Jamey Johnson

Jamey Johnson navigates contemporary country with equal ease whether delivering a tear-stained ballad in the vein of Hank Williams or igniting a crowd with a raucous honky-tonk anthem. His strength in both modes led to placements for Gretchen Wilson, George Strait, and Trace Adkins. The Dollar marked his major-label arrival in 2006, followed in 2008 by That Lonesome Song. The double album The Guitar Song arrived in 2010, debuting at number one on the country chart and number four on the Billboard 200. Five years later he released the Grammy-winning covers collection Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran. After lengthy road work and a pandemic pause, Johnson resurfaced nearly a decade afterward with Midnight Gasoline, his Warner Bros. debut.

The Alabama native and ex-Marine scaled Nashville’s hierarchy through relentless effort. A devout, music-filled upbringing guided his traditionalist bent, yet only after settling in Music City did wider attention arrive. Following nearly a year out of sight, he surfaced at songwriter rounds and forged connections with other writers. Once those peers secured publishing deals, they frequently recruited him to sing their demos.

In 2002, mutual acquaintance Randy Hardison steered producer and songwriter Buddy Cannon toward Johnson; the pair forged a lasting bond that endured Hardison’s death later that year. Publisher Gary Overton soon signed the emerging writer to EMI. April 2005 brought a BNA recording contract, and The Dollar reached stores in January 2006. After touring the project he was dropped, then endured a separation and divorce that prompted a year of withdrawal before he reappeared ready to record again. Two major labels expressed interest, but Mercury ultimately issued That Lonesome Song in August 2008. Lead single “In Color” climbed to number nine on the Billboard country chart, “The High Cost of Living” reached number 34, and the album earned gold status. At the 2009 CMA Awards Johnson took Song of the Year for “In Color,” collected further nominations, and later saw the record certified platinum.

Fall 2010 brought the expansive double set The Guitar Song, introduced by single “Playing the Part.” The project, its singles, and videos drew broad acclaim, sold strongly, and attained gold certification. Fall 2012 yielded Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran, featuring Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Merle Haggard, Leon Russell, and Kris Kristofferson. December 2014 saw the five-track holiday EP Christmas Song, which included collaborations with Lily Meola and the Secret Sisters plus the new original “South Alabam Christmas,” his first self-recorded song in four years. Publishing conflicts curtailed activity, yet the launch of his own Big Gassed Records signaled progress. A handful of previously recorded singles appeared independently in 2015 while he continued performing live and writing for others, including two tracks George Strait cut for 2015’s Cold Beer Conversation.

After extended touring, pandemic restrictions, and health setbacks, Johnson signed with Warner Bros. and began the What A View tour in April, mixing catalog material with unreleased songs. May brought the charting single “21 Guns,” followed in September by “Sober.” He also participated in Life Is a Carnival: The Last Waltz Tour ‘24 alongside Don Was, Ryan Bingham, Lukas Nelson, Mike Campbell, and Benmont Tench. November saw the release of Midnight Gasoline on his Warner imprint Big Gassed Records. Prompted by the deaths of close friends Toby Keith and Tony Joe White, the album was tracked at Cash Cabin, the studio run by John Carter Cash. Johnson spent three weeks laying down roughly thirty songs—he never stopped writing—and slept in his tour bus outside the studio. “Saturday Night in New Orleans” had begun as a collaboration with White and was completed years later with Chris Stapleton.