From the ice to the stage—Chad Brownlee makes every moment “Legendary.”
Canadian country artist Chad Brownlee, who returns with his electrifying new single, “Legendary,” today.
Marking a bold new chapter, “Legendary” sees Brownlee step into a bigger, more high-impact sound—blending his country roots with a powerful rock-driven edge. Inspired by his past as a professional hockey player, the track is an adrenaline-fueled anthem built for the arena, capturing the energy, intensity, and pressure of moments where greatness is on the line.
Co-written with country music heavyweights Jason Blaine (Chris Janson, Parmalee) and Grammy-winning producer Ben Glover (Lee Brice, Trace Adkins, Backstreet Boys), the single channels the thrill of competition and the pursuit of something bigger. It’s a high-octane call to action for athletes, fans, and anyone chasing their own version of “legendary.”
First off, what have you been up to since we last spoke?
I’ve been busy writing and recording the next record. So many songs I’m proud of that I can’t wait to show everyone! Other than that, lots of firewood has been chopped and stacked, many dog walks and hikes have been had, and a few rainbow trout have been reeled in 🙂
“Legendary” feels bigger and more high-impact than some of your previous work—what sparked that shift in sound?
It all started with an intention to write the next anthem for the Stanley Cup playoffs. I could hear it echoing in my head before I brought the idea to Ben Glover and Jason Blaine. It took us a little bit to find the title and lyrical direction, but the vibe and overall energy were the base that we built from. Once we finished the chorus, we knew we were on to something special.
Hockey is a high-energy, high-tempo game, so the treatment of this song needed to match that intensity. Ben absolutely nailed the production with the heavy rock guitars and massive sounding drums. I don’t think there is any other way to perform this song other than at full octane!
This track pulls heavily from your hockey background—can you walk us through the moment or mindset that inspired it?
When I played hockey, music was always a big part of my pre-game ritual; activating the appropriate emotions to elevate my mindset and focus. Not many things have the power to move us or motivate us like music does. So, the intensity that Legendary brings is drawn from the intensity I possessed as a player.
I asked myself “if I were still lacing up the skates at the pro level what would I want to hear right before stepping out onto the ice?” That’s the fabric of where Legendary came from.
There’s a real arena energy to this song. Did you intentionally write it with live performance in mind?
A) Almost every single song I write, I envision what it would be like performing it on stage. If I can’t picture it then I’m probably not on the right track. I can’t wait to play this one live with the band cause it’s going to sound huge!
Was there a specific lyric or line in the song that really locked in the message for you?
“Like a modern-day Jesse James, I’m gonna be Legendary.” The final line of the chorus. We worked on that one for quite some time. Knowing the setup line to the final hook of the chorus was so important. It needed to have an edge to it, almost outlaw like. Once we landed on it we knew we had locked in the message. The rest of the song seemed to fall into place after that.
You co-wrote “Legendary” with Jason Blaine and Ben Glover—what did each of them bring to the table creatively?
Those are two of the best around in my opinion. Both incredible guitar players, singers, and lyricists. I’ve been working with Ben for 16 years, and he has been a major part of my sound in both the writing department and production throughout my career. Jason is one of the most creative and proficient writers I know. If we get stumped on an idea, he tends to find a way to dig us out and point us in another direction. Most often leading to really good stuff! I can’t say enough about what these two legends bring to the table!
Going independent in recent years—how has that changed your creative freedom or decision-making?
I am definitely more hands-on with everything, which has allowed me to trust my internal compass a lot more. I still have an amazing team that trusts my creative process and the music that I’m bringing to the world.
You’re hitting the road again this summer—how excited are you to bring a track like “Legendary” to live audiences?
Beyond excited!! The live show already brings so much energy. This song will bring it to a whole other level. It’s time to rock!!