Different Night Same Rodeo

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Different Night Same Rodeo
Different Night Same Rodeo - Bailey Zimmerman.webp
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 8, 2025 (2025-08-08)
Genre
Length57:35
Label
Producer Austin Shawn
Bailey Zimmerman chronology
Religiously. The Album.
(2023)
Different Night Same Rodeo
(2025)
Singles from Different Night Same Rodeo
  1. "Holy Smokes"
    Released: June 10, 2024
  2. "Backup Plan"
    Released: May 2, 2025
  3. "Ashes"
    Released: June 27, 2025

Different Night Same Rodeo is the second studio album by American country artist Bailey Zimmerman. The album was released on August 8, 2025, via Warner Nashville and Elektra.

Contents

Background

Following the success of Zimmerman's debut album, Religiously. The Album , he began working on material for a follow-up while balancing a heavy touring schedule that included headlining his own tour and opening for Morgan Wallen, Kane Brown, and Luke Bryan. [1] Although he initially assembled a batch of songs for his sophomore record, Zimmerman ultimately "pulled the plug" on the project, feeling it was not personal enough. [1] He restarted the process, writing new songs and co-writing seven of the final eighteen tracks himself. [1] [2]

Zimmerman announced Different Night Same Rodeo on July 8, 2025, via social media and during a live performance at Spotify House during CMA Fest in Nashville. [3] He explained that the title was taken from a lyric of the opening track "Comin' in Cold," a fiddle-driven ballad of heartbreak. [4] [5] He chose it because it resonated with his own experience of romantic struggles and repetitive patterns in relationships. [4]

While debuting the track "Comin' in Cold", Zimmerman told the audience that he had spent the past two years working on the album and had postponed its release due to his mother's illness. [3] "This album is something different... Everybody around me feels like it's the album I'm supposed to put out." [3] In his announcement on social media, he thanked his fans for their patience, saying, "I hope the wait is worth it," and hinted at the album's emotional depth. [6] [7] The project was produced by Zimmerman's longtime collaborator Austin Shawn, who also produced his debut album, Religiously. The Album. [6] [8]

Zimmerman said he aimed to create a project that was both more mature and personal, while still showcasing the energetic, rock-infused style that earned him a devoted following. [6] [9]

To promote the album, Zimmerman launched his New To Country Tour in mid-2025, with his first shows taking place in early June in Indianapolis and Sterling, Michigan. [6] The tour is promoted by Live Nation and features opening acts Dylan Marlowe and Drew Baldridge. [6] In addition to the tour, Zimmerman is set to perform at several major festivals throughout the year, including Hoofbeat, Country Jam, Country Thunder, Big Valley Jamboree, and Boots & Hearts. [6]

Themes

The album continues Zimmerman's blend of traditional country storytelling with modern rock and pop influences, [3] [9] while incorporating southern rock and soft rock. [10] [5] Songs like "Comin' in Cold" highlight themes of emotional conflict and romantic self-sabotage. Zimmerman described the track as "about this girl that I shouldn't be chasing. I'm chasing red flags and I'm addicted to it." [6] He added that the song reflects his life over the past few years and hinted at a greater sense of vulnerability and artistic growth throughout the album. [6]

Recurring lyrical themes include heartbreak, lost love, regret, and perseverance, with Zimmerman often drawing on autobiographical experiences. [1] [2] [5] While ballads such as "At the Same Time" and "Yours for the Breaking" dwell on fractured relationships, upbeat tracks like "Backup Plan" (featuring Luke Combs) and "New to Country" emphasize determination and defiance. [10] [2] [5] Songs like "Ashes" (featuring Diplo) and "Lost" (featuring the Kid Laroi) expand Zimmerman's sound into pop and electronic textures while maintaining his vocal grit. [10] [2] [5]

Zimmerman has said that faith and personal renewal also shaped the album, with tracks such as "Hell or High Water" reflecting his spiritual journey. [1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Country Central7.2/10 [10]
Entertainment FocusStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [5]

Different Night Same Rodeo received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Zimmerman's vocal delivery, willingness to experiment across genres, and authentic approach to songwriting, while also noting some unevenness in cohesion.

