Just days before Mother’s Day, ERNEST is paying tribute to his wife, Delaney Royer, with a heartfelt new song, “Takes After You.”
On Wednesday (May 10), the fast-rising country star shared a brand-new song, titled “Takes After You,” a sentimental tune that is his most personal track to date.
Co-written by ERNEST alongside Jordan Schmidt and Josh Thompson, “Takes After You” finds the hit songwriter humbly acknowledging his imperfections while remaining hopeful that his son, Ryman, will take after his wife Delaney Royer instead.
“I know that boy won’t walk on water / ‘Cause he comes from my blood / And I pray one day he’ll look back and / Not be all I was. /He might not live by all red letters / Somethin’ close to that will do / Oh if he don’t take after Jesus / I hope he takes after you,” ERNEST sang on the chorus.
The Song Serves An Ode To Parenting
ERNEST recently opened up about the track in a press release, sharing that the sentimental ode to parenting.
“I heard someone talking to Johnny Cash in a video,” ERNEST shared in a press release. “They said ‘Johnny I’ve known ya a long time. I got a son now, and if he don’t take after Jesus, I’d be quite alright if he took after you.’ So I immediately thought, I couldn’t agree more with Ryman and Delaney. She is the most humble, kind, empathetic, nature loving, giving, selfless, and downright wholesome human I know. The things she’ll teach Ryman in this life by her actions will transcend anything he’ll learn in a building.”
“I want to instill in him a knowing of God and the importance of gratitude and faith,” the 2X CMA Triply Play Award winner continued. “My wild side has won too many times and I hope by my mistakes I can help him avoid some. But like the song says, if he don’t take after Jesus, I hope he takes after you.”
The tune was accompanied by a music video that included heartwarming personal family footage that showcases some precious family memories.
“This song is specific to me, but I think there are a lot of parents out there who likely feel the same as me. Y’all moms are something special, and a strong woman who leads by example will have an incredible impact on a young man. Thank y’all,” ERNEST shared.
One Night At A Time World Tour
The Nashville native is currently serving as support on Morgan Wallen’s 63-date One Night At A Time World Tour, which kicked off on April 14 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
ERNEST will remain on tour with Wallen until the extensive trek wraps up on October 7 in Tacoma, WA at the Tacoma Dome.
This Fire Tour
Later this year, ERNEST is set to embark on a 15-date fall headlining trek, This Fire Tour.
“The fellas and I are hitting the road this fall, 🔥” ERNEST wrote at the time of the tour announcement.
ERNEST’s This Fire Tour launches in Oxford, Ohio on October 18 and runs through November 28, where the trek will wrap up in Nashville, Tennessee.
“I’m really excited to get the ERN show back on the road with the fellas,” ERNEST shared in a press release. “The show’s gonna be a hell of a time! Anytime we get to play to a room full of people who come to hear our music – it’s an unmatched feeling. The tour last year was a blast, and since then we dropped another 13 songs. If you haven’t yet, go listen to Two Dozen Roses, then come out and sing some country music with us.”
The trek features special guests Jake Worthington, John Morgan and Cody Lohden on select dates.
The tour takes its namesake from a tune on FLOWER SHIPS (The Album): Two Dozen Roses titled “This Fire.” The song, written by ERNEST alongside Rocky Block, Julian Bunetta and John Ryan, was inspired by John Prine’s “Illegal Smile” and the title for the track was generated by an AI simulator.
“Fire that’s coming around / Wrecking my world / Burning it down / Oh there’s fire / Fire all over this town / All the tears in her eyes that she cries can’t put out / This fire / This fire / This fire,” ERNEST sings on the tune’s chorus.
ERNEST’s This Fire Tour follows the chart-topping songwriter’s completely sold out, first-ever headlining tour, which was dubbed the Sucker For Small Towns Tour and featured support from Jake Worthington, Lauren Watkins, and Noah Hicks.
Additionally, ERNEST is currently nominated for two ACM Awards at the upcoming 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards, including New Male Artist of the Year and Artist-Songwriter of the Year.
ERNEST’S THIS FIRE TOUR DATES
Oct. 18 – Oxford, Ohio – Brick Street Bar *+
Oct. 19 – Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Intersection *+
Oct. 20 – Rosemont, Ill. – Joe’s Live *+
Oct. 21 – Indianapolis, Ind. – 8 Seconds Saloon *+
Oct. 26 – Chattanooga, Tenn. – The Signal ^+
Oct. 27 – Oxford, Miss. – The Lyric ^+
Oct. 28 – Starkville, Miss. – Rick’s Café ^+
Nov. 2 – Columbia, S.C. – The Senate ^+
Nov. 3 – Tampa, Fla. – Dallas Bull ^+
Nov. 4 – Fort Myers, Fla. – The Ranch ^+
Nov. 10 – Baton Rouge, La. – Texas Club ^+
Nov. 11 – Atlanta, Ga. – Buckhead Theater ^+
Nov. 16 – Athens, Ga. – Georgia Theater ^+
Nov. 18 – Greenville, S.C. – Blind Horse Saloon ^+
Nov. 28 – Nashville, Tenn. – Ryman Auditorium ^+
^Jake Worthington
*John Morgan
+Cody Lohden
