photo by Danny Clinch


Brittany Howard will release her debut solo album, Jaime, Sept. 20 via ATO Records, and today the Alabama Shakes frontwoman shares a new single and accompanying video, “Stay High.”

The laid-back track is brought to life in the video (directed by Kim Gehrig) by actor Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), who plays a factory worker that lip syncs Howard’s words as he leaves works and makes his way around his neighborhood to eventually return home to his family. Howard dedicates the video to her father, K.J. Howard, who also makes an appearance in it (the younger Howard also has a brief cameo).

“This video is shot in my home town of Athens, Alabama. The actors are my family and friends,” the singer explains in a press release. “Terry Crews plays a man who isn’t out to change the world, he plays a man who just wants to come home to those who understand and love him best. We see his inner beauty, grace and humanity in a place that is so often misunderstood.” 

Crews tells his part of the story: “I got an email from the Brittany Howard, asking me to be a part of a song she wrote that was all about her dad and how special he was to the family. And she poured her heart out in this letter. I couldn’t believe it. Brittany was like, ‘we can shoot it in L.A.,’ and I said, ‘No, I’m coming to you, we’re going to Alabama. We’re going to where you grew up, to where your family is.”

Watch the video below, and pre-order Jaime here. Brittany Howard will head out on the road for a batch of tour dates in support of her solo effort starting Aug. 17 in Asheville, NC. See her full schedule here.