Max Buondonno of Country Central gave the album a 7.2/10, calling Zimmerman "a genuine, down-to-earth heartthrob" with Post Malone-like vibrato but also one who occasionally lapses into "Florida Georgia Line-style bro-country." [10] Buondonno noted that the record's "playlist mentality" created an uneven listening experience but argues that the variety was part of its charm. [10] He praised the "infectious" collaboration with the Kid Laroi on "Lost" and called Zimmerman's ability to sound authentic on both party anthems and somber ballads the album's greatest strength. [10]

Melinda Newman of Billboard highlighted the album's thematic focus on heartbreak and resilience, describing Zimmerman's vocals as carrying a "rugged, appealing vulnerability." [2] She singled out "Backup Plan" with Luke Combs and "Comin' in Cold" as standout tracks that balanced country grit with rock influences. [2] However, she noted that the album "could use some more up-tempo tracks," suggesting that its emotional weight occasionally overshadowed its energy. [2] Jessica Nicholson, also of Billboard, emphasized Zimmerman's decision to scrap his first attempt at the sophomore album and begin again in order to make a more personal project. [1] She praised the mix of self-written tracks outside cuts from Nashville songwriters, noting that the final album reflected Zimmerman's growth and willingness to balance radio-ready hooks with raw, autobiographical detail. [1]

James Daykin of Entertainment Focus awarded the album 4.5 stars out of five, praising its "confident and compelling step forward" compared to Zimmerman's debut. [5] He pointed to the "poignant" storytelling of "Chevy Silverado" and the "inventive" genre crossover of "Lost" as standout moments, while commending Zimmerman's expanded sonic palette that included banjo, fiddle, and rootsier instrumentation. [5] Daykin concluded that while the album centered heavily on heartbreak, Zimmerman's emotional honesty and stylistic variety kept it from feeling repetitive. [5]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Comin' in Cold"
  • Jaron Boyer
  • Matt Gorman
  • Jake Puliti
  • Kaylin Roberson
3:00
2."Ashes" (featuring Diplo)3:03
3."Chevy Silverado"
3:41
4."Yours for the Breaking"
3:19
5."Lost" (featuring the Kid Laroi)
3:16
6."Holy Smokes"
3:15
7."When it Was"
  • Kelly Archer
  • Ben Goldsmith
  • Carson Wallace
  • Ben Williams
3:12
8."It's All Good"
  • Beathard
  • David Dorn
  • Ryan Tyndell
2:50
9."Backup Plan" (featuring Luke Combs)
3:01
10."New to Country"
  • Tim Galloway
  • Jacob Hackworth
  • Shawn
  • Warren
  • Zimmerman
2:57
11."At the Same Time"
2:57
12."Hell or High Water"3:14
13."These Nights"
  • Nora Collins
  • Randall Fowler
  • Mary Kutter
  • Brad Wagner
3:39
14."Everything But Up"
3:31
15."Before You"
2:51
16."Holding On"
  • Shawn
  • Blake Whiten
3:50
17."Dare You to Try It"
  • Beathard
  • Lucas
  • Martinez
  • Shawn
  • Warren
  • Zimmerman
3:03
18."Happy Ever After Me"
  • Beathard
  • Bell
2:47
Total length:57:35

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. [11] [12]

Musicians

  • Bailey Zimmerman – lead vocals
  • Austin Shawn – background vocals (all tracks), programming (tracks 1–16, 18), drums (6, 12), bass (7, 10–12), strings (11), drum programming (17)
  • Tim Galloway – acoustic guitar (1–16, 18), mandolin (1–4, 7, 13, 14, 16, 18), banjo (1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 14, 18), electric guitar (1, 3–7, 10, 12, 13, 16–18), bouzouki (2, 8, 10, 17), pedal steel guitar (2), 12-string guitar (3, 7, 9, 13), slide guitar (6, 17), nylon-strung guitar (15), bass (17)
  • Dave Cohen – piano (1–4, 6–8, 13, 17, 18), synthesizer (2–5, 7, 8, 13, 15–18), organ (3–5, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18), strings (6, 12, 15, 16), Hammond B3 organ (9, 17), Wurlitzer (9), keyboards (10, 12, 16)
  • Scotty Sanders – pedal steel guitar (1, 5, 17), steel guitar (3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 18), Dobro (6)
  • Rob McNelley – electric guitar (1, 3–5, 7–9, 13, 15, 18), slide guitar (9)
  • Jerry Roe – drums, percussion (1, 3–5, 8–10, 13–15, 18)
  • Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass (1, 3–5, 8, 13–16, 18)
  • Jenee Fleenorfiddle (1, 4, 12, 16)
  • Matt McVaney – acoustic guitar (1), piano (15)
  • Josh Serrato – bass, electric guitar (2)
  • Andrew Peebles – background vocals (6)
  • Michael Rinne – bass (6)
  • Justin Schipper – pedal steel guitar (6)
  • Adam Ernst – electric guitar (7)
  • Steve Mackey – bass (9)
  • Luke Combs – featured vocals (9)
  • Ben JohnsonRhodes piano (11)
  • Brandon Hood – slide guitar (11, 15)
  • Kurt Ozan – pedal steel guitar (12, 16, 17)
  • MacKenzie Carpenter – background vocals (13)
  • Chris McHugh – drums (16)
  • Brendan Orchard – electric guitar (16)
  • Travis Toy – pedal steel guitar (16)
  • Bryan Sutton – acoustic guitar (17)

