Country powerhouse Jason Michael Carroll returns with a powerful new single, “What Ever Happened to Heroes,” now streaming on all platforms. The track is a standout from his forthcoming album Anthem, due later this year via For the Lonely Records, and follows the genre-blending success of “Nothin’ But Country” featuring Petey Pablo, whose music video also dropped this week.
Co-written with fellow Texas native Garrett Bradford, the song began with a simple prompt—Bradford sent Carroll a few lyrical ideas and told him to “pick one.” The title “What Ever Happened to Heroes” immediately struck a chord. “This one stopped me in my tracks,” Carroll says. “I don’t watch the news much anymore because the state of the world often depresses me. Where’s the justice? Where’s the accountability? What happened to right and wrong? What happened to common sense? Whatever happened to heroes?”
With vivid western-inspired storytelling and a melody that swells from quiet reflection to cinematic crescendo, “What Ever Happened to Heroes” channels the spirit of the classic cowboy—stoic, brave, and principled. Carroll’s lyrics call on listeners to embody those same values in today’s world. “I still like to think that the cowboys are holed up, bandaging wounds, making plans to return… One of these nights, they’ll ride in, clouds of gun smoke, giving those bad guys what they deserve.”
The single builds on the momentum of “Nothin’ But Country,” a bold anthem that fuses rural grit with hip-hop swagger, uniting Carroll and fellow North Carolina native Petey Pablo in a celebration of their roots. The video brings that energy to life with unapologetic pride and Southern soul.
Together, the two tracks preview Anthem, a deeply personal album that explores themes of faith, family, and resilience. Carroll’s signature storytelling remains front and center, continuing the legacy he began with his chart-topping debut Waitin’ in the Country, which featured hits like “Alyssa Lies” and “Livin’ Our Love Song.” With Anthem, Carroll proves once again that country music’s most enduring power lies in its truth.