It looks like Sturgill Simpson, or “Johnny Blue Skies” as he goes by these days will likely have new music in 2026. And according to the singer and guitarist for The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach, don’t be surprised if he’s involved in some capacity.
Auerbach is up for Producer of the Year at the upcoming Grammy Awards on February 1st. Along with his Black Keys work, he’s a prolific producer, working with Early James, Robert Finley, Jermie Albino, and more over the last year or so. He says that being able to support himself through the Black Keys allows him to work with artists the don’t necessarily represent a financial boon to him.
“It allows me to work on stuff I personally love, and it can be an artist who has no followers or an old established artist,” Auerbach said to The Tennessean recently. “I think what we do here is very boutique and very grassroots in a way.”
But one artists that he says he’s working with would definitely be a big deal. Later in the interview, it casually slips out, “And in 2026, Auerbach’s got work on the horizon with Sturgill Simpson.”
We don’t know what that work is just yet. But we do know that back in September when Simpson was performing at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado, he said in a rather colorful burst of language,
“Fu-k it, I’ll tell you. Just so you guys know, we’re already gearing up. You ain’t ready, but we’re going to give it to you anyway. We just wrapped up a nice little … a new record… in the can. And for all the record labels out there acting like record labels that want to fu-k around, f-ck around. Find out. I just want to make America fu-k again!”
Sturgill Simpson or “Johnny Blue Skies” also recently started (or restarted) an Instagram account, with the last post reiterating “There is no STU, only JBS.”
Is the Dan Auerbach collaboration part of the same Johnny Blue Skies album Sturgill referenced at Red Rocks? Will it be a new studio session for 2026? Will Auerbach be acting in the capacity as producer or just a player? We’ll have to see.
Stay tuned.
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