CHRIS LANE REIMAGINES 1980s HIT WITH NEW SINGLE, "FRIEND"
(DOWNLOAD COVER ART HERE)
CHRIS LANE REIMAGINES 1980s HIT WITH NEW SINGLE, "FRIEND"
RELEASE KICKS OFF LIFE IS A HIGHWAY ARENA TOUR WITH RASCAL FLATTS
Jan 16, 2026 - Nashville, TN - Red Street Records' RIAA Platinum-certified Country chart-topper Chris Lane dropped his latest single, a reimagined version of the 1989 Biz Markie hit "Just A Friend," out everywhere (STREAM). Lane's "Friend" offers a southern flare to the hip-hop smash ripe with banjo, acoustic guitar and a subtle twist on the chorus that sings,
"Baby you, you got what I need / And I can't be just your friend / No I can't be just your friend / Baby you, you're all that I need / And I can't be just your friend / Yeah I can't be just your friend"
Originally written by Marcel Hall (Biz Markie), Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, "Just A Friend" garnered defining impact on the hip-hop scene, earning RIAA-Platinum certification, peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and securing a coveted spot on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Best Songs of All Time list in 2021. With the bones of a hit already in place, Lane took the track into the studio alongside co-writers Ashley Gorley and Mark Holman and producer Jay DeMarcus to craft a brand-new version for the next generation of Country and hip-hop listeners alike.
After a sold-out run on the 2025 Life Is A Highway arena tour, Chris is back on the road for another leg supporting Rascal Flatts alongside Lauren Alaina. The tour, which kicked off on Jan 15th in Raleigh, NC, runs nationwide, wrapping in Buffalo, NY on February 28th. To see Chris Lane LIVE in a city near you, visit iamchrislane.com/home#tour.
TO STREAM "FRIEND," CLICK HERE.
To learn more about Chris Lane, visit iamchrislane.com.
ABOUT CHRIS LANE
Introducing “a decidedly more country sound” (MusicRow), Chris Lane launched his new chapter with his 2023 single “Find Another Bar” featured on his EPs From Where I’m Sippin’ and the Deluxe edition (Red Street Records/Voyager Records), followed by his most recent chart-climbing single “If I Die Before You.” With a spree of releases in 2021 and 2022, Lane’s catalog expanded with hits like “Dancin’ In The Moonlight” with Lauren Alaina, “Howdy,” “Stop Coming Over,” “Summer Job Money,” “Fill Them Boots,” “Ain’t Even Met You Yet,” HIXTAPE: Vol. 2 smash “Small Town On It” with Scotty McCreery, plus Dustin Lynch summer jam “Tequila On A Boat,” all adding to his 2.2+ BILLION total career streams, three #1s – 2X PLATINUM “Big, Big Plans,” 3X PLATINUM “I Don’t Know About You,” and PLATINUM “Fix” – and five certified singles including 2X PLATINUM “Take Back Home Girl” with Tori Kelly. The Kernersville, NC, native has appeared on Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, TODAY, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and CONAN, and was featured in PEOPLE’s 2019 Sexiest Man Alive issue. He’s scored nominations at iHeartRadio Music Awards, ACM Awards, and Radio Disney Music Awards. Chris has shared the bill with A-list acts like Florida Georgia Line, Brad Paisley, Dan + Shay, and Kane Brown and most recently served as support on the Rascal Flatts' SOLD-OUT 2025 Life Is A Highway Reunion tour. Lane’s 2025 album, Shade Tree, embodies his undeniable Southern roots and offers a 12-track nostalgic look back on his life growing up in North Carolina.