Scornful Woman

Album: released as a single (2025)
Charted: 102
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Oliver Anthony (real name: Christopher Lunsford) was married to Tiffany Lunsford for several years, and the couple had children together, including one born as recently as October 2023. Anthony wrote "Scornful Woman" about their divorce and the legal and financial battles that followed his rapid rise to fame and fortune after his breakout hit "Rich Men North Of Richmond."
  • The song is Anthony's raw, blues-soaked reaction to divorce court and its accompanying headaches: custody battles, asset wrangling, and the disorienting feeling of becoming rich and famous just as your personal life falls apart. Released on June 4, 2025, while his divorce was still grinding its way through the system, the track carries the sting of fresh wounds.
  • Anthony roped in Billy Contreras, a fiddle wizard known for touring with Ricky Skaggs, and guitarist Joey Davis to play on the song. Both also have writing credits, their contributions turning "Scornful Woman" into a fiery blues-rock hybrid.
  • Draven Riffe produced "Scornful Woman." He helps run the RadioWV YouTube channel, the very outlet that launched Anthony into the spotlight with "Rich Men North of Richmond."
  • The recording has a backwoods, seat-of-the-pants charm. In January 2025, a snowstorm buried Anthony's West Virginia home just as the band was hauling gear up the mountain. Then the power went out. Salvation came in the form of the last generator at the Lowe's in Bluefield, plus a shopping cart's worth of extension cords. "I guess you could technically say this song is gas powered," Anthony quipped.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Mike Scott of The Waterboys

Mike Scott of The WaterboysSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Whole Of The Moon" and "Red Army Blues," and why rock music has "outlived its era of innovation."

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Harold Brown of War

Harold Brown of WarSongwriter Interviews

A founding member of the band War, Harold gives a first-person account of one of the most important periods in music history.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

Tony Joe White

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.