Kesha joins forces with the enigmatic Orville Peck on “Tennessee,” a track that weaves Southern storytelling with raw introspection about mortality and remembrance. The collaboration appears on the commemorative album celebrating a full decade of the All Things Go music festival.
A Raw Meditation on Memory and Mortality
“Tennessee” finds Kesha in deeply reflective territory, painting a vivid picture of how she wants the world to remember her once she’s gone. The opening lines—“When I leave, just celebrate / And lick the icing off my cake”—set a tone that’s both irreverent and genuinely moving. She’s not asking for tears or solemn remembrance.
What strikes you most is Kesha’s unflinching honesty about her own contradictions. She hopes people will remember her as a “crazy ass bitch” who somehow managed to leave behind a “damn good legacy.” There’s something beautifully human about refusing to be sanitized in death—she actively pushes back against the tendency to canonize the departed.
Orville Peck’s haunting vocals weave through the chorus, creating this fascinating tension between country authenticity and pop sensibilities. The religious imagery gets playful treatment too: “If all my sins make Jesus piss / Just tell ’em I’m on Dolly’s list.” It’s the kind of line that could only come from someone who understands both irreverence and genuine faith.
Creative Chemistry in the Studio
Speaking with Rolling Stone, Kesha opened up about the creative process behind “Tennessee.” Working alongside Orville Peck, Hudson Mohawke, and Tayla Parx felt like coming home in some ways—a chance to dig into her Southern roots with artists who truly got what she was trying to accomplish.
“It felt safe to explore my sound honestly,” she shared, and that safety comes through in the final product. There’s a vulnerability here that might not have emerged in a different collaborative setting.
The track actually had its debut in the short film Stud Country before finding its way onto the upcoming All Things Go: 10 Years album—giving it this interesting dual life between visual and audio storytelling.
Supporting a Meaningful Cause
The compilation does more than just mark a festival milestone—it’s raising funds for The Ally Coalition, an LGBTQ-focused nonprofit that aligns perfectly with the festival’s inclusive spirit. Kesha emphasized how much it meant to be part of something with genuine purpose behind it.
The album showcases an impressive range of talent, from established names like Maren Morris to rising artists making their mark. You’ve got covers of Charli XCX by Medium Build and Sydney Rose, plus original tracks from Allison Ponthier, Joy Oladokun, Maude Latour, and Bartees Strange.
Full Track Breakdown
The complete album offers something for everyone:
- “Welcome to the End” – Maren Morris (with Jack Antonoff producing)
- “Jesus and John Wayne” – Allison Ponthier, Joy Oladokun, Googly Eyes
- “Talk Talk Talk” – Emei
- “Tennessee” – Kesha & Orville Peck (feat. Hudson Mohawke, Tayla Parx)
- “Green Tea (Demo)” – Maude Latour
- “Sympathy Is a Knife” – Medium Build & Sydney Rose
- “Funeral” – Susannah Joffe & Baby Nova
- “DCWDTY” – Bartees Strange
Each track brings something different to the table, but they’re unified by this sense of artistic authenticity and social purpose.
“Tennessee” captures something special—Kesha’s willingness to confront mortality head-on while Orville Peck’s presence adds layers of country authenticity. Together, they’ve created a track that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable, perfect for marking this milestone moment in the All Things Go festival’s history.
