Georgia-Native Readies Fans for New Music On the Horizon
Starring a rowdy crew of recognizable political figures, including a saxophone-wielding Bill Clinton, the video, like the song, parodies the genre with an elaborate approach, featuring electric cars and minivans along with some questionable fashion choices, proving Gilbert and his co-writer know how to poke fun at themselves while also spotlighting all they love about the format.
“I honestly never thought we’d get this far with this song,” chuckles Gilbert. “It really started as a goofy idea that we were having fun with, and we’ve been glad to bring a laugh to folks this summer after such a rough year. We can’t wait for BG Nation to see what else we have in store later this year.”
Released earlier this summer, Entertainment Tonight calls “The Worst Country Song of All Time” “tongue-in-cheek,” while Barstool Sports praises it as a “rambunctious, boot-stomping good time.” Billboard shares that the song is “a sendup of every other stereotypical one, slagging the lifestyle linchpins in the genre…and celebrating the stuff that country’s songs typically try to escape.”
“If you take it seriously enough to criticize it,” Gilbert shared with Billboard, “you're missing the whole point.”
With three No. 1 albums and seven No. 1 singles, Gilbert has been writing and recording during his time off from the road, readying his fans for more new music later this year.
“We’ve had a lot of great writes over the last few months,” Gilbert says. “We got outside of our box a little bit. As artists and writers, we have a group of people that we’re extremely comfortable writing with, that we know we’re going to be productive with and we know what kind of song we’re going write. But we branched out a little bit and wrote with some folks we haven’t written with before, just to see what would happen and what would come out of it.
“I have to say, I’m extremely proud of what we got on the way,” he concludes.
“The Worst Country Song Of All Time” is the first taste of new music following the release of Fire & Brimstone (Deluxe Edition), an extended version of his fifth studio album which explores love and family, redemption and life in a small town, with all 17 tracks written or co-written by Gilbert. Lead single “What Happens In A Small Town” featuring Lindsay Ell marked his fifth No. 1 as an artist, seventh No. 1 as a songwriter and earned nominations for the 2019 CMA Award for Musical Event of the Year and 2020 ACM Award for Music Event of the Year.
Earlier this year, Gilbert held his inaugural trail ride with partners including Polaris, Gander Outdoors, Camping World, Brimstone® Recreation, Traeger Grills, Whiskey Jam and Appalachia Made Co., raising $75,000 to benefit ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund to support those in the entertainment industry who lost work due to the pandemic.
Gilbert continues to raise funds for the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music with the “Garage-full of Awesome Giveaway.” Fans who donate $10 or more will be entered to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to meet Gilbert in person for a trail-riding adventure; a RZR Trail S 1000 Ultimate in Ghost Gray, courtesy of Polaris; 2021 Heartland Fuel 362, courtesy of Camping World; and $5,000 cash. Donate HERE.