August 8th has literally been years in the making for Jake Bush.
On that date, Bush will take the stage at Dosey Doe – The Big Barn to celebrate the release of his new album, Bar Room Brothers & Sisters, releasing the same day. The project, initially scheduled for release in early 2023, was left to simmer because of a grassroots funding and release strategy, instead, several singles have been offered instead, including “Her Way Ain’t the Highway,” Bush’s seventh number one single that continues an impressive run of success at Texas country radio.
We chatted with Bush all about the album, the viral success of his 2021 single, “Cowgirl,” getting started on new music and more!
Pro Country: Your 2021 single, “Cowgirl,” has earned well over 800,000 streams since its release and topped the charts in Texas. What was it like to see the life the song had and to so tangibly see the support it received?
Jake Bush: My friend Carson Chamerlain wrote that song. He sent me the song, and it blew my mind. As soon as I heard it, I fell in love with it. I never thought it would be our biggest, most popular song. I freakin’ love that song, I wouldn’t be where I am without it!
PC: You met renowned producer and songwriter Phil O’Donnell in May of 2023. What has it been like to collaborate with Phil in the studio? What kind of camaraderie do you feel with Phil?
JB: I can’t even put into words how I feel about Phil. He’s been such a blessing to me and my career. We met through a mutual friend, Bernie Nelson, who’s a hit songwriter and a great dude. As soon as I walked in the room and started writing with Phil, we started talking about cutting a record together. I’d been wanting to stop recording in Texas and start recording in Nashville, but I needed a producer. Everything that Phil does turns to gold. I’ve gotten to know him as a human being and as a Christian; we’re friends first. Sometimes, I feel like I don’t belong in the room.
PC: You’ve been steadily releasing singles from your forthcoming album, Bar Room Brothers & Sisters, since November of 2023. With the album’s release on the horizon, how excited are you to release the project into the world after that build up?
JB: It’s a bittersweet feeling. This album was originally going to be released in early 2023, but it took us about two years to record the whole thing, because we did it all grassroots. I tried to raise money for it through crowdfunding, and we got about 10% of the album funded, and the rest was paid for by us. That 10% that we raised was a huge help, but it makes it feel a little bit better when you pay for it by yourself. I’ve had it done for so long that I feel like I’ve listened to it every day for two years. I’m excited for the world to get a re-introduction into who I am now as an artist, as a man, and as a Christian that I’ve grown into through sobriety. I’ve been honing my songwriting skills and I’ve been honing the new sound that I’ve fallen into. I’m super excited for the world to hear it.
PC: The first song released from Bar Room Brothers & Sisters was “My Country,” which features Jesse Raub Jr. and Glen Templeton. Can you talk about how they got involved with the song and how much fun you had sharing the song with them?
JB: Jesse is one of my best friends. We’ve written hundreds of songs together, and we hunt and fish together. I wrote that song with Trent Willmon and Phil. I sent it to Glen, and he was going to record it by himself. When I was flying in to Nashville, Phil said I should ask if Glen would feature on it. Jesse was going to Nashville at the same time, so we asked if both of them wanted to do it. It was a no-brainer on our part, and luckily, they both agreed. I think Glen may still record his own version and put it out too.
PC: “Her Way Ain’t the Highway” hit number one in Texas in April, becoming your seventh number one single. How encouraging was it to see the lead single from Bar Room Brothers & Sisters top the charts and to continue your chart momentum?
JB: I believe in that song so much. If any song deserves to go viral, be on the radio and be played in stadiums, it’s that one. It’s such a true story of loving a woman that doesn’t have to stay, but she does. That’s the epitome of my wife. We’re on the road a lot, so to have an anthem like that that props up a Proverbs 31 woman, it’s spectacular. It didn’t blow my mind that it went number one. The songwriting and production on it are great. I think it was a great introductory single.
PC: “Hole in the Wall” is one of our favorite songs on Bar Room Brothers & Sisters, and was written by George Strait, Bubba Strait and Monty Criswell. Can you talk about how you heard the song and what drew you to cut it?
JB: A friend of mine was friends with Daryle Singletary. Of course, I’m a big Daryle Singletary fan. Throughout the course of his career, he sang a lot of demos that songwriters would pitch, because he was that good. The demos were so fully-produced that they felt like they could be on one of Daryle’s albums. For a couple years, I listened to it. We were picking songs for the album, and I sent that one to Phil. I told him I had no clue who wrote the song, but I felt like it needed to be on the album. I wanted to figure out who wrote it and get the go ahead to record it. Phil found out it was George, Bubba and Monty that wrote the song, and he got the green light. Hell, I may never have a George Strait song recorded that I wrote, but I’ll gladly cut one that he did [laughs]. That song is where I come from: I cut my teeth in hole-in-the-wall bars. They’re still some of my favorite places in the world.
PC: Is there any pressure that comes with recording a song that you found out was written by George Strait?
JB: Definitely. There’s also pressure in knowing that Daryle Singletary sang so dang good on it. There’s not many singers that can sing anywhere near as well as Daryle could. We did the song my way, but we still paid homage to Daryle’s version. Then to know that the king of country music wrote it, it’s special.
PC: “Bar Room Brothers & Sisters” closed its album. Why did you feel that the song was both the right title track and the right song to close the album?
JB: I wanted the door to open for everyone to come in and feel like family. I’m a big family man, and I really love my fans. This, for me, was an album that says “Here’s who I am, you can come in as you are and be a part of this bar room chaos” [laughs]. It’s a big, bar room family, and the theme of the album is built around this song.
PC: Bar Room Brothers & Sisters releases in just over a month. What do you hope listeners take away from the album after listening all the way through?
JB: I hope they know that there’s more traditionalists out there than the ones that are propped up on social media. I want people to know that there’s hope for traditional country music. It’s still here. Guys like Cody Johnson, Zach Top and Luke Combs are paving the way for guys like us to come out of hiding.
PC: You have a busy performing schedule laid out through the end of the summer. How much are you looking forward to staying busy on the stage and bringing Bar Room Brothers & Sistersto fans old and new?
JB: I’m super blessed to have shows on the books. I’m excited for the album to come out. That means that this chapter can finally be shut, and the next chapter can open for next year. I’ve already been in the studio for the next batch of singles. The next album won’t be out until 2027, but every month next year, we’ll have new songs out. We’re going to get this album out there and let people hear the completed body of work. I’m super excited for people to get the whole thing together.
PC: Earlier, you mentioned growth as an artist and songwriter. It’s been nine years since your debut EP, Trying to Find Me. In the nine years since, what has been the biggest area you’ve grown?
JB: Experiences through life. This August, I’ll be four years sober. Just in those four years, I’ve had exponential growth as a man, spiritually, and as a businessman. I’m learning as I go. I’m grateful that I’ve never stopped growing. I’ve always listened, learned and understood that I’m not a know-it-all, and that I still have room to grow. I put myself in rooms with better songwriters, singers and musicians; people that help me level up.
PC: With Bar Room Brothers & Sisters releasing soon, what else do you have planned for the rest of 2025 and going into 2026?
JB: The rest of the year, we’re going to push this album the best we can. We have a social media campaign that’s about to kick in that’ll be super busy. There will be a ton of content promoting these songs. There will be a couple music videos, and a lot of touring. On top of that, we’re setting our sights on next year. We’re going to play these songs and get ready for the next ones.
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