Jamey Johnson Gets Candid About Substance Abuse and His 13-Year Sobriety Journey

Fifteen years ago, Jamey Johnson scored his first Top 10 country hit in 2009 with “In Color.” It was fans’ first example of the Alabama native’s vivid imagery and rich storytelling. Both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association named “In Color” their 2010 Song of the Year. Since then, Johnson has nabbed multiple GRAMMY nominations and been inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. On his latest song, “Sober,” the country singer-songwriter dives into his experiences with substance abuse and maintaining his sobriety.

Jamey Johnson Is 13 Years Sober

Fans have been anxiously awaiting a new record from Jamey Johnson since his third studio album, The Guitar Song, dropped in 2010. The outlaw country star has already released three new singles in 2024 alone: “21 Guns,” “What a View,” and the Charlie Daniels cover “Trudy.”

[RELATED: Jamey Johnson Announces What A View Tour in 2024]

The fourth came Friday (Aug. 30) in the form of “Sober,” co-written with James Slater. The lyrics are heartbreaking in their simplicity, as Johnson sings frankly about struggling to hold onto his sobriety in an environment that glorifies excess:

It ain’t easy on the wagon / Hell I lost more of my mind than I have found / All these drinking songs we’re playing / make it hard staying sober in this town.

While he hasn’t touched “a drop of alcohol” since 2011, Johnson is mindful of the fragile nature of sobriety. “I know that could end this afternoon,” the “Dollar” hitmaker said in a press release. “It is a day-to-day, hour-to-hour decision. Most of the places I play are bars, or I am still hanging out in bars. That’s where most of my friends are. Now I can hang out in them and not be drinking like I used to. That is what ‘Sober’ is about.”

Social Media Reacts to “Sober”

Jamey Johnson announced his latest track in an Aug. 22 social media post. “For those who struggle with sobriety, I understand,” he wrote simply. “This is Sober.”

The news stoked excitement on social media among fans who have waited more than a decade for a new Jamey Johnson album. “New JJ music! Everything is right in the world again!!!” one Instagram user wrote.

Another thanked Johnson for his music, writing, “I’m at 8+ years of sobriety. Your music always helped me cope when i was still locked in drugs/booze and the hold it had over me.”

Featured image by Kristina Bumphrey/Shutterstock