Drive-By Truckers co-founder Patterson Hood returns with a song straight from the heart. His new single, “Scott’s Sister,” out now via ATO Records, is a tender, deeply personal piece that finds Hood at his storytelling best. The release arrives with a stunning lyric video built from aerial footage of his hometown of Florence, Alabama — a place where memory and melody intertwine.
The footage, captured by pilot John David Apkarian of Wings Over Bama, floats above the landscapes that shaped Hood’s music and life, perfectly framing the emotional weight of his lyrics. Originally written for Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams, “Scott’s Sister” continues what Hood calls his “Family Mythology” series — songs that dive into the complicated, beautiful mess of kinship, legacy, and love.
“‘Scott’s Sister’ was the first song I wrote for what became my Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams album,” Hood shares. “My mom and her brother have had an often contentious relationship through the years. I consider it a sweet song, actually one of the sweetest I’ve ever written.” Recorded at The Panthera in Portland, the track features Nate Query of The Decemberists on upright bass and Kyleen King adding viola, violin, and harmonies — each note breathing warmth into the story.
Built on honesty and quiet grace, “Scott’s Sister” is the sound of a songwriter still finding new ways to tell the truth. For longtime fans and new listeners alike, it’s a reminder of why Patterson Hood remains one of Americana’s most genuine voices — always writing from the place where memory meets melody.