One of the most talented and diverse artists I have ever featured, Ana Cristina Cash, is releasing her bilingual album, The Sunshine State, this weekend.

Singing since she was a young child, Cash landed a record deal with Sony Music Latin at age sixteen. However, it was when she married John Carter Cash in 2016 that her artistry became more grounded in country music.

Since living in Nashville, Cash has become a darling of the Grand Ole Opry, often covering Johnny and June songs like “Jackson” with her husband, John, in addition to her original songs.

But lest anyone forget, with her bilingual, multi-range vocals, Cash can sing virtually anything from her self-penned autobiographical “Florida Girl” to hitting all the high notes on Whitney Houston’s “Run to You.”

Because Ana Cristina Cash is a naturally gifted songwriter, in 2025, she signed a publishing deal with BMG Music, working with both their Nashville office and their Latin department in Los Angeles.

She stated, “I love singing, but getting stories across is very important to me, if not even more important.”

Not only that, the Cashes covered “Ring of Fire” at Anzie Blue Nashville for CNN’s Live New Year's Eve Special.

Cash’s latest album, The Sunshine State, was produced by her husband, John Carter Cash, and her co-writer, Willie Breeding. It was recorded at the legendary Cash Cabin in Henderson and showcases her resonant contralto to her soaring soprano, working deeply within the country music sphere, while giving a hat tip to her Cuban American heritage.

Because it is a bilingual album, Cash is doing promos in the country music world and with the Spanish media as well.

She explained, “It’s like having two jobs. We’re going at it both ways. It’s been a lot of fun putting on my country music hat and my Latin music hat.”

The Sunshine State opens with the breezy single, “Daybreak,” and also features its Spanish counterpart, “Un Break.”

She shared, “I wrote ‘Daybreak’ with Willie Breeding and Gabriella Scotto. At the time, Jimmy Buffett had just passed away. So oddly enough, I was thinking a lot about his vibe.”

When she joined Breeding and Scotto in the studio, she thought, “It'd be cool to write something just really lighthearted that's fun.” They started playing some chords, and Cash came up with the title. The song was one of the fastest they ever wrote. With Charlie McCoy’s wailing harmonica and Caitlin Evanson’s fiery fiddle, “Daybreak” is the most country-sounding track on the record. It reminds me somewhat of Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” and is every bit as fun as that smash hit. It’s fun to hear the Spanish version “Un Break.” Translating a tune is no easy feat, but Cash does it flawlessly.

In the summer of 2025, Cash released the playful, flirty “Cheap Margaritas,” which is a nod to those spontaneous, can’t-stay-away-from relationships. With catchy lyrics and a playful groove, the track brings to life the story of a fun, on-again-off-again romance. In addition to the original track, a Spanglish version of “Cheap Margaritas” showcases Ana’s bilingual roots and adds a fresh, vibrant twist to the summertime anthem. Directed by stepson Joseph Cash, “Cheap Margaritas” was recorded at Nudie’s Honky Tonk and Tanya Tucker’s Tequila Cantina in Nashville.

“Florida Girl” is a lively and heartfelt anthem that is a nostalgic yet empowering tribute to Ana Cristina Cash’s Miami upbringing and the colorful mix of cultures that shaped her.

She reiterated, “The first home I grew up in was in rural West Miami, before it was built up, right near the Florida Everglades—wild and untouched at the time. I only had four neighbors, a dirt road, orange trees in the backyard, and our own chickens. That home and that formative period of my life influenced so much of this record.”

You can hear references to her Florida home in the songs “Florida Girl,” “Don’t Give Up,” and “Janice,” an ethereal song she wrote completely by herself.

When Cash was five and living in rural Miami, she had one friend, Janice, and the song is about what she vaguely remembered from that time. She stated, “A lot of what I describe and analyze in the song is kind of how complicated life can get when you get older and how we have heartbreak and how at times we want to reach for that inner child.”

“Last Call” is a sassy anthem, but it’s also a warning. The girl is over being lied to and warns, “It’s your last call.” She is done with you. There is also a Spanish version, “Tu Última Llamada.”

The most serious and sentimental song on the record is the heartfelt “Don’t Give Up,” which she wrote after her father had a stroke. At first, they weren’t sure if her father would regain full control of his brain, but he did and is now wheelchair bound. When she teamed up with songwriter Erika Ender, she learned they had a similar experience, and they cried several times while composing the tender tune. Her father loves “Don’t Give Up” and that it’s about him and their precious bond.  

The thing about The Sunshine State is that the album embraces all of who Ana Cristina Cash is. Yes, it’s true she has married into one of the most famous families in country music. And while she is grateful for the opportunities, they are just a part of her multifaceted life. This record honors her Latin heritage and showcases all the aspects of this mega-talented singer/songwriter.

The best thing about the way we consume music today is that we don’t have to like or listen to just one thing. As artists and/or consumers, we can perform and enjoy multiple genres simultaneously. Diversity is a good thing for everyone. And music is the best platform to celebrate it.

You can follow Ana Cristina Cash on her website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and all streaming platforms.

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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and TikTok.

The Sunshine State Track Listing:
1. “Daybreak” (Ana Cristina Cash, Willie Breeding, Gabriella Scotto)
2. “Cheap Margaritas” (Erika Ender, Frank Ray, Willie Breeding, Jess Cayne)
3. “Florida Girl” (Ana Cristina Cash, Willie Breeding)
4. “Janice” (Ana Cristina Cash)
5. “Last Call” (Ana Cristina Cash, Jodi Marr, Willie Breeding)
6. “Don’t Give Up” (Ana Cristina Cash, Erika Ender)
7. "Un Break (Daybreak Versión En Español)" (Ana Cristina Cash, Willie Breeding, Gabriella Scotto, Jodi Marr)
8. “Cheap Margaritas (Spanglish Version)” (Erika Ender, Frank Ray, Willie Breeding, Jess Cayne)
9. "Tu Última Llamada (Last Call Versión En Español)" (Ana Cristina Cash, Jodi Marr, Willie Breeding)