WATCH “THE ROSES” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO OUT NOW
SUPPORTING WILLIE NELSON ON HIS 2026 OUTLAW MUSIC FESTIVAL TOUR AND BEYOND BEGINNING IN JULY
“HIS VOICE EMBODYING BOTH RESIGNATION AND LONGING”
– BILLBOARD
NASHVILLE, TENN. / AUSTIN, TEXAS – Today, GRAMMY® nominated artist-writer Waylon Payne releases a thrilling new batch of stories on Wayward, his third full-length project and first as a newly signed artist under Big Loud Texas. With half of Wayward notably being solo written, his collaborations were with some of the sharpest artistic minds in Nashville. A testament to the esteem in which he’s held by the songwriting community, collaborators include Aaron Raitiere, Ashley Monroe, Brennen Leigh, Dean Person, Matraca Berg, Miranda Lambert and more.
Produced by Frank Liddell (Miranda Lambert, Lee Ann Womack) and Eric Masse (Parker McCollum), the 13-track project showcases a classic troubadour who’s been to the edge and back and refuses to be easily defined. Which, fittingly, is precisely how the album got its name.
“My friend used to call me ‘Wayward’ instead of Waylon,” Payne says. “One day I looked up the definition, which is ‘difficult to control or predict because of unusual or perverse behavior.’ And I was like, ‘Oh my God, it is me.’”
Wayward features previously released “Holding On To Lonely” with the gifted multi-instrumentalist Charlie Worsham, that Billboard noted as, “vulnerable” and “introspective,” and MusicRow praised, “his voice is marvelously aching.” Additionally, Payne’s “Looking For A Feeling,” penned alongside Pam Tillis was named one of the “Best New Country Songs” by Holler, which kicks off Wayward. Payne opens up about parts of his past on Wayward. “The Roses” was written in the wake of a bad breakup and his mother’s death when he started a brief, but exciting fling. Watch the official music video here.
The revered singer-songwriter makes the kind of albums that stick with you — grand musical statements that tell of a life lived out loud in full color, with ample room to spread out and get lost. From his 2003 debut The Drifter to 2021’s Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me, Payne has fearlessly chronicled his life and its many triumphs as well as the broken pieces he’s had to reassemble along the way.
At the end of July, Waylon will perform at the Grand Ole Opry for Opry 100. This summer, Payne will continue supporting Willie Nelson on his 2026 Outlaw Music Festival Tour and beyond with stops in California, Chicago, New York and more. To stay up to date, connect with Waylon on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
Wayward Tracklist
1. Looking For A Feeling (Waylon Payne, Pam Tillis)
2. Postcards (Waylon Payne, Miranda Lambert, Aaron Raitiere)
3. The Delta (Waylon Payne)
4. Darla (Waylon Payne)
5. Holding On To Lonely (Waylon Payne, Charlie Worsham)
6. Haunting (Waylon Payne, Brennen Leigh, Dean Person)
7. Caramello (Waylon Payne, Dean Person)
8. Hell Is Empty (Waylon Payne, Matraca Berg)
9. Watch Him Die (Waylon Payne)
10. The Roses (Waylon Payne)
11. Together (Waylon Payne, Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe)
12. Find A Way (Waylon Payne)
13. Weed By The Wall (Waylon Payne)
Produced by Frank Liddell and Eric Masse
Waylon Payne Tour Dates Supporting Willie Nelson
July 17 – Blue Note Napa Summer Sessions – Napa, CA +
July 19 – Ironstone Amphitheatre – Murphys, CA +
July 22 – California Mid-State Fair – Paso Robles, CA +
July 29 – Grand Ole Opry – Nashville, TN
August 18 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater – Maryland Heights, MO +
August 19 – Mystic Lake Amphitheater – Shakopee, MN +
August 21 – Alpine Valley Music Theatre – East Troy, WI +
August 22 – Pine Knob Music Theatre – Clarkston, MI +
August 23 – Ruoff Music Center – Noblesville, IN +
August 25 – Huntington Bank Pavilion – Chicago, IL +
August 28 – Northwell Health at Jones Beach – Wantagh, NY +
August 29 – Bethel Woods – Bethel, NY +
August 30 – Albany Med Health System at SPAC – Saratoga Springs, NY +
September 26 – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater – Virginia Beach +
+ Supporting Willie Nelson
ABOUT WAYLON PAYNE
A poetic outlaw, Waylon Payne made an indelible mark with his timeless debut album The Drifter (2003). Building on the legacy of that album and the widespread acclaim of Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me (2020), Waylon’s label debut album Wayward is out now. “Looking For A Feeling” and “Holding On To Lonely” signaled his triumphant re-emergence, showcasing his signature razor-sharp lyrical prowess. Waylon’s musical pedigree is storied. The son of GRAMMY® Award-winning country singer Sammi Smith and Jody Payne of Willie Nelson’s band, he dons the name of his godfather Waylon Jennings. He began his prolific career writing for and playing with other musicians. Multi-talented with the charm of a seasoned entertainer, Waylon has pursued acting in earnest; he appeared in the award-winning Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line (2005). After, he was cast in the starring role of Hank Garland in the biopic Crazy (2006).
CONNECT WITH WAYLON PAYNE
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE
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Media Contacts
Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud
corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com
