Kellie Pickler's family drama on display in new 'Tough' video

Kellie Pickler may have collaborated with Taylor Swift on the poppy "Best Days of Your Life," but on her new single, "Tough," she sounds like she's headed in a more Miranda Lambert-ish direction. (Of course, it helps having Lambert's producer, Frank Liddell on board!)

The just-released music video for "Tough" tells the story of a girl trying to connect with her incarcerated father, which reflects Pickler's upbringing. Throughout her childhood, Kellie's father was in and out of jail, and her mother, after abandoning her daughter when she was 2, eventually lost custody of Kellie, who was raised by her grandparents.

All that familial drama helped make Pickler "Tough," and now she wants you to know it. "The way I see it, the hand of fate did me a favor with the hand he dealt my way," she sasses while slinking through a hallway in a tight white tank top (She must be a Dierks Bentley fan!) Watch the clip below:

The video's really not anything special, but it is a pleasantly unexpected move for Ms. Pickler to embrace such an old-school sound. Hopefully, it will give her song a much-needed push on radio. Country could use some more strong female perspective!

What do you think of the (finally released) new video?

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Jason Aldean's gorgeous, patriotic 'Tattoos On This Town' video: Watch it here