Courtney Hadwin has never shied away from intensity, but the new music video for “Die And Stay Pretty” may be her most vulnerable release yet. The track, a standout from her debut album Little Miss Jagged, finds the 21-year-old British rock artist exploring the fragile space between idolization and authenticity. In the newly unveiled visual, Hadwin leans fully into the song’s emotional weight, delivering a performance that feels exposed and unfiltered. Paired with dancer Polly Towers, the video transforms the track’s themes of longing, self-image, and emotional collapse into something tactile and cinematic.
Shot with a raw, intimate lens, the video mirrors the push-and-pull tension embedded in the lyrics. Towers’ expressive choreography, marked by sweeping, restless movements, acts as a physical manifestation of internal unrest, while Hadwin’s unmistakable, raspy vocal performance anchors the narrative. A particularly poignant moment arrives when their hands meet but do not hold, echoing the lyric, “I just want to be with you, but you just want me to miss you,” and underscoring the quiet devastation of loving someone who cannot fully return it. “In the video, I really wanted to put a visual to what the song meant to me,” says Hadwin. “‘Die And Stay Pretty’ has got to be the most challenging song and personal I’ve ever written, so getting to portray that as a visual was quite real, and getting to work with Polly, who demonstrated the frustration perfectly, just brought it to life.” Directed by Gabrielle Ornate and Orlando Avalon, with choreography by Ethan Jacobs and cinematography by Robbie Ewing, the video serves as a stark extension of the album’s emotional core.
Hadwin first gained international attention at just 13 after her explosive audition on America’s Got Talent went viral, showcasing a voice often compared to Janis Joplin. Since then, she has forged her own path, blending rock, soul, funk, punk, and R&B into a sound that resists easy categorization. With more than 3.7 million followers across social platforms and praise from outlets including Music Connection Magazine, PopDust, and The Line of Best Fit, Hadwin continues to evolve beyond the viral moment that introduced her to the world. As she prepares to embark on a UK tour in early 2026, the release of “Die And Stay Pretty” signals a new chapter in her artistry, one defined by emotional clarity and fearless self-expression. Fans can follow her journey on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and find tour dates and updates at courtneyhadwinmusic.com.
