Country Star's First Father's Day as a Dad Inspires Heartfelt New Project
Cole Swindell is celebrating a milestone Father's Day this year.
Less than a year after welcoming daughter Rainey Gail with wife Courtney Swindell, the country singer is inviting fans to create personalized Father's Day cards while preparing to release his emotional new song, "Girl Dad."
The digital experience allows fans to customize a Father's Day card for the dads and father figures in their lives, a fitting companion to a song that explores the joys of fatherhood and the lasting impact of family.
For Swindell, the project arrives during a particularly meaningful chapter of life. He and Courtney welcomed their first child, Rainey Gail Swindell, on Aug. 7, 2025, calling her "our greatest blessing" in a social media announcement.
The timing also coincides with the release of "Girl Dad," a deeply personal new song that reflects on becoming a father while remembering the dad he lost.
According to Country Now, Swindell sees the track as a continuation of the story he first told in his 2015 hit "You Should Be Here," which was written after the sudden death of his father.
"I didn't plan on it being this but it's almost like a 10 year update of my life and what's happened since then," Swindell explained while discussing the song.
Written with Michael Tyler and Ben Stennis, "Girl Dad" finds the Georgia native reflecting on major life milestones he wishes he could share with his father, including marrying Courtney and welcoming their daughter.
The song's emotional chorus centers on the news he never got to deliver in person.
"I wanted so bad to tell you in person, we're having a girl, dad," he sings.
Swindell has also recreated elements of the "You Should Be Here" music video, underscoring the connection between the two songs and highlighting how much his life has changed over the past decade.
By pairing the Father's Day card experience with "Girl Dad," Swindell is encouraging fans to celebrate the people who have shaped their lives while reflecting on the memories and milestones that make Father's Day meaningful.
Fans can create their personalized Father's Day card through Swindell's official campaign ahead of Father's Day on June 21.
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This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 9:30 AM.