Fans might think country music artists are always in competition, but that couldn't be further from the truth, at least for Jon Pardi. The California native reveals that two of his fellow country music singers - namely Dierks Bentley and Luke Bryan - also happen to be among his closest friends.
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"I love Dierks," Pardi tells Apple Music (via American Songwriter). "I've done the most tours with Dierks and Luke Bryan. Those guys are brothers and they've always been, whatever I'm doing."
Pardi's relationship with Bentley goes back to 2014, when Pardi opened for Bentley on Bentley's Riser Tour. It also happened to be Pardi's first-ever major tour.
"We started on the first Dierks tour," Pardi recalls. "We had 20 minutes, and it was like the first of four, but we were definitely partying then. But still to this day, [he is] always there for advice."
Pardi also had a question for Bryan, who recently celebrated 31 No. 1 singles. Pardi asked Bryan how he makes his set list, as Pardi continues to amass his own list of hits.
"I remember talking to Luke Bryan about set lists, and he was like, 'That's such a good question,'" Pardi says. "I was like, 'What do you guys do?' ... Then he talked to me; we talked about set lists. But he thought that was a great question."
Jon Pardi's 'Honkytonk Hollywood' Era
Pardi's fifth studio album, Honkytonk Hollywood, was just released. The record, his first working with producer Jay Joyce, is the beginning of an exciting new era for Pardi and his music.
"All my albums have been rock and roll with a country flair - this one keeps on rockin'," Pardi says. "It's also the most grown-up record I've ever made, all my soul basically. Honkytonk Hollywood is for the Nashville that's in my blood, and it's also a nod to my California roots. And right now, more than ever, I hope it's a way to honor and lift up the people of my home state."
"Friday Night Heartbreaker," the first single from Honkytonk Hollywood, is already in the Top 25. His headlining Honkytonk Hollywood Tour kicks off on Friday, April 25.
