Shinedown released their new song “Searchlight” on November 18, with Atlantic Records handling the distribution. This marks an exciting new chapter for the multi-platinum band after a year filled with sold-out shows, chart-topping hits, and their first performance at the Grand Ole Opry. They debuted “Searchlight” during their Opry appearance in October, where lead singer Brent Smith introduced the track.
“This is a song about owning your true feelings. It’s an awakening of the soul,” Shinedown shared on Instagram. They described the song as a coming-of-age story that encourages listeners to find their purpose. Musically, it pays tribute to the influences of Americana, rhythm and blues, bluegrass, outlaw country, and rock ‘n’ roll.
Brent Smith, Eric Bass, and Dave Bassett wrote “Searchlight,” with Bass producing it at Big Animal Studio in Charleston, South Carolina. The song captures the emotional depth that Shinedown is known for. The music video, shot by Andrew Donoho, features each band member playing their own instruments, including a steel pedal guitar and a banjo. They filmed it in Nashville the day after their Opry debut.
Shinedown holds the record for the most No. 1 songs on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart, with 21 tracks reaching the top. They also have 23 No. 1s on the Mediabase Active Rock chart. “Searchlight” follows their earlier 2025 releases, including “Dance, Kid, Dance,” “Three Six Five,” and “Killing Fields.”
This year, the band sold out Madison Square Garden for the first time during their “Dance, Kid, Dance” tour, donating $1 from every ticket to Musicians On Call, totaling $300,000. Upcoming shows include performances at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth on December 2, Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, on December 8, Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on December 9, and Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on December 16. They will also perform at the Sonic Temple festival in Ohio on May 15, 2026.
