Dasha’s viral hit “Austin” has taken the music world by storm, and the singer herself acknowledges how profoundly the song has transformed her life. Fresh off her performance at CMA Fest 2024, Dasha shared her experiences and the impact of “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’)” with “Good Morning America.”
Reflecting on her first stadium show, Dasha described the surreal experience of seeing the massive crowd. “I could see everybody up there,” she said. “And I’m like, ‘Wow … this is insane.’ And I just had fun with it — it’s all you can do. I had such a good time.”
Dasha’s performance on the Chevy Vibes Stage during CMA Fest 2024 in Nashville was a significant milestone. The song “Austin,” released in November, quickly became a sensation on TikTok, with users creating line-dancing videos to its catchy beat. Despite its upbeat melody, Dasha revealed that the song was born from a place of heartbreak.
“I wrote the song and I was really going through it,” she explained. “I was really heartbroken when I wrote this song.” In May, she released a stripped-down version of “Austin” to highlight the song’s emotional depth. “The more I sing it and the more I do it in a different light other than just with the whole band, I’m like, ‘Wow, this is actually a really sad song,'” she said. “It’s kind of cool shedding that type of light on such an upbeat, boot-clapping song. It came from a really real place in my heart, and that’s what I wanted to show with the stripped version.”
Since its release, “Austin” has not only garnered millions of views but has also deeply resonated with fans. “Everything has just been so different,” Dasha said. “I mean, [I’m] running into fans all the time, and people [are] saying how the song has helped them through a breakup.”
One fan’s story particularly touched her. “This girl the other day was like, ‘I broke up with my toxic boyfriend — like my literal abusive boyfriend — because of the song. You inspired me to have the courage to do it,'” Dasha recalled. “That’s why I do this s—. That just makes me so happy.”
Dasha’s sophomore album, “What Happens Now?”, released earlier this year, includes “Austin” along with other tracks like “King of California” and “42.” She is set to make her Grand Ole Opry debut, a dream come true for the rising star. “It’s the Opry — like what the hell?! It’s crazy,” she said. “There’s so much history and culture and stepping into that circle — I’ve dreamed about this for a really long time, and it’s gonna feel really good to step into country and be like, OK we’re here. Here we go. And I’m actually gonna be playing the stripped version of ‘Austin’ there.”
Amid her skyrocketing career, Dasha has received valuable advice from fellow country singer Jelly Roll. “He was saying how the best thing you can do with all this craziness going on is just soak it in,” she said. “Like, ‘You got this, you’re good. You’re meant to be here, but just soak it in.'”
This advice resonated deeply with her. “And I needed to hear that so bad,” she added. “I was like, ‘Damn, that’s so right,’ because I was up there on that stage and just like looking around and like, damn, I’m really here playing a stadium right now. That’s just insane.”
Dasha’s journey with “Austin” is a testament to the power of music to connect and heal. Her story continues to inspire fans and fellow artists alike, proving that even the most personal and painful experiences can lead to incredible success and transformation.
