Ashley Cooke Cast Matt Rife in Baby Blues Video
The country artist selected the comedian to serve as her love interest in the new music video.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Country
Country singer Ashley Cooke has featured comedian Matt Rife as the romantic lead in the music video for her track Baby Blues. The collaboration follows a viral moment where Cooke serenaded Rife at a live event in Nashville.
Why it matters
Cooke cast Rife for the project due to their personal connection, building on a public professional rapport that has captured attention on social media. This casting choice highlights the ongoing trend of country stars integrating popular social media figures into their visual storytelling.
The 29-year-old artist released her fourth studio album in August 2026. This project follows a series of successful live appearances, including the June Billboard Country Live performance.
The players
Ashley Cooke
She is a 29-year-old country music artist who recently released her fourth studio album.
Matt Rife
He is a comedian and performer who appears as the romantic lead in the music video for Baby Blues.
The details
Ashley Cooke chose to cast Matt Rife as the love interest in the Baby Blues video, which features an on-screen kissing scene between the two. The song itself originated during a songwriters retreat before being included on her latest project.
Timeline
June 5: Cooke serenaded Rife at Billboard Country Live in Nashville.
August 2026: Cooke released her fourth studio album.
Fall 2026: Cooke continues the Baby Blues world tour.
Industry Dynamics
This project fits into the broader Hollywood and music strategy of utilizing social media stars to cross-pollinate audiences between comedy and country music. By integrating digital-first creators, artists are increasingly able to drive engagement beyond traditional radio and streaming demographics.
Fans can watch the official Baby Blues music video on major streaming platforms to see the collaboration between Cooke and Rife. Those looking to hear the new material live can access tickets for the ongoing tour throughout the fall.
The takeaway
Collaborations between musicians and digital creators often serve as a bridge to pull in non-traditional audiences to the country genre. Listeners should look for how visual media and social media moments continue to shape the promotion of modern country albums.
Further reading
Explore more industry news and artist updates in the Country section.
