In a candid display of vulnerability, MULTI-PLATINUM star Dustin Lynch is boldly opening up like never before amid an internal struggle. At 38 and single, he’s admittedly at a crossroads: Does he settle down, start a family, and lean into domesticity, or continue to carve out a life of extraordinary experiences that most people only dream of? Having released his statement-making sixth studio album, Killed The Cowboy (Broken Bow Records), on Friday (29th September), the charismatic man in the Resistol hat bravely tries to figure that out. Available everywhere, listen here.
“It’s a stunningly self-aware series of questions not only for Lynch to ponder, but for single and newly single people everywhere. Through his 12-track journey – with five to his songwriting credit – on Killed The Cowboy, they’ll realise they’re not alone, thanks to highlights such as the brooding title track, introspective “If I Stop Drinkin’,” the shadowy ballad “Blue Lights,” and yearning come-on of “Lone Star.” But they’ll also find a friend at the party via his raise-’em-up anthems like “George Strait Jr.” and nostalgic dirt road rocker “Chevrolet” (featuring his BBR Music Group labelmate Jelly Roll), to “Honky Tonk Heartbreaker”.
“Honky Tonk Heartbreaker”, written by Lynch, Hunter Phelps, Zach Crowell, and Ben Johnson, is the soundtrack to the best night of your life. With a slippery ’90s guitar lick, lyrics about tequila shots and surprise phone calls, plus an easygoing vocal from Lynch, the Crowell and Johnson co-produced song explodes out of the speakers and carries fans right into the club. It’s the very definition of a banger and a contender for the ultimate party anthem, with all of it framed through the late-night experiences of Lynch – who not only co-wrote the song, but lived it.
Listen to “Honky Tonk Heartbreaker” here and watch the lyric video here.
“When we wrote ‘Honky Tonk Heartbreaker,’ we thought about what could be celebrated by people in Nashville’s Broadway honky-tonk scene, or in any bar scene. It’s a message to those who are single and ready to mingle, who embrace the excitement of getting dressed up to go out and give off a vibe” Lynch adds. “But even those who have found their person will still enjoy the song, because at some point they’ve been out on the prowl, enjoying the nightlife.”
Dustin Lynch’s Killed The Cowboy Track List:
1. “Killed The Cowboy” (Jordan Reynolds, Devin Dawson, Anderson East)*
2. “Honky Tonk Heartbreaker” (Dustin Lynch, Hunter Phelps, Zach Crowell, Ben Johnson)+
3. “George Strait Jr.” (Dustin Lynch, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Reynolds, Andy Albert)*
4. “Chevrolet (feat. Jelly Roll)” (Chase McGill, Jessi Alexander, Hunter Phelps, Mentor Williams)^
5. “If I Stop Drinkin’” (John Morgan, Dallas Davidson, Kyle Fishman, Jordan Minton)*
6. “Only Girl In This Town” (Devin Dawson, Josh Thompson, Kyle Fishman)#
7. “Breakin’ Up Down” (Hunter Phelps, Zach Crowell, Blake Pendergrass, Brent Anderson)*
8. “Trouble With This Truck” (Dustin Lynch, Hunter Phelps, Ashley Gorley, Zach Crowell)*
9. “Blue Lights” (Jameson Rodgers, Jake Mitchell, Brent Anderson, Hunter Phelps)*
10. “Lone Star” (Devin Dawson, Jordan Reynolds, Alysa Vanderheym)*
11. “Listen To The Radio” (Dustin Lynch, Hunter Phelps, Randy Montana, Ben Johnson)*
12. “Long Way Home” (Dustin Lynch, Kyle Fishman, Andy Albert)*
* Produced by Zach Crowell
+ Co-Produced by Zach Crowell and Ben Johnson
^ Co-Produced by Zach Crowell and Ben Phillips
# Co-Produced by Zach Crowell and Kyle Fishman
Presenting on NBC’s inaugural 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards live from the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN, last Thursday (28th September), Lynch is in the middle of a high-profile media blitz with features in Associated Press, Fox News, PEOPLE, American Songwriter, CMT, The Tennessean, and more, in addition to broadcast segments on Entertainment Tonight and Access Daily with Mario & Kit. He’s also been named one of Nashville Lifestyles‘ Most Beautiful People in their annual issue on stands now.
As the much-anticipated follow-up to Blue In The Sky, Lynch’s 2022 release delivered the history-making “Thinking ‘Bout You (feat. MacKenzie Porter),” which became the #1 song on the Mediabase 2022 Year-End Chart Country and #2 on the Billboard 2022 Year-End Country Airplay Songs chart. The PLATINUM, six-week #1 collaboration remains the longest-running Top 10 single in Billboard Country Airplay chart history at 28 weeks and Broken Bow Records’ longest-reigning single at US Country radio. The acclaimed album also included hit “Party Mode” and Lynch’s latest chart-rising single “Stars Like Confetti“, that’s nearing Top 5.