Jason Aldean Announces ‘HIGHWAY DESPERADO’ Album and Shares New Song, ‘Let Your Boys Be Country’

Jason Aldean surprised fans with the announcement of his 11th studio album, HIGHWAY DESPERADO, along with the release of a brand new song, “Let Your Boys Be Country,” on Friday. 

The reigning ACM Artist of the Decade is set to release the 14-track project on Friday, November 3, 2023. HIGHWAY DESPERADO follows Aldean’s double 10th studio album, MACON, GEORGIA, which spawned hits such as “Trouble with a Heartbreak” and “If I Didn’t Love You,” his chart-topping duet with Carrie Underwood.

Aldean revealed that the album’s title drew inspiration from his recent sold-out headlining arena tour and his early years as a touring artist.

11th Studio Album

“I think when I look back on it, I built my career early on my live show, and have been on the road touring since I was 18 years old. For us, touring is our favorite part. Getting on the bus and going town to town and playing our shows and doing our thing and seeing the fans… the title for the tour and album was really inspired from that,” he shared in a statement. 

Aldean had a hand in writing three tracks on HIGHWAY DESPERADO, including the title track. The album also features his Hot 100 chart-topping single and current Top 10 Country radio hit, “Try That In A Small Town,” as well as the previously released “Tough Crowd.”

Out today is “Let Your Boys Be Country,” which was written by Jaron Boyer, Allison Veltz Cruz, and Micah Wilshire. The new track finds the Georgia native encouraging moms to let their sons embrace the country lifestyle.

“Let ‘em ride round in trucks/ Making backroad noise/ Let ‘em hang out on Friday / Get wild with the boys/ Let ‘em go to the woods in the cold/ Painted up camo green/ Yeah let ‘em Chase/ Let ‘em fall/ For a small-town girl/ Let everything inside these county lines/ Be his whole world/ You want him to grow up to be someone he’s damn proud to be/ Mommas let your boys be country,” Aldean sings on the chorus.

Listen

HIGHWAY DESPERADO Track Listing:

1.          Tough Crowd- Kurt Allison, Marv Green, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher

2.          Let Your Boys Be Country-Jaron Boyer, Allison Veltz Cruz, Micah Wilshire

3.          Knew You’d Come Around-Kurt Allison, Ben Hayslip, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan

4.          Hungover In A Hotel-Jason Aldean, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, David Lee Murphy, Neil Thrasher

5.          Try That In A Small Town-Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher

6.          Whiskey Drink-Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan

7.          Whose Rearview-Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan, Lydia Vaughn

8.          I’m Over You-Josh Phillips, Michael Tyler, Micah Wilshire

9.          Rather Watch You-Jessi Alexander, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher

10.       Breakup Breakdown-Jason Aldean, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan, Lydia Vaughan

11.       Get Away From You-Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan, Lydia Vaughn

12.       Changing Bars-Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan

13.       From This Beer On-Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan

14.       Highway Desperado-Jason Aldean, Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan

Produced by Michael Knox 

On Tour Now

The album shares a name with Jason Aldean’s current HIGHWAY DESPERADO Tour, which runs through Saturday, October 28. The trek will make stops in Jacksonville, Florida (August 25) and Orange Beach, Alabama (August 26) this weekend.

REMAINING HIGHWAY DESPERADO 2023 TOUR DATES: 

Fri Aug 25 – Jacksonville, FL – VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena

Sat Aug 26 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater

Thu Sep 07 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage

Fri Sep 08 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre

Sat Sep 09 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

Thu Sep 14 – Rogers, AR     – Walmart AMP

Fri Sep 15 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

Sat Sep 16 –Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center

Thu Sep 21 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre

Fri Sep 22 – Portland, OR – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

Sat Sep 23 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre

Thu Sep 28 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

Fri Sep 29 – San Bernardino, CA – Glen Helen Amphitheater

Sat Sep 30 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre

Thu Oct 05 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

Fri Oct 06 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater

Sat Oct 07 – Denver, CO      – Ball Arena

Thu Oct 12 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center

Fri Oct 13 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center

Sat Oct 14 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena

Thu Oct 19 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena

Fri Oct 20 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center

Sat Oct 21 – Toledo, OH – Huntington Center

Fri Oct 27 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

Sat Oct 28 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre