Over the past handful of years, Walker Montgomery has become a premiere source for stone cold, traditional country music. Most recently, the Kentucky native unearthed the underrated, James Bonamy classic “I Don’t Think I Will,” with his signature baritone breathing brand new life into the thirty year-old song.
Montgomery has also been breathing life into his songs on the stage, as well, just wrapping his debut headlining tour, aptly titled “Saving the Honky Tonks,” with a slew of additional dates on his calendar as well.
We caught up with Montgomery at CMA Fest to chat about “I Don’t Think I Will,” his headlining tour, his favorite Randy Travis songs and more!
Pro Country: The last time we talked, you had just released “Nothing Like You Nowhere.” In the time since, it’s earned over a million streams on Spotify alone, with hundreds of thousands of additional plays across platforms. With a song that’s so special to you, what has it been like to see the life “Nothing Like You Nowhere” has had?
Walker Montgomery: It’s always fun when that happens. When you put something out, you hope the best for it. When it works out, you think “thank God!” but in the back of your mind, you’re thinking about what’s next [laughs].
It’s a special song for my fiancé and I. I released it a week after we got engaged. It’s fun to play it live and to see the reaction from people. It’s become a bit of a fan favorite!
PC: In early March, you announced that you’d signed with Red Street Records, which is run by Rascal Flatts’ Jay Demarcus. Can you talk about the courting and signing process and what their belief in you has meant?
WM: They saw me for the first time last year at CMA Fest, and we started talking. It’s been a great partnership. They believe in the traditional sound, and they’re letting me roll with it. It’s been fun!
PC: Your first released for Red Street, “Saving the Honky Tonks,” in April. Why did you and the team feel that “Saving the Honky Tonks” was the right song to debut with?
WM: We had the tour set up, and I was looking for a name for the tour. We were playing honky tonks, and I had the song, so it made sense to coincide the release of the song with the tour.
PC: You wrote “Saving the Honky Tonks” with Lance Miller and Bobby Tomberlin. Can you take us in the room and talk about how the song came together?
WM: We wrote it in about an hour! I write with them all the time. They’re great guys, and we’ve got a good vibe in the room.
As soon as we started laying this one down, it just fell out. I knew I wanted to cut it as soon as we wrote it.
PC: When we last spoke, you mentioned that James Bonamy’s “I Don’t Think I Will” was one of your favorite country love songs. What did you love about the song that drew you to record it?
WM: That is my fiancé, Krista, and I’s song. We’re getting married in October this year, so it felt like a perfect time. I love cutting old country love songs. I’m always a little nervous to cut a cover, but hopefully, my version can help give the song another life.
PC: How long had you been planning on cutting the song?
WM: The last time I talked to y’all, I was planning on cutting it [laughs]. Hell, it might’ve already been cut!
PC: You’ve stayed busy with new releases over the last handful of years. What information, if any, can you give about what will follow “I Don’t Think I Will”? What can listeners expect to hear?
WM: More music is on the way! We’re trying to have singles coming out every six to eight weeks. We’ll eventually roll something into an album. We want to keep the content out there with new music and on socials.
PC: About a month ago, you wrapped up your “Saving the Honky Tonks” headlining tour, which brought you through nine states over the course of a month. How much did you enjoy taking your music on the road and bringing your music to your fans?
WM: It was fun! That was my first headlining tour. It was the first time we went out thinking “shit, I hope people show up!” [laughs]. Luckily they did, which made it a whole lot better.
It was awesome, though. We’d played some of those venues before, and some of them were new to us. It was a great experience for me and the boys.
PC: Last night, we saw you perform at the 40th Anniversary of Randy Travis’s Storms of Life at The Nashville Palace. Can you tell us a few of your favorite Randy Travis songs?
WM: My favorite Randy Travis song is “Look Heart, No Hands.” “He Walked On Water” is a great one as well. But that whole Storms of Life album is so great.
PC: Last December, your father, John Michael Montgomery, played his final show. How special was it to be a part of that night and to see what it meant to your father?
WM: It was awesome! He’s a great dude. He worked his ass off for thirty-something years, and he deserved his flowers. That was a special night for the whole family.
He’s enjoying retirement, though! He’s got his chickens, and he’s about to get some domestic turkeys, for whatever reason [laughs]. One of his cats just had about 12 kittens, too!
PC: With “I Don’t Think I Will” now released and more music on the way, what else do you have planned for the rest of 2026?
WM: Shows, shows, shows! Every year, we try to do more shows than the last, and I think we’ve already booked more than we booked last year. We’re looking forward to going out and beating up the blacktop!
PC: Is there anything you’d like to add?
WM: Check out my tour schedule on my website, come on out!
Pro Country 
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