MICHAEL PETERSON, "Stones"

Anyone who heard veteran country great Michael Peterson’s lush, soul-stirring re-imagining of the Hollies’ 1969 classic “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” would have felt it – that it would hit the perfect chord at the right time, offering transcendent hope via a reminder that despite our differences, we are all human and should be loving and compassionate and discover a sense of brotherhood.

When I wrote that Peterson “brings his passionate vocal flair to an epic, soaring and emphatically inspirational version,” I sensed it too and it’s delightful to see the world is getting it too. So much so that it’s one of 2026’s biggest worldwide hit, perching at #1 on the Top 100 of the Global Indie Music Charts.

Peterson knows a little something about how it feels to be in the pole position, closing in on three decades since one of his first singles, “From Here to Eternity” became a legendary #1 country hit and fourth most popular country wedding song of all time. That song’s long been the lead story when talking about Peterson’s multi-faceted career, but with the success of “He Ain’t Heavy,” he bursts into an exciting new, possibility filled chapter of that career narrative.    

Peterson keeps the momentum going with his magnificent, deeply soulful follow-up single “Stones,” which impressively debuted at #4 on the European Country Music Hotdisc Top 40 in February 2026. A lush, heartfelt ballad whose lyrics use stones as a metaphor for the key cornerstones and ongoing milestones of life, the song was written by three veteran Nashville songwriters – Jimbeau Hinson (Oak Ridge Boys, Patti Loveless, Kathy Mattea, Reba McEntire), Kim Tribble (Montgomery Gentry, Collin Raye, David Lee Murphy) and John Michaels (Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, Clint Black). Unfortunately, Hinson and Tribble are no longer with us, but Peterson’s recording of “Stones” is a wonderful addition to their formidable legacies.

“The writers were all friends of mine,” says Peterson. “I came upon the song through my co-producer Ric Web. When I first heard it, he said, ‘This sounds like a song you would have written, Michael.’ I immediately agreed, and for me, it was love at first listen. Like ‘He Ain’t Heavy…’, ‘Stones’ is a powerful ballad that speaks from and to the heart. I hope all those who experience the song will feel their own unique life journey and the lives of those they love coming to life in this recording. Much like the previous song, this one is about us as family, friends, neighbors and human beings.”

Following a dramatic piano introduction, Peterson brings his familiar vocal eloquence to the sweet, scene setting line about budding romance, using the metaphor for the first time: “Barely old enough to call it love/Showin’ off, skippin’ rocks across the water/Stones.” As the song continues, it feels like a sweet seduction as the singer draws us into the story, reflecting on the woman saying she’d keep the stones forever as a memento of an idyllic time. Then, with gentle piano and steel guitar providing emotional thrust, Peterson launches into the stunning poetry of the infectious hook, remind us of what stones signify: “One by one they mark our passage/ Along this winding road we’re on/And with each turn we take/From the cradle to the grave/Our lives are paved with stones…”

The song’s narrative continues to build images for the mind’s eye, using stones (“one perfect rock”) as the core part of a wedding ring (a symbol of lifelong commitment), then building a home where “love’s the cornerstone” (another grand metaphorical use) for several generations of children, who at some point will be rolling off on their own like stones. This is perhaps the most economical verse ever written covering the passage of years so efficiently. The lilting bridge rolls like a spirited list of other stones that have personal significance over time – birth stones, stepping stones – while also acknowledging the sorrows and heavy challenges of life (“dodging lots of sticks and stones”) and the reality, borrowed a bit from Joni Mitchell, that “I’ve been on both sides of throwing stones.”

While Peterson’s had the listener in his emotional grasp the whole time, letting the story evolve, he saves some of the greatest moments for last, aka Verse 3, where he sings, “The years are like the wind, they’re here and gone and then/They’ll blow away our every trace/All except our names engraved in stones.” This last line will resonate most powerfully with those of us who have lost loved ones in recent years – and it’s certainly made more poignant because of the recent passings of two of the song’s writers.  

“Stones” is more than the latest impactful hit showcasing the brilliant ongoing artistry of Michael Peterson. It is a stunning, richly evocative song for the ages, one that makes us feel love, reflect on the ups and downs of our lives and ultimately be full of gratitude for the many stones we have gathered, thrown and stepped across during our lifetimes.