Luke Bryan Says His Next Single, ‘Country Song Came On’ Is A ‘Honky Tonk Gem’

Luke Bryan is ready to impact the airwaves with his next single, “Country Song Came On.” The song, penned by Ryan Beaver, Dan Alley, and Neil Medley will officially be sent to country radio on November 11. 

“Country Song Came On” appears on the singer/songwriter’s eighth studio album, Mind Of A Country Boy, and follows his 31st No.1 single, “Love You Miss You Mean It.” As a whole, this 14-track project celebrates Bryan’s love for the country lifestyle and his family. Growing up in rural Georgia, country music was a big part of Bryan’s life, and with his new single, he shines a light on that passion that still ignites in him when he hears the twang of a true country song. 

The district sound of a steel guitar and a set of acoustic strings radiates throughout this mid-tempo tune as Luke Bryan’s authentic twang-filled vocals illustrate how hard it is to ignore the temptation of taking a seat at the bar and having a drink under a glow of the neon lights when a country song starts to play. 

“I was gonna drive by/ Wasn’t gonna stop/ Then my old truck found a front row spot/ Gonna drop in, but I wasn’t gonna stay/ Then I heard a barstool calling my name/ Wasn’t gonna let the bar twist my arm/ But I’m helpless in a honky tonk/ Said I wasn’t gonna drink/ And then a country song came on,” he sings on the chorus. 

Bryan admitted to feeling an instant draw to “Country Song Came On.” He related to its storyline and brought back memories from his early days when many of his performances took place inside local honky tonks. 

“’Country song came on’ is like a honky tonk gem for me,” he told his label while discussing the album, track by track. “When I heard it, I was like, you know, it brings me back to the days when I was playing a lot of honky tonks early in my career.”

In the second verse, listeners will hear a special personal touch from Bryan as he blames the music of “ETC,” which refers to one of his musical heroes, Earl Thomas Connelly, for keeping him from wanting to leave the bar. 

He continued, “The fact that I was able to put ETC, which is a nod to Earl Thomas Connelly, one of my favorite artists ever, just makes me smile every time I hear it. And this song will definitely make you want to drink a draft beer.”

Mind Of A Country Boy serves as the singer’s most family-oriented project to date. His famous party anthems still come to life throughout the tracks, but the messages that he offers are deeper and more vulnerable than fans have ever seen from him on a project before. He especially tackles more mature subject matter in songs like “Pair of Boots,” “Fish On The Wall,” and “Jesus ‘Bout My Kids.” 

This album comes four years after the release of his last project, Born Here, Live Here, Die Here. He used this time to reflect on his catalog and build out a whole new set of tracks that give fans a glimpse into his heart and his life. 

Now that the album is out, Bryan can focus on his next set of gigs. On November 20, he will act as co-host of the CMA Awards and then in the spring, he will return to the American Idol for another season of judging. He will once again be joined by Lionel Richie as well as the show’s newest judge, Carrie Underwood.