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

Aldean co-wrote three songs on the project.

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

August 25, 2023

7:56 am

Jason Aldean; Photo Provided

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

Jason Aldean - Highway Desperado — Jason Aldean – Highway Desperado

“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

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.