Thirteen years after losing his father, Cole Swindell found himself standing at the same gravesite once again. But this time, he had something new to say. In 2013, Cole’s father, William Swindell, passed away unexpectedly in an accident, just six weeks after Cole signed his first record deal. Two years later, he channeled that grief into “You Should Be Here,” a song that climbed to No. 1 and generated more than a billion audience impressions. Life, however, continued to move forward. Last summer, Cole married Courtney in California. Then, in August 2025, the couple welcomed their daughter, Rainey Gail. So when Father’s Day 2026 arrived, marking his very first Father’s Day as a dad, Cole did more than celebrate. He released “Girl Dad,” a piano ballad that serves as the next chapter in the story that began with “You Should Be Here.” The music video even opens at his father’s gravesite, the very same location featured in the 2015 video. But now, Cole is no longer just a son grieving the loss of his father. He is also a father, carrying the bittersweet wish that his little girl could have met her grandfather. Cole has said that he doesn’t care whether Rainey remembers his music career or accomplishments. What matters most to him is that she remembers him simply as her dad.
Introduction From Grief to Grace: Cole Swindell’s Bittersweet Journey into Fatherhood In 2013, country music star Cole Swindell faced a devastating tragedy…