David Cone Drops New Country Album: ‘If You Don’t Count The Money, I’m The Richest Man In Town’

David Cone is used to wearing a lot of hats. He’s a former college quarterback, co-host of The Daily Wire’s sports show “Crain & Company,” a husband, a father of three, and now, a bona fide Nashville recording artist. His debut full-length country album, “Richest Man in Town,” dropped with a promise Cone sums up in one word: sincerity.

“Even some of the songs that are fun and a little bit tongue in cheek, even those, I was as genuine as I possibly could be,” Cone said. “I wrote every single song on this album all by myself, and it’s the combination of many years of work here.”

Some songs date back to his days in Atlanta before COVID, while others, including the title track, were written just a few months ago.

 “With [‘Richest Man in Town’], I really just wanted to get to a distinction between being rich and having a lot of money. Those are not synonymous to me,” Cone explained. That theme of wealth measured in life and not dollars is at the core of the project. 

“We were able to get all of them recorded, and it felt really good for Kent Wells, Dolly Parton’s producer, to say, ‘Yes, I want to get in the studio and record with you.’ In an industry where you mostly hear ‘No, no, no,’ it feels really good to hear ‘yes,’” he added.

My new album, ‘Richest Man in Town’, is now available everywhere. pic.twitter.com/BLXaPjy6ot

— David Cone (@davidadamcone) August 8, 2025

For Cone, authenticity isn’t a marketing gimmick. It’s the backbone of his music, his podcast, and his life. 

“Kent Wells said, ‘What are you trying to do here? Are you trying to have an alternate persona and just put a cowboy hat on and get on the stage?’ And I said, ‘No, I’m just David Cone.’ The David Cone who writes songs and sings them is the David Cone who goes and hosts a sports show, is the David Cone you see at the grocery store.”

That everyday reality shapes his music. The title track came to him while driving home from The Daily Wire. “I had this idea for a song, ‘Richest Man in Town’… a way to get into the theme of living a rich life, but the protagonist of the song not having a lot of money.” 

He wrote it over a weekend while his parents were visiting. “Even as hectic as it is… I look around and I just think, yeah, if you don’t count the money, I’m the richest man in town.”

While Richest Man in Town leans into heart and family, Cone also added some other flavors to the album. There’s “Brothers,” a nostalgic track about growing up with siblings. There’s “The Ballad of Billy Spades at Devil’s Creek,” a poker anthem he’d always wanted to write. And for a little bit of fun, there’s the Mitch Hedberg-inspired “I Used to Drink,” a song Cone calls “one of my favorite tunes on the whole record.”

Cone also mentions two pro-America tracks that previously landed on Donald Trump’s campaign playlist, including “Just What America Needs” and “American Made.” He said including them was deliberate, as a way to convey “just what America needs.”

Cone explains how some of his earlier music sounded more like Jack Johnson than Johnny Cash, but over time, his style has evolved and is now more than just one thing. 

“Being here in Nashville… I’ve gotten back to a little bit more of a traditional country vibe,” he said. The album also features music legends like Charlie McCoy, who played harmonica on “Richest Man in Town” and “Brothers.” 

Whether listeners love his voice or not, Cone says they’ll hear quality. “Some of the best musicians in the world played on the record… I hope they can appreciate the music.”

Asked what success for this album looks like, Cone didn’t hesitate. 

“Oh no, it’s already successful,” he said. “My kids run up to me and say, ‘We want Dadda songs.’ The album’s already a success because they’re gonna have this for the rest of their lives.” 

Still, he admits the financial side matters if he wants to keep making records. “I would love a castle on an island with a plane… but that’s not what is gonna be the ultimate determination for success.”

In other words, he’s not chasing chart toppers to prove something. That’s because David Cone knows he’s already the richest man in town.