Technical

  • Austin Shawnproduction, mixing (all tracks); mastering (tracks 1, 3–18), engineering (6, 9, 10, 12, 16), additional engineering (1, 3–5, 7, 8, 11, 13, 17, 18), digital editing (1, 3–5, 7–11, 13–15, 17, 18)
  • Diplo – production (2)
  • Josh Serrato – production (2)
  • Jim Cooley – mixing (all tracks), engineering (16)
  • Eric Lagg – mastering (2)
  • Josh Ditty – engineering (1, 15)
  • Drew Bollman – engineering (3, 5, 7–9, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18)
  • Sean Phelan – engineering (5)
  • Chip Matthews – engineering (9)
  • Brian David Willis – digital editing (1, 3–5, 7–9, 11, 13–15, 17, 18)
  • Katelyn Prieboy – engineering assistance (1, 15)
  • Zach Kulhman – engineering assistance (3–5, 7–9, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18)
  • Austin Brown – engineering assistance (3–5, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18)
  • Chris Vanoverberghe – engineering assistance (3–5, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18)
  • Bryan Gomez – engineering assistance (5)
  • Jacob Dendy – engineering assistance (5)
  • Mate Gere – engineering assistance (5)
  • Alyson McAnally – production coordination (1, 3–5, 7–11, 13–15, 17, 18)

Charts

Chart performance for Different Night Same Rodeo
Chart (2025)Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [13] 10
UK Album Downloads (OCC) [14] 31
UK Country Albums (OCC) [15] 6
US Billboard 200 [16] 12
US Top Country Albums (Billboard) [17] 3

Certifications

Certifications for Different Night Same Rodeo
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [18] Gold40,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Nicholson, Jessica (August 6, 2025). "Why Bailey Zimmerman 'Pulled the Plug' on His First Attempt at Making His New Album". Billboard . Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Newman, Melinda (August 8, 2025). "Bailey Zimmerman's 'Different Night Same Rodeo': All 18 Tracks Ranked". Billboard . Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Mier, Tomás (June 6, 2025). "Bailey Zimmerman Announces Album 'Different Night Same Rodeo'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Mower, Maxim (June 6, 2025). ""She was Cheating": Bailey Zimmerman Shares the Heartbreaking Story That Inspired His New Album Title, 'Different Night Same Rodeo'". Holler. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Daykin, James (August 8, 2025). "Review: Bailey Zimmerman evolves without losing his USP on new album 'Different Night Same Rodeo'". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 O'Connell, Madeleine (June 11, 2025). "Bailey Zimmerman Announces New 'Different Night Same Rodeo' Album, Kicks Off New To Country Tour". Country Now. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  7. Humphrey, Jack (June 5, 2025). "Bailey Zimmerman Reveals New Album, "Different Night Same Rodeo"". Country Central. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  8. Sink, Lauryn (June 6, 2025). "Bailey Zimmerman Slates Sophomore Album For August". MusicRow . Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  9. 1 2 Gehlich, Clare (June 9, 2025). "Bailey Zimmerman announces sophomore album 'Different Night Same Rodeo' and shares single "Comin' In Cold"". Medolic Magazine. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Buondonno, Max (August 8, 2025). "Bailey Zimmerman, "Different Night Same Rodeo" – Album Review". Country Central. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  11. "Different Night Same Rodeo / Bailey Zimmerman / Credits". Tidal . Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  12. "Ashes / Diplo / Credits". Tidal . Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  13. "Bailey Zimmerman Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  14. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  15. "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  16. "Bailey Zimmerman Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  17. "Bailey Zimmerman Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  18. "Canadian album certifications – Bailey Zimmerman – Different Night Same Rodeo". Music Canada . Retrieved August 20, 2025.