Auerbach is up for Producer of the Year at the upcoming Grammy Awards on February 1st. Along with his Black Keys work, he\u2019s 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\u2019t necessarily represent a financial boon to him. <\/p> \u201cIt allows me to work on stuff I personally love, and it can be an artist who has no followers or an old established artist,\u201d<\/em> Auerbach said to The Tennessean<\/a><\/em> recently. \u201cI think what we do here is very boutique and very grassroots in a way.\u201d<\/em><\/p> But one artists that he says he\u2019s working with would definitely be a big deal. Later in the interview, it casually slips out, \u201cAnd in 2026, Auerbach\u2019s got work on the horizon with Sturgill Simpson.\u201d<\/em> <\/p> We don\u2019t 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<\/a> in a rather colorful burst of language, <\/p> \u201cFu-k it, I\u2019ll tell you. Just so you guys know, we\u2019re already gearing up. You ain\u2019t ready, but we\u2019re going to give it to you anyway. We just wrapped up a nice little \u2026 a new record\u2026 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.\u00a0I just want to make America fu-k again!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sturgill Simpson or \u201cJohnny Blue Skies\u201d also recently started (or restarted) an Instagram account<\/a>, with the last post reiterating \u201cThere is no STU, only JBS.\u201d<\/em> <\/p> 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\u2019ll have to see. <\/p> Stay tuned. <\/p> \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you found this article valuable, consider leaving<\/em>\u00a0Saving Country Music A TIP<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>