Drake Milligan is currently competing on America’s Got Talent, but he isn’t waiting to find out if he wins before moving full-speed ahead with his music career. The Texas native announced on social media that his debut album, Dallas/Fort Worth will be released next month.

“It’s been a long time comin’!” Milligan shares. “My debut album Dallas/Fort Worth will be available on September 15th! I am so proud of all 14 songs on this record and I can’t wait to share it with y’all.”

In a press release, Milligan explains why he is releasing his debut album now, and why the record is very, very country.

“As a lifelong country music fan, it has been my dream to make a full-length record that pays homage to traditional country roots, while still bringing new sounds and energy to the genre,” Milligan says.

 

The rising star also explains the significance of the Dallas/Fort Worth title.

“As a native son of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, I’ve always been intrigued by the difference between the two cities,” Milligan explains. “First, there’s Dallas: a city determined to prove that everything really is bigger in Texas. Then, just 30 miles to the west, there’s Fort Worth: a city that holds true to its Stockyard roots with a taut rope around its cowboy brand.”

“My goal was to bring those same distinctions to the two parts of this album,” he adds. “On Dallas, the songs have a little more polish on their boots. On Fort Worth, there are nods to those traditional Honky-Tonkin’, Western swingin’, cowboy culture roots that I’m based in,”

Milligan wowed all four judges on America’s Got Talent when he performed his original “Sounds Like Something I’d Do” during his audition. Milligan returned to sing another original, “Kiss Goodbye All Night,” for the semifinals, earning rave reviews again.

“You have a good chance of winning this whole thing,” Howie Mandel said.

“A lot of people, after performing on the auditions, and their song goes to No. 1, they would just walk, and not compete,” added Simon Cowell, referring to “Sounds Like Something I’d Do” hitting No. 1 on iTunes after Milligan’s original audition. “The fact that that happened, and you still come back to compete in this competition, you have my absolute respect, because I was really concerned about that. I’ve got to tell you, in my opinion, I think you are the real deal. You’re a great songwriter, you have charisma. I’m kind of with Howie here. Based on tonight, let’s forget the cheese thing, this is in my opinion, the best performance of the night.”

Milligan hints that, if fans vote for him to continue on AGT, he has plenty more new songs he is eager to share with his loyal fans.

“If I’m lucky enough to move on, hopefully we can just keep raising the bar even more,” Milligan shares with Cinema Blend. “I feel like I came out really swinging with ‘Sounds Like Something I’d Do’ and now with ‘Kiss Goodbye All Night.’ I’ll be very excited to hopefully sing a new song. I’ve got a ton of new material. I’ve been in Nashville for a few years writing and got some new stuff and hopefully be able to do one of those.

See a track list for Dallas/Fort Worth below. All of Milligan’s music and upcoming concert dates can be found at DrakeMilligan.com.

Dallas/Fort Worth Track List:

1. “Sounds Like Something I’d Do” (Drake Milligan/Brett Beavers/Terry McBride)
2. “Kiss Goodbye All Night” (Drake Milligan/Brandon Hood/ Josh Jenkins/Phil O’Donnell)
3. “Hating Everything She Tries On” (Drake Milligan/Brent Anderson/Lynn Hutton)
4. “She” (Drake Milligan/Brandon Hood/John Pierce)
5. “Bad Day To Be A Beer” (Drake Milligan/Marv Green/JT Harding)
6. “Hearts Don’t Break Even” (Drake Milligan/Brandon Hood/Liz Rose)
7. “Dance Of A Lifetime” (Drake Milligan/Brandon Hood/Phil O’Donnell)
1. “Over Drinkin’ Under Thinkin’” (Drake Milligan/Brice Long/Brett Beavers)
2. “Tipping Point” (Drake Milligan/Brandon Hood/Terry McBride/Josh London)
3. “Don’t Look Down” (Drake Milligan/Brandon Hood/John Pierce)
4. “Goin’ Down Swingin’” (Drake Milligan/Brandon Hood/Phil O’Donnell
6. “Long Haul” (Drake Milligan/Brandon Hood/Bob DiPiero)
7. “Cowboy Kind Of Way” (Drake Milligan/Brandon Hood/Terry McBride)

Photo Credit: Chris Haston/NBC