Walker Montgomery Tributes His Dad, John Michael Montgomery, In New Single, ‘It’s What I Am’
Walker Montgomery even recreated one of John Michael Montgomery’s iconic looks for the single art.
Walker Montgomery, John Michael Montgomery; Photos Provided
Walker Montgomery channels ‘90s country vibes and gives a nod to his father, country superstar John Michael Montgomery, with his new single, “It’s What I Am.”
Out now, the song is a re-recording of a track that Walker’s father previously released in 1995. Co-written by John Calvert and Aaron Sain, the song originally appeared on John Michael Montgermy’s self-titled third studio album. Now, it’s getting a fresh new life thanks to his son, who is a rising star in the country music scene.
The newly released and reimagined recording of “It’s What I Am” tells the same autobiographical story but with fresh new production elements. Throughout the song, Walker sings about his deep-rooted country roots and the values, traditions, and hard work associated with the country lifestyle he grew up in. For him, country isn’t just a genre, but a way of life and that’s exactly why he wanted to record this song.
“The reason I recorded this song is simple – ‘It’s What I Am,’” Walker shared. “It’s all about my life, it’s about what things have been like since the beginning for me. I’ve grown up surrounded by two of my favorite things – The country lifestyle and country music.”
Being raised in Kentucky and getting to witness the ins and outs of his father’s career inspired Walker to take the leap and chase his musical dreams. There’s no doubt that country music is in his blood and he’s destined to continue to carry that torch for the Montgomery family.
As Walker’s career continues to rise, his father is preparing to retire from the road. Earlier this year, the “Be My Baby Tonight” singer revealed that his current tour will be his last.
“I have decided to wind down my touring career over this year and 2025,” he stated.
He went on to reflect on his wildly successful career, which began in 1992, and admitted that it was still difficult to wrap his head around everything that’s happened since the release of his first single, ‘Life’s A Dance.”
“It was so surreal to me. And of course like any new artist would, I worried about how long it would last and hoped it would not be a ‘flash in the pan’ career,” he admitted before adding, “So every album, every song, and every year of being able to do what I love for so many years, and for the fans who have supported me and my music, I’ve cherished those moments very deeply.”
He gave a heartfelt shoutout to those who supported him along the way and assured his fans that he would still take the stage from time to time.
“So, a BIG thank you to them all! I’m not saying I’m never gonna step on stage and perform again, I still love that feeling of entertaining and the crowd cheering and singing along with my songs as much as that first show over thirty years ago, and it all started when my parents got me on stage when I was a kid. So I’m sure there will be some situations where I just need to do a show here and there because I’ll miss that too much. But I just feel the time has come to say goodbye to the road life,” the Kentucky-born artist said in conclusion.
Most recently, John Michael Montgomery shared the stage with Post Malone at the Grand Ole Opry, and according to his website, he has a handful of tour dates planned through the beginning of November.
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.
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