A new album is coming from Joe Nichols. The 47-year-old announces the release of his 11th studio album, Honky Tonks and Country Songs, out on October 25.
“I’ve been in a lot of honky tonks,” Nichols says of the inspiration behind the record. “They’re the only places I could play for a long time, and you learn a lot about being an entertainer there, because people come wanting to hear a good song and have a good time. Country songs speak not just to those people, but to all people.”
“My job is to make people feel good. And sometimes that means with fun and happy songs, and other times with sad and sorrowful truths. But the goal is always to make them feel good,” he continues. “This album is meant to do exactly that. Everyone can find a good time in a honky tonk and a country song.”
Earlier this year, while performing on the Country Music Cruise, the Arkansas native hinted that a new record would be out from him this year.
“We’re working on a new album,” Nichols revealed to Everything Nash. “Got some really cool stuff too. Some old ’90s-country feeling stuff … There’s some real good dance music in there, some feel-good stuff. A lot of stuff we can get on the dance floor with.”
Photo Credit: Ford Fairchild
Nichols’ self-titled debut album came out in 1996, waiting six years to release his sophomore Man with a Memory project. His last album, Good Day for Living, was released in 2022, and included the title track, which became Nichols’ first Top 20 hit since 2014.
“It’s funny how that’s happened. As one Twitter user put it, I’ve had more comebacks than the McRibs,” Nichols said with a laugh. “That sums it up. It seems like I go a couple of years without having a song on the radio, and then I get three or four more, and then go a couple of years again. It’s another part of the cycle, but I’m glad for it.”
Honky Tonks and Country Songs boasts an impressive list of songwriters, including Tyler Hubbard, Dan Isbell, Josh Kear and more. Nichols also included a cover of the Hank Willimas, Jr. classic, “Country Boy Can Survive,” as well as a duet, “Better Than You” with Annie Bosko. See a track list for Honky Tonks and Country Songs below. Pre-order/pre-save will be available beginning on September 6.
“Doin’ Life With You” will be out on Friday, August 30, joining “Bottle It Up,” which was released last month. Find all of Nichols’ music and upcoming shows at JoeNichols.com.
Honky Tonks and Country Songs Track List:
1. Honky Tonks and Country Songs – (Tyler Hubbard/Matt Jenkins/Travis Wood/Casey Brown)
2. Bottle It Up – (Josh Kear/Dan Isbell/Paul Sikes)
3. People Still Doin’ That – (Justin Lantz/Clint Daniels)
4. Helpless in a Honky Tonk – (Jared Keim/Ryan Beaver/Neil Medley/Dan Alley)
5. Country Boy Can Survive – (Hank Williams Jr)
6. Hard Fires (featuring Stevie Woodward) – (Michael Carter/Adam Craig/Matt Rogers)
7. Doin’ Life with You – (Jimmy Yeary)
8. Y’all Do – (Jake Mitchell/Michael Hardy/Mike Walker)
9. On and On – (Jason Sellers Terri Jo Box/Dan Smalley)
10. Better Than You (Joe Nichols & Annie Bosko) – (Derek George/John Pierce)
11. Amazing Ways – (Dan Isbell/Jordan Minton/Jonathan Smith)
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Quartz Hill Records / Gregg Roth