Jamey Johnson is seeing some hope for the future of country music. While the genre has gone through plenty of twists and turns in the last several years, Johnson says there are some new artists who are giving him hope that country music is still in good hands.
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"Certainly Zach Top, Ernest, Luke Combs—though I know he's not exactly new," Johnson tells Saving Country Music. "There's just a ton of them out there right now that are doing great. I could sit here and toss names, and I'll miss 15 or 20 of them. I like Gavin Adcock. I think he's a brilliant songwriter."
Johnson also distinguishes the country music that people listen to and the business of country music, which he rightfully ascertains are two entirely different things.
"You have to learn to separate the two, and know the difference," the 50-year-old explains. "Fans are having to do that more on their own, but they're also having to do that just by exposing themselves to other brands of country music. People weren't really thinking about '90s country, and now Zach Top's come along and everyone's so dead focused on trying to find all the greatest songs from this era and that."
Why Jamey Johnson Feels Good About The Future Of Country Music
It's not just artists like Top and Combs who give Johnson hope about the future of country music. It's also how the newer artists are weaving in music from the past that make Johnson optimistic about country music's future.
"That's what we're supposed to be doing," Johnson says. "That's the tradition of country music. That's how you pass it down. You take a song that people don't get to hear anymore because so-and-so passed away. Start doing their song live, and watch what happens. You ought to see us do a song by Mel McDaniel's 'Louisiana Saturday Night.' That's the energy you're trying to get out of every audience. Give them something that makes them appreciate it. That's what we try to do."
Johnson's Midnight Gasoline album was released last year. He is currently working on a new album, with at least 50 songs to choose from already, including one written for him by Ronnie Dunn.
