NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� There’s a moment at every show where the Texas-born and bred country star asks the crowd: 鈥淗ow many of you tonight are watching me and this band live for the very first time?鈥� he told The Associated Press. 鈥淎nd every night, I would say at least 80% of the crowd raises their hands.鈥�
It’s not the kind of reaction most veteran artists receive. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 thinking, you know, 20 years is a long time to work for something. But when you see that 鈥� What鈥檚 the next 20 years look like?鈥� he asks.
The rancher, rodeo competitor and onetime prison guard started his two-decade career playing honky tonks and dive bars. That led to slow and steady growth for the country traditionalist, but in the last few years, something has shifted. He landed his fifth career No. 1 song with 鈥淭he Fall.鈥� He was named entertainer of the year at the 2026 , the show’s highest honor. That was a month after he headlined For an artist with legions of fans, it looked like he was accessing new heights.
鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 closing a book and I鈥檓 opening another one and it鈥檚 all blank pages,鈥� he says of this period. 鈥淟et’s get to the next chapter.”
On Friday, that new era began with the release of his album 鈥淏anks of the Trinity.鈥�
Traveling to the 鈥楤anks of the Trinity鈥�
It hasn’t been an easy road. Last fall, Johnson had to cancel a bunch of tour dates after upper respiratory and sinus infections caused a burst eardrum that required surgery 鈥� an intimidating medical procedure for anyone, but especially 鈥淚 was scared,鈥� he said simply. But 鈥渋n a roundabout way, it鈥檚 one of the best things that鈥檚 ever happened to me.鈥�
It forced him to take three months off, which allowed him to be home during the birth of his son. It also rejuvenated his approach in the studio. Before the incident, he thought the album was complete. It was not: The additional time resulted in the inclusion of a few songs that now feel inextricable from the record: 鈥淭hank Somebody Country,鈥� 鈥淭ake Me Back (Leave Me There),鈥� 鈥淐ricket on a Hook,鈥� and the resilient 鈥淚 Have鈥� among them.
鈥淲hat a blessing to have that kind of song fall in your lap when you鈥檙e kind of up against the ropes,鈥� he says of the latter. 鈥淚 mean, we thought we had the record done. It wasn鈥檛 done.鈥�
A title track with real resonance
At the heart of 鈥淏anks of the Trinity鈥� is its title track, which recalls meets bluegrass and Southern gospel. Lyrically, it’s an ode to Johnson’s childhood. 鈥淚 grew up on the banks of the Trinity (River.) Fishing for catfish, not so much out of pleasure or sport but for necessity to put food in the freezer. Deer season for me was not a trophy thing,鈥� he said.
And while that track inspires a feeling of nostalgia within the listener, he doesn’t consider this album a throwback collection. He says it’s about showcasing his evolving sonic diversity. 鈥淭he rest of the album for me is a musical journey from track one to track 16,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a little bit of a flavor for everybody. It does kind of hit It does kind of hit Bluegrass. It does hit progressive country. It does it old country. It does a little rock here and there.鈥�
It’s the result of a new kind of freedom, one that is at least partially due to his recent accomplishments, including taking home the 鈥淚 just did the thing that I鈥檝e aspired to do in my career my entire life,鈥� he says. 鈥淎 really good place is a really good way to describe where I am.鈥�
And now that the album is out, he’s ready to take a breather. 鈥淚 will be shirtless with no shoes on a beach at an undisclosed location,鈥� he jokes about the days after record release. 鈥�’Cause I have already done all the prep work. I’ve been working on this album for two years. I鈥檝e done all of the interviews. I鈥檝e shook all the hands. Me and my wife and kids are gonna disappear for 10 days and I鈥檓 gonna become, I guess, every song ever.鈥�
It’s not a bad place to be.
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