Introduction:
Since hitting the charts nearly four decades ago with the classic “Love In The Hot Afternoon,” Gene Watson has remained one of the genre’s most distinctive styles.
For nearly 40 years, Gene Watson has been a cornerstone of traditional country music. With his unmistakable voice and emotionally rich songs, he’s become a beloved figure to fans of heartfelt, classic country storytelling. But while Watson’s music has left an indelible mark on the genre, his latest project, My Heroes Have Always Been Country, flips the spotlight—shining it instead on the artists who made him fall in love with country music in the first place.
“This album is a history lesson,” Watson shared with Billboard. “These songs and these artists—this is where Gene Watson came from.” Long before his breakout hit “Love in the Hot Afternoon,” he was just a young man listening to these songs in Texas honky-tonks, long before he had a record deal or a song of his own. Now, decades later, he’s honoring those musical heroes the best way he knows how—by putting his own voice to their legendary tracks.
The album opens with a fresh take on Dottie West’s Grammy-winning “Here Comes My Baby.” Watson calls West one of the greatest vocalists and songwriters in country history. “We even shared the same birthday,” he recalled fondly. “I just wanted to put the Gene Watson spin on it.” His reverence for the track shows, capturing the emotion that first drew him to it years ago.
Watson also pays tribute to Ray Price with two standout tracks—That’s What She Said and Make the World Go Away. Calling Price “one of a kind,” Watson reflects on the late singer’s genre-spanning abilities and graceful command of traditional and modern sounds alike. “There’s nobody who did it better,” he said.
And of course, no Gene Watson tribute album would be complete without honoring Merle Haggard. Watson revives the Haggard classic “It’s Not Love (But It’s Not Bad),” but also includes a lesser-known gem: “I Forget You Every Day.” It’s a song Watson had dreamed of recording for years. “A lot of Haggard fans haven’t even heard it,” he said. “But it’s always been one of my favorites.”
Watson admits he’s long been drawn to the overlooked corners of country music—B-sides, deep cuts, and forgotten treasures. In his early days, with no hit singles of his own, these were the songs he lived on. “I couldn’t get the big-name writers to send me songs. I had to dig. I had to flip records and find what no one else was singing.”
Now, after four decades, Gene Watson still isn’t slowing down. With plans for a gospel project, a duet album with Rhonda Vincent, and more original material on the way, he’s still touring and performing with as much passion as ever. “We’re working the road harder than we have in years,” he said. “People are starved for real country music—and that’s what we do.”
And for fans of the genre, there’s no doubt: Gene Watson isn’t just preserving tradition—he’s still living it.