Jake Worthington Delivers Pure Honky-Tonk Gold on New Country Album ‘When I Write The Song’

Today Big Loud Texas country traditionalist Jake Worthington releases his sophomore album When I Write The Song, a 14-song jaunt made for barrooms and honky tonks. A follow up to his critically acclaimed debut album, the new record features all-star collaborations with Miranda Lambert, Marty Stuart and Mae Estes. 

“When I Write The Song is just a testament to myself and for the better or worse it’s who I am and what I do and it’s what I love,” Worthington shares. “When I get behind the old pen and paper, it’s not always the good things that come to mind that I find the easiest to say. I revere the songwriter more than I revere anybody else in the music industry and I’m proud to have had a hand at writing these songs on this record.”

Worthington’s new album doubles down on the authentic country sound he is known for that Texas Monthly defines as “gorgeous beer-joint purism.” When I Write The Song was produced by esteemed hitmakers Joey Moi, Jon Randall and Chuck Ainlay – the forces behind some of country music’s most beloved records. The ethos of the album, sonically reminiscent of greats like Jones, Jennings and Strait, can be summed up as, “music undaunted by time” (The Tennesseean).

Unforgettable songs on the album have begun to carve out a space in the cultural ecosystem from viral “It Ain’t The Whiskey” that has racked up over 40 million listens and is nominated for Texas Country Music Association’s Country Single of the Year toditty “My Home’s In Oklahoma” that led Saving Country Music to claim, the “singles have been lights out.” Home to defining songs like Lambert collab “Hello Shitty Day,” “I’m The One (feat. Marty Stuart)” and the immensely witty “Two First Names,” the title track shines as the product of a solo write by Worthington that MusicRow describes as “a honky-tonk ballad that he invests with heart and a beautifully phrased, bent-note vocal.”

Displaying his honky-tonk stylings on stage, Billboard declared that a recent live set of Worthington’s, “conjured up the ghosts of country legends like George Jones and Waylon Jennings with his twangy, authentic traditionalism and big voice.” He will continue to bring pure country anthems to venues across North America, joining Zach Top as direct support on all dates of the Cold Beer & Country Music Tour, followed by supporting slots on Jon Pardi‘s Honkytonk Hollywood Tour. For tour dates, visit jakeworthington.com.

When I Write The Song Tracklist

1. It Ain’t The Whiskey (Jake Worthington, Will Banister, Jeff Hyde, Roger Springer)
2. Hello Shitty Day (feat. Miranda Lambert) (Dean Dillon, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jesse Frasure, Miranda Lambert)
3. Too Much To Think (Jake Worthington, Monty Holmes, Roger Springer)
4. King Of The World (Jake Worthington, Roger Springer, Jacob Boyd Weinschenk)
5. I’m The One (feat. Marty Stuart) (Jake Worthington, Jenna LaMaster, Marty Stuart)
6. Drownin’ In Whiskey (Jake Worthington, Clint Daniels, Jeff Hyde, Roger Springer)
7. Not Like I Used To (Jake Worthington, Monty Criswell, Derek George)
8. When I Write The Song (Jake Worthington)*
9. Two First Names (Jake Worthington, Wyatt McCubbin, Brett Tyler)
10. I Only Drink When It Rains (Jake Worthington, Roger Springer, Jacob Boyd Weinschenk)
11. I Still Believe In Miracles (Jake Worthington, Robert Arthur, Roger Springer)*
12. I Feel You (feat. Mae Estes) (Jake Worthington, Roger Springer, Jacob Boyd Weinschenk)*
13. My Home’s In Oklahoma (Jake Worthington, Will Banister, Roger Springer)*
14. Get Gone Too (Jake Worthington, Clint Daniels, Jeff Hyde, Roger Springer)

Produced by Joey Moi and Chuck Ainlay

*Produced by Jon Randall and Chuck Ainlay