It might be easier to list the country stars who aren’t a part of Petty Country, country music’s celebration of rocker Tom Petty.
The just-announced album features 20 songs and more than two dozen artists. Chris Stapleton and George Strait bookend the tracklist (below), but in between you’ll find covers from Thomas Rhett, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Wynonna Judd with Lainey Wilson and more.
- Petty Country will be released on May 31 on BMLG.
- Dierks Bentley‘s bluegrass-inspired cover of “American Girl” is the lead single from the album.
- Petty died at age 66 after an accidental overdose of prescribed medicines on Oct. 2, 2017.
Related: 35 Songs That Prove Country and Rock Go Hand-In-Hand
Talking to Taste of Country, Bentley shared that he got to pick the song he’d sing and went for “American Girl.”
“I’m convinced the second verse of this song is some of the best singing in the history of any rock or country band because his voice, there’s so much angst,” he shares. “You know, it’s just his voice has that kind of brokenness to it to begin with, so it’s just so, just the emotion behind his voice is just unparalleled.”
Many of the artists listed have covered Petty in concert, including Strait, who has often put “You Wreck Me” near the end of his live shows over the last few years. Fittingly, a live version of the song will close this album.
Petty Country Tracklist:
1. “I Should Have Known It” – Chris Stapleton
2. “Wildflowers” – Thomas Rhett
3. “Runnin’ Down A Dream” – Luke Combs
4. “Southern Accents” – Dolly Parton
5. “Here Comes My Girl” – Justin Moore
6. “American Girl” – Dierks Bentley
7. “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” – Lady A
8. “I Forgive It All” – Jamey Johnson
9. “I Won’t Back Down” – Brothers Osborne
10. “Refugee” – Wynonna Judd & Lainey Wilson
11. “Angel Dream #2” – Willie Nelson & Lukas Nelson
12. “Learning to Fly” – Eli Young Band
13. “Breakdown” – Ryan Hurd feat. Carly Pearce
14. “Yer So Bad” – Steve Earle
15. “Ways to Be Wicked” – Margo Price & Mike Campbell
16. “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” – Midland
17. “Free Fallin’” – The Cadillac Three feat. Breland
18. “I Need to Know” – Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives
19. “Don’t Come Around Here No More” – Rhiannon Giddens feat. Benmont Tench
20. “You Wreck Me” (Live) – George Strait
35 Songs That Prove Country and Rock Music Go Hand in Hand
With Dolly Parton’s recent induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the country and rock genres are closer than ever before — but she’s far from the first country artist to venture into rock territory, or vice versa. Here are 35 songs that show just how great the musical crossover between country and rock can be.