healing for my heart and soul. Art in its truest form. Kudos to everyone involved.”

Of course, conversations about Tyler Childers changing his viewpoints, no longer singing “Feathered Indians,” and creating music that highlights different sounds and cultures, such as “Tirtha Yatra,” still irk people to this day, with the recent release of Snipe Hunter. However, the way I see it is that Childers is an educated, cultured man who has spent a considerable amount of time reflecting on his viewpoints since getting sober and has undergone a shift in perspective. And that’s OKAY.

You are not the same person you were a decade ago, so why do people get so upset thinking that Childers should stand still in time as a human? And despite all the talk, it’s clear y’all are not that upset with his new sound of music, given that Snipe Hunter debuted in the 7th position on the Billboard All-Genre Chart.

I digress…

Because of this line in Anthony’s song, many fans were quick to clock the shade thrown Tyler Childers’ way:

“Oliver is what we was hoping Tyler Childers was gonna be.”

“I think he just dissed Tyler Childers.”

“Love the Childers jab in there.”

“Tyler, take notes, don’t change the music that made you!”

“My song might be missing 2 boys kissing Read More