By Gene DeCesare
Pennsylvania-based country artist Gary Pratt continues his musical partnership with Kate Szallar, following a playful summer single with an upcoming release that promises another chapter in their exploration of love.
Country music has always been fascinated by love’s contradictions. It can arrive like a thunderstorm, disappear without warning, or quietly take root in the most ordinary circumstances. For Pennsylvania country singer Gary Pratt, those emotional possibilities have become fertile creative territory, particularly through his ongoing collaboration with vocalist Kate Szallar.
Their latest musical chapter began with the July 3, 2026 release of “4th of July,” a playful, romantic country single that transforms America’s biggest summer celebration into a metaphor for irresistible attraction. Now, with another collaboration titled “Never Been in Love” on the horizon, Pratt and Szallar are extending a musical partnership that continues to put human connection at the center of the story.
And if “4th of July” demonstrated anything, it’s that Pratt knows how to make a familiar idea feel personal.
Fireworks Without the Holiday
At first glance, “4th of July” sounds like the title of a patriotic country anthem. One might reasonably expect references to small-town parades, American flags, backyard barbecues and fireworks illuminating the summer sky.
Pratt delivers the fireworks, all right. Just not the ones listeners might expect.
The song opens on an ordinary February night, with two lovers discovering that their chemistry can generate more heat than the middle of summer. The holiday becomes a metaphor for romantic excitement, transforming a private evening into something worthy of celebration.
The chorus embraces the idea with infectious enthusiasm, comparing physical attraction to fireworks exploding overhead. Its playful imagery, memorable repetition and flirtatious energy give the recording an unmistakably feel-good personality.
Rather than chasing grand declarations, Pratt celebrates the simple pleasure of being with someone who makes an otherwise ordinary moment extraordinary.
Kate Szallar’s participation adds an important dimension to the recording. Her vocal presence brings warmth and balance, allowing the song to feel like a shared romantic experience rather than a one-sided declaration.
Together, they capture the excitement of two people who don’t need an actual holiday to find a reason to celebrate.
The production comes courtesy of Adam Ernst, who also performs every instrument on the track. Ernst, whose recording credits include work with Bailey Zimmerman, Mickey Guyton and Chase Matthew, provides a polished contemporary country backdrop without sacrificing the song’s playful character.
The result is a recording that comfortably bridges traditional country storytelling and modern commercial sensibilities.
A Partnership Built on Musical Chemistry
For Pratt, the collaboration with Szallar represents more than an opportunity to share the microphone. It highlights the versatility of an artist whose career has included heartfelt ballads, upbeat country anthems and songs rooted in personal experience.
A native of Slickville, Pennsylvania, Pratt has spent years establishing himself in independent country music, earning recognition for his recordings and performances while maintaining close ties to his western Pennsylvania roots.
His 2021 album Something Worth Remembering, dedicated to his late brother, revealed an artist comfortable exploring grief, memory and emotional vulnerability. His more recent recordings have demonstrated a lighter side, celebrating romance, humor and the everyday experiences that bring people together.
“4th of July” fits naturally into that evolution. It offers a reminder that country music doesn’t always need heartbreak to tell a compelling story.
Sometimes happiness is enough.
Looking Ahead to “Never Been in Love”
With “Never Been in Love,” Pratt is preparing to continue his collaboration with Szallar, introducing another song whose title immediately raises intriguing romantic possibilities.
Where “4th of July” celebrates the unmistakable excitement of attraction, “Never Been in Love” suggests an opportunity to explore love from another emotional perspective.
The title alone invites questions. Is it about someone discovering genuine love for the first time? Someone who has experienced relationships but never felt anything truly lasting? Or someone whose understanding of love changes after meeting the right person?
Those possibilities make the forthcoming single an interesting companion to its predecessor, although its precise story and musical direction have yet to be publicly detailed.
What is already clear is that Pratt and Szallar are continuing to develop their musical partnership rather than treating “4th of July” as an isolated collaboration.
That continuity offers the potential for something increasingly valuable in contemporary country music: a recognizable connection between two performers whose voices can carry different sides of the same emotional experience.
A New Chapter for Gary Pratt
For an artist who has spent years balancing professional commitments, live performances and recording projects, Pratt’s continued output reflects a commitment to keeping his musical story moving forward.
His latest work also demonstrates the enduring appeal of straightforward country songwriting. While production trends evolve and commercial tastes shift, listeners still respond to recognizable emotions, memorable melodies and performers who make their stories believable.
“4th of July” accomplished that through humor, warmth and an infectious celebration of romantic chemistry. “Never Been in Love” now offers the prospect of exploring another dimension of the subject.
Whether the forthcoming release delivers a tender ballad, a reflective love story or another upbeat declaration remains to be heard.
But the larger picture is already taking shape.
Gary Pratt and Kate Szallar are building a musical relationship around one of country music’s oldest and most dependable subjects: the extraordinary things that happen when two people connect.
With “4th of July,” they gave listeners fireworks.
With “Never Been in Love,” they’re preparing to find out what happens next.
