Clay Walker Joins Kirwan The Band For Elizabeth Smart Inspired 'Detours'

(117) Kirwan The Band is joined by country star Clay Walker for an emotional single, "Detours," inspired by child safety activist Elizabeth Smart. Smart's 2025 memoir, Detours, details her personal account of being kidnapped and the journey she's taken to heal through her traumatic experiences. With an important message of how to survive life's detours, this vulnerable track can resonate with anyone who listens.

The new song is written by husband-and-wife Colm and Caitriona Kirwan (Kirwan The Band) with independent musician and producer Matthew Craig Johnson. Born in Ireland, the future Kirwans found their way together through a shared love of music and songwriting. The duo developed during the pandemic, which brought them both to Nashville to make their first record, KIRWAN, also produced by Johnson. Offering a modern pop/country sound, the band sings about love, faith, and hope.

They hand selected Walker to be their duet partner for this powerful release. The song is featured in promotional materials for the harrowing Netflix documentary, Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart.

"Clay Walker has become a dear friend of ours over the years and a real champion of our music. Of course, he carries years of experience as a country artist and songwriter and an amazing award-winning vocalist, but also he knows better than most the theme of perseverance through trials and hard times. He's become a wonderful advocate and voice for many to keep pushing through life challenges and detours of life, especially with his own diagnosis of MS," says Kirwan The Band.

The way, The way, The way

You're gonna look back on your story one day

And see that the detours were always the way

Oh my friend my friend if you need to rest

You can can lay your burdens down I bet

You'll find that you are stronger with each and every step

The courage that you longed for is pounding in your chest

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