The TikTok hit comes to vivid life — and death — in a clip that warns men not to cross the Oklahoma country singer
Kaitlin Butts is shooting off fingers and poisoning suitors — including real-life husband Cleto Cordero of Flatland Cavalry — in the gloriously campy video for “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead to Me),” the track off her album Roadrunner! that blew up on TikTok.
The music video, directed by Chris Beyrooty, is rooted in spaghetti western imagery: sun-baked building facades, dusty roads, and horse-drawn carriages all help tell Butts’ tale of a vengeful woman, Kissin’ Katie B.
“Making this music video was something I’ve wanted to do since I put out this album,” Butts said in a statement. “I’ve had the treatment for it since January 2024, when I was writing the videos for ‘Wild Juanita’s,’ ‘Hunt You Down’ and ‘Other Girls.’ When ‘You Ain’t Gotta Die’ started to have its viral moment, I was so excited to create something I’ve had in my head for so long. We looped in director Chris Beyrooty to help me bring it all to life and I could not be more pleased with how it turned out. I took some inspiration from some of my favorite movies, Holes, Django Unchained and Chicago. Expect a little dance with a side of blood, lipstick and justice.”
“You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead to Me)” caught fire on TikTok back in May, after the country singer Avery Anna posted a video of herself lip-syncing to the song. Ella Langley, Brianna LaPaglia, and even Valerie Bertinelli all followed suit. Eventually the clip hit more than 120 million TikTok views.
“That sparked a huge streaming spike, and it is kind of changing my life before my eyes,” Butts told Rolling Stone in June. “It’s a year later after the album release, and I keep seeing friends and people that I have followed for a long time, and random influencers who are comedians who I have followed forever, are posting them. I feel the support.”
