One year ago, country singer Karissa Ella married her high school sweetheart, Alex Binnie, and said “I do” at their Tennessee wedding, surrounded by family and friends. Their relationship has been a source of inspiration for the “Hall of Fame” singer over the years.
Her latest single release, “Working Man,” was inspired by her husband’s devotion to helping make their marriage the best it can be. “It’s a play on the word ‘hardworking man,’” Ella told The Epoch Times. “But it’s the work that they put in for your love, and for your family, and for your relationship.”
The singer shared that she’s been on cloud nine since tying the knot in 2025. “It’s been an amazing year,” she said. But “Working Man” is more than just a personal love song; it’s also an anthem that celebrates the love and attention men everywhere give to their relationships that can sometimes be overlooked. Ella shared that when she played the song for her parents, they loved it and thought the topic was both timely and important. “They think it’s a beautiful message [not only] for [Alex], but for the world too,” she said.
A Co-Write Inspires a Love Song
These days, there’s no shortage of breakup songs listeners have at their fingertips, so Ella wanted to write something different. “This one celebrates your partner, and I feel like we don’t have a lot of those,” she said. Some of her favorite lyrics from “Working Man” are heard in the chorus, with lines such as “I don’t need no perfect man/ I got one who understands/ Good things take putting in the work/ Getting dirt on your hands.” For her, marriage is all about the gift of presence, not perfection. “I think [it’s] very important that everyone looks at their partner and knows that they’re not going to be perfect. Love isn’t perfect. Love takes work, and love is hard,” she said. “As long as you find someone that’s willing to put in the work and willing to give it their all and their best for your relationship … that’s so important. That’s what I really want listeners to take away from this song more than anything.”
Ella also included a song written for Alex on “Growing Wings,” her 2025 EP. “‘Til Chevy Stops Making Trucks” is a tribute to their unbreakable bond and how it would take the impossible to sever it. When it came time to unveil her latest love song, her husband’s reaction let her know she delivered yet again. “He loves [it] when I write a song about him,” she said. “He loves this song so much.”
“Working Man” began taking shape at a co-writing session with fellow songwriters Cassidy Best and Garrett John Mireles when all three began talking about how much fulfillment their relationships bring them. “We’re all three in very long, loving, committed relationships, and we were just all bragging on our partners and how in order to be in a long-standing relationship, it takes work,” she shared.
Ella also said that when it comes to love, the little things are really the big things. “My husband brings me coffee every morning and that … feeds my soul. And he knows it makes me happy,” she said. “He does it because he wants me to start the day off right, especially if I’m having a rough week. He always goes above and beyond for those little moments.”
A Song From the Soul
While the song is personal for Ella, it was a collaborative effort from start to finish. “That’s what makes it so much fun,” she shared. After her co-write with Best and Mireles, producer Casey Wood helped the song come together in the studio.
Ella recorded two different versions of the soulful ballad, and she ended up choosing the one in the higher key because when she sang it, she could put her all into it. “There’s a movie called ‘Soul,’ and when he plays [the piano], his soul leaves his body,” she shared. “That’s kind of how I feel when I sing this song. I just love it. There’s something in it that transforms me.”
One of her favorite parts about the collaborative recording process is hearing the song played back for the first time. “I love when I get the first mix, and I listen to it. I’m like, ‘it’s real. It’s coming together.’ One of the best parts of being an artist is hearing your song that you’ve been working on for so long finally come together,” she said.
When the song debuted recently, just in time for Labor Day weekend, Ella was excited to give country music listeners an uplifting love ballad. “It’s a song that gives you hope, it gives you faith, it gives you something to look forward to,” she said. When asked if she’ll cover the topic more down the road, the newlywed shared that “fans will be getting a lot more” songs that celebrate love and commitment. “That’s my world,” she said.
“Working Man” is available on all major streaming platforms now.
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