05/28/2026
Lakeland native McCoy Moore drops first full album, Sunshine State
By LETICIA YGLESIAS
Contributing Writer
Florida thunderstorms, dive bars, heartbreak, beer on the sandbar, and country music turned all the way up, that’s the world McCoy Moore brings to life on his debut full-length album, Sunshine State, officially out now on streaming platforms everywhere.
For Moore, Florida isn’t just where he’s from, it’s the foundation of who he is.
The Lakeland native is bringing those roots to life through 14 deeply personal tracks inspired by growing up in Central Florida, long summers on the water, hometown memories, friendships, heartbreak, and the country music that shaped him.
Produced by hitmaker Will Bundy, the album blends modern country energy with nostalgic storytelling and a warm, beach-country sound that feels unmistakably Floridian.
“The album’s inspiration is in the name,” Moore says. “I put as much Florida as I could in this album. I love Florida and I am so proud of it.”
Moore says the album represents years of experiences, memories, and emotions that slowly came together into one cohesive project.
“I was building this record for almost 25 years and didn’t even know it,” he says. “You have to know my life in Florida to know why the record is what it is. It made me who I am.”
The album opens with its title track, “Sunshine State,” a breakup song disguised beneath a sunny name. Moore explains the track was actually the final song written for the album and ultimately became the piece that tied the entire record together.
“I was messing with the idea of a girl leaving and the rain coming after she left,” he says. “Everything was good around here until she went, but there’s still worse places to be.”
That contrast between heartbreak and warmth appears throughout the album. Songs like “Every Single Summer” lean into nostalgic memories of young love and freedom with breezy steel guitars and beach-town energy, while “Went to the Bar” delivers one of the album’s most emotional moments as Moore navigates heartbreak and healing through powerful vocals and arena-ready production.
Meanwhile, “In Here Out There,” featuring Cole Swindell, captures the laid-back spirit of hometown Florida bars and nights spent with friends.
“There’s so much crap going on everywhere in the world,” Moore says of the song. “This was my way of being like, ‘Man, I wish we could all just chill out, get along a little bit. Let’s just go have a beer and tell some jokes and make each other laugh.’”
Another standout track, “Chesney on a Beach,” pays tribute to the influence of Kenny Chesney, one of Moore’s biggest inspirations growing up. Raised on late ‘90s and early 2000s country radio, Moore says Chesney’s beach-country sound felt like the soundtrack to his Florida childhood.
“He always felt like he was singing about my life,” Moore says. “I couldn’t even drink beer, but it felt like I could.”
The album also includes “Bar and Bible,” one of the oldest songs on the project and one of the first Moore ever wrote after moving to Nashville.
“At the time, I hoped somebody famous would sing it,” he says with a laugh. “Now I’m the one singing it.”
While Sunshine State includes several songs fans may already recognize from Moore’s previous releases and his 2025 EP, he says the overall sound and storytelling remained true to who he has always been as an artist.
“I’ve kept it pretty straightforward as I did before, and that’s what I feel I do best,” he says. “There’s something for everyone in that album. It feels like a bunch of stories people can relate to.”
That authenticity has already connected with listeners in a major way. Since beginning his career, Moore has accumulated more than 17 million global streams and toured with artists including HARDY, Kip Moore, and Chase Rice.
Still, despite his rapidly growing success, Moore remains grounded in his hometown roots.
“There aren’t any shows in Lakeland,” he says with a laugh. “So I played the amphitheater in Tampa and the Kia Center in Orlando.”
One of his favorite career moments happened while performing with HARDY at the Kia Center.
“Definitely one of those feelings I can’t describe,” he says.
Another unforgettable moment came while performing at the legendary Ryman Auditorium with Kip Moore, especially meaningful because Moore first visited Nashville as a teenager to see Luke Combs perform there.
“That was a special one to be able to get to step on stage,” he says. “It was a full-circle moment.”
Now, another milestone was reached as Moore made his debut at the iconic Grand Ole Opry on May 26.
“I haven’t played there yet, but I already know it’s going to be incredible,” he said prior to the event.
As exciting as those moments are, Moore says the most rewarding feeling is hearing crowds sing his songs back to him.
“That’s what keeps me going,” he says. “That’s what makes me happy.”
Later this summer, Moore will come back to Florida for the Rock The Country festival, where he’ll share the stage with country legends including Brooks & Dunn and Miranda Lambert.
“It’s crazy,” he says, laughing. “I am literally living the dream I had as a kid. I listened to all of those artists when I was growing up in Lakeland.”
Despite his growing fame, Moore insists he is still just a normal guy at heart, someone who goes home, does his own laundry, washes dishes, cooks dinner, and enjoys a good bottle of wine. He jokingly gives a shoutout to Publix in Lakeland for carrying his favorite cabernet, Ghost Pines.
“That wine is phenomenal,” he says with a laugh.
That humility is intentional. Moore says one of the biggest lessons he has learned since starting his music career is the importance of staying true to yourself.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is really just be yourself, be a good person and encourage others, because there were a ton of people that encouraged me,” he says. “I want everybody to get the same version of me no matter who they are.”
He hopes fans hear that honesty throughout Sunshine State.
“I want people to know me and know where I’m from and know the stories that made me,” he says.
Especially for listeners back home in Lakeland, Moore hopes his journey inspires others to chase whatever dream they may have.
“There’s people everywhere that feel like they can’t go out and do stuff like this and I want to let them know that they can,” he says.
“Everything you want to do in life, with hard work, is possible. Just go and do it.”
When Moore recently returned to Central Florida to perform, seeing friends and family in the crowd reminded him just how surreal everything has become. He recalled reconnecting with someone he went to middle school and high school with, whose mother approached him after the show.
“She said, ‘It’s pretty crazy to see you up there performing,’” Moore recalls with a laugh. “And I told her, ‘It’s crazy for me too!’”
Even now, with sold-out venues, streaming success, and major festival appearances ahead, Moore still sounds like the same kid from Lakeland chasing a dream with a guitar in his hand.
“It’s a blessing,” he says. “Half the time it feels like I don’t know what I’m doing, but I know how to do it. I just do what I know how to do, and I’m thankful people love it.”
And with Sunshine State now officially released, Moore says listeners who want to truly understand who he is only need to do one thing: press play from beginning to end, and let the Florida stories speak for themselves.
PHOTO CREDIT | SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Living Polk County
Winter Haven Sun
Four Corners Sun
Polk Style
Well Being Healthy Living Polk
McCoy Moore
