Scotty McCreery is kicking off 2024 by keeping ’90s country music alive with the release of his energy-filled new song, “Can’t Pass The Bar.”
The country superstar, who was recently invited to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry, released the track on Friday (Jan. 12) after receiving high praise and fans begged for its release when he teased the track on social media earlier this month.
“I grew up loving ‘90s country music, especially the barn burning songs. I wanted one of my own, so I got together with some of my buddies, and we wrote it,” McCreery shared in a press release. “Can’t wait to perform this song live on the Cab in a Solo Tour.”
Listen To Scotty McCreery’s New Song, “Can’t Pass The Bar,” Below
Co-written by McCreery, Brent Anderson, Cale Dodds, and Frank Rogers and produced by Rogers, Derek Wells, and Aaron Eshuis, “Can’t Pass The Bar” is a lively tribute to the blue-collar worker and finds McCreery celebrating a week’s hard work with a visit to the bar alongside his friends. McCreery allows his signature baritone vocals to shine while belting out the lyrics to the barn burning anthem, which is reminiscent of country hits such as John Michael Montgomery’s “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)” and Garth Brooks’ “Ain’t Goin’ Down (’til the sun comes up).”
“When the long week’s paychecks are cashed/ Where we gonna spend it, buddy you ain’t gotta ask/ When the neon lights are kicking on, all of us are heading/ To a home away from home/ We don’t look like much, but we’re pretty damn smart/ For some good ole boys that can’t pass the bar,” McCreery sings on the tune’s boisterous chorus.
New Honky Tonk-Inspired Album Is Coming
The song serves as a taste of what’s to come on his forthcoming, yet-to-be announced sixth studio album, a project that will find the 30-year-old singer/songwriter leaning into the ‘90s country sound that he was raised on.
“We more so just kind of sat down with guitars and were having fun, you know? We wanted to write songs that sounded like songs I grew up with and loved. I wanted to tell those stories,” McCreery previously told Music Mayhem. “Sometimes, it doesn’t have to always be your story. So, we just kind of let the guitar lead us, and wherever we ended up is where we ended up.”
McCreery, who previously said the new album would be a “good dose of country music,” also told us that he “really just wanted to pay homage to that country sound.”
He continued, “I think everything goes in cycles, and, at the moment, it feels like country music is just really digging into what I grew up with, what I love to sing, you know, that honky-tonk ‘90s sound,” he added. “For me, that’s what I do best. It’s what I grew up learning on the guitar. So we really went in that direction, followed suit with ‘Cab In A Solo’ on the rest of the record, and telling some stories, and I’m excited. I think folks will really get a feel for me on this record.”
The Project Will Be “Less Autobiographical” Than Prior Albums
In addition to reviving the ’90s honky-tonk sound, McCreery said the new project will be “less autobiographical than previous records.” However, he also promised that include the usual true-to-life kind of material with songs dedicated to his wife and his nearly 1-year-old son, Merrick Avery.
“There will be a baby song on there and a song for Gabi. But, I would say, as a whole, this record is a little less autobiographical than previous records. I kind of went into it with that in mind,” McCreery also shared with Music Mayhem during an interview in September of 2023. “…. We kinda tried different directions on this record. There’s a song for Avery. There’s a song for Gabi. Some heartbreak and some breakup songs. Some honky tonk songs and stuff I really haven’t done before on records.”
Scotty McCreery has yet to officially announce the title or highly-anticipated release date for his sixth studio album. The forthcoming new project will follow the release of 2021’s Same Truck, which spawned chart-topping hits such as “You Time,” “Damn Strait” and “It Matters To Her.”
The country hitmaker recently encouraged fans to sign up for his mailing list to be the first to know about his new music.
McCreery’s Cab In A Solo Tour
As fans eagerly await the announcement of his new album, they can check him out on the road on his upcoming Cab In A Solo Tour, featuring special guests Anne Wilson, Greylan James and Noah Hicks on select dates.
McCreery’s Cab In A Solo Tour is scheduled to kick off later this month on January 26 in Troy, Ohio and will visit cities such as Atlanta, Chattanooga, Philadelphia, Syracuse, Boston and more. The headlining trek will wrap up on March 16 in Schenectady, New York.
“I’m on the road year ‘round, but I always love putting together specific tours and I think next year’s Cab in a Solo Tour is gonna be one of my favorites,” McCreery shared in a press release. “Happy to have Anne Wilson join us on the road – she’s a great singer. Depending on the city, either Greylan James or Noah Hicks will be opening up the show, and they’re both fantastic performers. And who knows, maybe I’ll share a few songs from my upcoming new album! I’m looking forward to it!”
The tour takes its namesake from his current single, “Cab In A Solo,” which is currently climbing the charts and made a major impact at Country radio upon its release. “Cab In A Solo” comes after McCreery’s string of six consecutive hits, which include “It Matters To Her,” “Damn Strait,” “You Time,” “Five More Minutes,” “This Is It” and “In Between.”
For more information on his new music and upcoming tour dates, visit his official website HERE.
