At most, it takes about three seconds of listening to any Jake Worthington song to know you’re in for a country-as-hell, honky tonkin’ time. The Texas native is one of the premiere flag flyers of traditional country music, and he continues to prove it time and time again.
Two years removed from his self-titled album, Worthington has since released three singles that will feature on his sophomore effort. Two of those songs, featuring country music royalty Miranda Lambert and Marty Stuart, respectively, have us chomping at the bit for the September album release that Worthington clued us in on at CMA Fest last week. The album’s third single, “It Ain’t the Whiskey,” in just two months since its release, has captured the eyes and ears of millions of hungry traditional country fans. So many fans, in fact, that Worthington initially thought the song’s staggering pre-release metrics were a cruel joke being played on him.
We caught up with Worthington to talk about his recent single releases, recording with legends, his forthcoming album and more!
Pro Country: You’re two years removed from the release of your self-titled, debut album. With two years having passed, how do you look back on the record and the jumping off point that it provided for you?
Jake Worthington: I’m proud of the work that we did on that album. I believed in the work we put into it and the songs we put on there. I was happy to finally get a full album out. We’d been writing songs for a while. This year, we cut a new record, and we’re picking from the same old pile of songs and adding on to it, so it’s exciting!
PC: Last year, you made the move to Big Loud Texas, which was co-founded by Miranda Lambert. What has her belief in your talent and her friendship meant to you?
JW: It’s meant a lot. Miranda is the real deal. She’s very revered to people like me who came up playing bar rooms. Her perspective is one that not many people in her position have. I’m grateful that she took a chance on me and that she loves traditional country music.
PC: Your first single release after your album, “Hello Shitty Day,” also features Miranda Lambert. Why did you and your team feel that “Hello Shitty Day” was the right follow up to the album and the right song to kick off your next musical chapter?
JW: I figured we didn’t have radio behind us, and that certainly wasn’t a radio song [laughs]. Miranda sent it to me. Dean and Jessie Jo Dillon and Jesse Frasure wrote it with her, and I felt like the song was really well-written. It was just relatable enough to say why not.
PC: You released “I’m The One” in March, that features and was co-written by Marty Stuart. As someone who is so steeped in the history and tradition of country music, what was it like to share a writing room and song with someone as respected as Marty Stuart?
JW: It’s awesome! I never would’ve dreamed that would happen. He’s a musician’s musician. I’m happy for every minute I get to spend around a guy like that.
PC: You already have duets with Miranda Lambert and Marty Stuart on this new project. Are there any bucket list duet partners that you still have?
JW: I want to cut a whole record full of duet songs! Right now, we have a lot of female country singers that are just flat-out awesome, and I’d love to sing with all of them.
PC: We remember seeing an excellent duet teaser with yourself and Mae Estes on social media not too long ago.
JW: I can’t wait for people to hear that. Mae came in to record, and it’ll be on this new album.
PC: Your newest single, “It Ain’t the Whiskey,” earned over 25 million pre-release listens across social media. What was it like to see the positive response and the life the song was having even before its release?
JW: It was awesome. We’d never seen a reaction like that. It felt like they were playing a big ol’ joke on us [laughs]. I’m grateful that we were able to put out some new music that people are liking it.
PC: You’ve said that “It Ain’t the Whiskey” was written based on a true story and written with Will Banister, Jeff Hyde and Roger Springer. Can you tell us a little bit about how the song came together?
JW: I was speeding somewhere, and my license was expired. I didn’t know, but the cop really stuck it to me. There was a lot of hemming and hawing that was probably unnecessary. Within the first year of being married, me and Sophie were in the back of a cop car together. We were really doing it right [laughs].
Will, Jeff and Roger have been incredible to me for years now. I’ve been writing with them for the better half of five years. They threw me a bone and let me join in on the writing session.
PC: “It Ain’t The Whiskey” has strongly followed up on its pre-release hype, earning millions of streams already. What has it been like to see such a positive response out of the gate?
JW: It’s nice to know that folks are listening to something we recorded and felt good about. There’s a lot of music coming after this, too, and we’re hoping to keep their attention with all of it.
PC: You’ve mentioned new music on the way a few times. What information, if any, can you give about any more new music? What can people expect to hear?
JW: September!
PC: You’ve played dates with Zach Top this year, and have a good handful of dates lined up with Jon Pardi later this year. How much are you enjoying staying busy on the road and being a part of packages that feature traditional country music so heavily?
JW: I’ve never been more inspired. Doing this stuff, you can start to scratch your head and wonder why a bunch of country musicians can’t put on a big ol’ show together. Zach and Jon believe that too. I’m grateful that old friends are still friends and want to do that.
PC: With new music released this year and more on the way, what else do you have planned for the rest of 2025?
JW: We’re going to be putting out some new songs here and there, and we’ll keep feeding that baby!
PC: Is there anything you’d like to add?
JW: Thank you for listening to country music. Without y’all, there is no us.
*Feature image by Brayln Kelly Smith*
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