Honky Tonks & Country Songs

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Honky Tonks & Country Songs
Honky Tonks & Country Songs - Joe Nichols.webp
Studio album by
Joe Nichols
ReleasedOctober 24, 2024 (2024-10-24)
Genre Country
Length37:57
Label Quartz Hill
Producer
Joe Nichols chronology
Good Day for Living
(2022)		Honky Tonks & Country Songs
(2024)
Singles from Honky Tonks & Country Songs
  1. "Bottle It Up"
    Released: July 19, 2024
  2. "Doin' Life With You"
    Released: September 6, 2024
  3. "Better Than You"
    Released: September 27, 2024

Honky Tonks & Country Songs is the eleventh studio album by American country music artist Joe Nichols. It was released on October 25, 2024, via Quartz Hill. Three singles have been released from the album, including "Better Than You", a duet with Annie Bosko, which became Nichols' highest charting song on the Billboard Country Airplay chart since 2022.

Contents

Background and recording

Nichols first announced the album on August 27, 2024, confirming its release for October 25 via Quartz Hill Records. [1] The album marked his first full-length project since Good Day for Living in 2022. Nichols worked closely with longtime producers Mickey Jack Cones and Derek George. [2]

According to Nichols, Honky Tonks & Country Songs was heavily inspired by his early career experiences playing in small-town bars and dancehalls: "I've been in a lot of honky tonks. They're the only places I could play for a long time, and you learn about being an entertainer there, because people come wanting to hear a good song and have a good time." [1] [3] [4] He added that the album aimed to balance upbeat songs with emotionally heavier material, reflecting his philosophy that country music's role is "to make people feel good" in different ways. [1] [3]

Nichols also emphasized that his voice was in its strongest form in years, allowing him to reconnect with his early "old-school" vocal style during the recording sessions. [2] [5]

On October 19, 2024, Nichols headlined a release party at Gilley's Dallas, coinciding with the venue's 21st anniversary celebration. [6] The album was officially released on October 25, 2024, across all digital and physical platforms. [2] [4] Leading up to the launch, Nichols co-hosted Backstage Country with Kelly Ford, where he discusses the making of the record and shared stories behind individual songs. [7]

Themes

Honky Tonks & Country Songs blends traditionalist leanings with modern country production. The record includes mid-tempo ballads, honky-tonk anthems, and heartfelt duets. [2] [5]

Critical reception

MusicRow critics Robert K. Oermann praised the album as "goosebump-thrilling," singling out "Better Than You" as a standout track. [6] Billboard described Nichols as "one of country music's most consistent, indelible vocalists," [8] noting that the album connected traditional country's past with its resurgent present. [2]

Track listing

Honky Tonks & Country Songs track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Honky Tonks and Country Songs"
3:09
2."Bottle It Up"
2:53
3."People Still Doing That"
3:32
4."Helpless in a Honky Tonk"
3:33
5."Country Boy Can Survive" Hank Williams Jr. 4:21
6."Hard Fires" (featuring Stevie Woodward)
3:33
7."Doin' Life With You" Jimmy Yeary 4:01
8."Y'all Do"
3:12
9."On and On"
2:57
10."Better Than You" (featuring Annie Bosko)
3:46
11."Amazing Ways"
  • Isbell
  • Jordan Minton
  • Jonathan Smith
2:55
Total length:37:57

References

  1. 1 2 3 Remz, Jeremy B. (August 27, 2024). "Nichols explores "Honky Tonks and Country Songs"". Country Standard Time. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Joe Nichols Shares 'Honky Tonks and Country Songs'". antiMusic. October 27, 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Hahnen, Madison (August 27, 2025). "Joe Nichols To Celebrate 'Honky Tonks & Country Songs' On New Album". MusicRow . Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Here Is Joe Nichols' Album 'Honky Tonks & Country Songs'". Country Swag. October 25, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Hollabaugh, Lorie (October 28, 2024). "Joe Nichols' New 'Honky Tonks And Country Songs' Out Now". MusicRow . Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Daykin, James (October 28, 2024). "Joe Nichols releases new album 'Honky Tonks and Country Songs'". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  7. ↑ Delacruz, Yvette (October 21, 2024). "Inside Joe Nichols' Music: The Stories Behind 3 Songs". Backstage Country. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  8. ↑ Nicholson, Jessica (September 9, 2024). "6 Must-Hear New Country Songs: George Strait, Luke Bryan, Riley Green, Ella Langley & More". Billboard . Retrieved September 28, 2025.
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