Sam Barber Returns With Moody New Single 'Man of the Year'

Sam Barber is back with Man of the Year, his first original release since his 2024 debut album Restless Mind. Dropped on April 18, 2025, the single finds the 21-year-old Missouri native diving deep into themes of self-doubt, resilience, and emotional survival. Barber wrote the song entirely himself, describing its meaning to Holler Country:

“No matter how hard you try to be a good man, sometimes you’re going to be seen as the bad guy. And there isn’t much you can do about it, so don’t beat yourself up about it. F— it if you’re not the man of the year.”

Produced by Ryan Hewitt (Noah Kahan, Cody Jinks) and Joe Becker, the track is a mix of folk, rock, and country with brooding acoustic guitar work, shadowy textures, and a standout banjo bridge that takes his sound in a darker direction. The chorus line “You gotta take it as it goes 'cause it doesn’t get easier dear/It’s all an empty hole, and f— it if I ain’t the man of the year” captures the song’s defiant tone and has already resonated strongly with fans.

Known for his 2X Platinum hit Straight and Narrow (which he wrote at just 16 and recorded in his bedroom) and his collaboration Indigo with Avery Anna (which reached No. 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 with over 300 million streams), Barber now boasts 1.5 billion global streams. He’s currently on his RESTLESS MIND WORLD TOUR with sold-out shows across Australia in late April, including upgraded venues in Sydney and Melbourne due to overwhelming demand.

After performing at CMA Fest in June alongside artists like Blake Shelton and Kelsea Ballerini, he’ll launch his extensive SAM BARBER NORTH AMERICA TOUR on May 29, 2025, which runs through December 5, with stops at Chicago’s United Center, Atlanta’s The Eastern, and Fort Worth’s Billy Bob’s Texas.