The first song by Rhett about heartache, "Crash and Burn" tells the story of the narrator whose relationship falls apart.[5] Prior to the song's release, Rhett admitted that he was worried about the feedback from fans about the new single because of its pop- and R&B-influenced sound.[1]
"Crash and Burn" debuted at number 38 on the BillboardCountry Airplay chart for the week ending April 25, 2015.[6] It sold 40,000 copies in the US in its debut week.[7] The song peaked at No. 2 on the Hot Country Songs, and No. 36 on the Hot 100 for charts dated September 5, 2015. The song reached No. 1 on the Country Airplay three weeks later, his fourth number-one on this chart and the fastest to reach the top spot.[8] The song was certified platinum by the RIAA on September 23, 2015 and double-platinum in 2019.[9] As of January 2016, the song has sold 882,000 copies in the US.[10]
Premiering in June 2015, the music video was directed by TK McKamy[11] and features Rhett, who is dumped by a woman on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge bridge in downtown Nashville. Throughout the video, he pursues her and attempts to win her back, which fails after she walks off and leaves him in the middle of the street. Rhett explained that the video was shot on his "old stomping grounds from college," which he considered cool.[12]