Revenge may be a dish best served cold, but in Adrianna Freeman’s latest single, “The Price,” it’s served scorching hot with a side of delta blues and a dash of oh no she didn’t!
Picture it: a jilted lover, a Fender Jazz guitar going up in flames, and a southern nurse named Sally who is done with her cheating husband’s nonsense. This isn’t your grandma’s country ballad—unless your grandma secretly moonlights as a badass seeking justice.
From the very first haunting belt, Adrianna draws listeners into a cinematic whirlwind of betrayal and vengeance. The story follows Sally, a devoted nurse whose dreams are shattered when she catches her wannabe-rockstar husband, Meeks, making music in the wrong bed. Torn between heartbreak and the burning need to retaliate, Sally finds herself at the ultimate crossroads—should she forgive or light up his world (literally)? Spoiler: Sally doesn’t come to play.
Produced by Bill McDermott (you know, the guy who’s worked with Tim McGraw and Brad Paisley), “The Price” expertly fuses country grit with bluesy soul. Freeman’s vocals twist and soar like a spiritual force of nature, carrying both the weight of Sally’s pain and the gravity of the choices she makes. It’s a gut-wrenching, foot-stomping anthem of reckoning that’ll have you double-checking your own life choices.
The music video takes the drama to the next level. Filmed in the rural heart of Monticello, FL, it’s packed with vivid, gritty visuals—dusty roads, a devil in a white hat and sparkly shoes (yes, sparkly shoes), and enough fiery symbolism to rival a Shakespearean tragedy. When Sally sets her cheating husband’s belongings ablaze, viewers can practically feel the heat radiating off the screen. And as Meeks sits on death row, haunted by the consequences of his vengeful spiral, it’s clear there’s no turning back for anyone in this tragic tale.
But what really hits home is Adrianna’s message: revenge may feel sweet in the moment, but the cost is more than anyone can afford. Through Sally and Meeks’ downfall, Freeman warns that unchecked fury can consume everything in its path, leaving only ashes and regret.
With “The Price,” Adrianna Freeman proves she’s a powerhouse of storytelling and soul. It’s a gritty, cathartic journey through the darker corners of love and loss—perfect for those nights when you need to blast a cautionary tale and maybe burn some metaphorical bridges of your own. Just… leave the guitars out of it.
"The Price" has all the drama of a Southern Gothic novel! What inspired you to craft such a dark and gripping tale of love, betrayal, and revenge?
I like writing about human experiences. Most of my songs come from things that I have gone through or someone I know has experienced something that inspires me. I also pull from events and things that impact our everyday lives. The Price is a tale about two lovers who turn to darkness instead of light to deal with their situation.
Divorce can be an ugly thing and drive people who once loved each other to do unspeakable things to one another simply because they are hurt. The Blues & Country often talk about hurt in an expressive way. I wanted to make a song that would showcase both styles.
In the music video, we see a guitar literally go up in flames! What was the story behind that fiery scene, and how did it feel to create such powerful imagery?
Well, the backstory is Sally is a hard-working nurse who has supported her husband Meeks, who is a Blues player, for years. When she comes home to find Meeks in bed with another woman, she wants to hurt him in the worst way. I wanted the video to start with that opening scene so that the viewers automatically start wondering what happened here. It is also a symbol of the destruction the wrath can cause in any situation.
Your voice has this incredible way of blending classic country and delta blues. How do you approach merging these genres to create such a rich, soulful sound?
I have to give that credit to my parents, Ed and Theresa Freeman. My parents would play Country and Blues music. I grew up listening to the two styles. I believe what’s inside of a person will come out.
So, it is only natural that those two influences would be present in the music I create. When I first thought about writing The Price, I knew I wanted to make a song that was both Country and Blues without one overpowering the other, creating the perfect balance of both genres.
Revenge is a major theme in the song—what message do you hope listeners take away about the consequences of anger and vengeance?
I want to convey the consequences of anger and vengeance. By emphasizing the emotional turmoil that comes from holding onto wrath, I hoped folks would realize the cost of resentment and how it could impact their peace and relationships. Vengeance is cyclical, people that seek retribution often find that it leads to more pain rather than any positive resolution. In the case of Sally and Meeks, the price was ultimate destruction.
The bible tells us that we shouldn’t let the sun go down on our wrath, and to be angry but not sin! I hope the song inspires the choice to choose compassion over vengeance, and that my message resonates in a way where people learn the importance of empathy and understanding when dealing with conflicts.
Filming in Monticello, FL added an authentic, gritty feel to the video. What was it like shooting in your home state, and how did the local setting shape the final visuals?
I am a Florida Girl through and through. The City of Monticello was absolutely instrumental in helping me create a world within The Price video that felt historic. Shooting at the Old Monticello Jail was amazing and at times a little spooky. It was rumored to be haunted, and you could definitely feel a sense of hopelessness as you walked through the corridors.
The walls were full of writings left by the former inmates, some of loss and desperation, but there were also ones that showed hope and resilience. I must give the City of Monticello huge props for helping us make the video a cinematic event.