The first song released in 2024 by legendary country duo Brooks & Dunn Restart II The “Play Something Country” project features a stirring contribution from Lainey Wilson.

The Louisiana hitmaker brings a new twist to this energetic 2005 classic, originally released by Brooks & Dunn – comprised of longtime friends Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn – as the lead single from their acclaimed album Hillbilly Deluxe record.

The redesigned version was released in full on September 27, 2024 Restart II Album – a sequel from 2019 Restart Project – out November 15th on streaming platforms. The record consists of 18 star-studded collaborations with Brooks & Dunn, including Morgan Wallen, The Cadillac Three, HARDY, Bailey Zimmerman, ERNEST, Riley Green, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney and more.

The composition is relatively similar to the 2003 original, although Lainey Wilson stressed ahead of the release of the new version that she wanted to pay homage to the track rather than changing things too much. Nonetheless, there’s a distinctly ZZ Top-esque vibe added to the mix, with the storming electric guitars and raucous drum pattern combining to create a true Friday night anthem. Lainey Wilson’s vocals are as captivating as ever, with the “Good Horses” singer-songwriter delivering most of the female character’s lines in the Barroom story, all sung by Brooks & Dunn in the 2003 rendition. This helps bring the playful, tongue-in-cheek dialogue to life.

“Yeah, she burst through the door like TNT
She put her hand on her hip and pointed her finger at me
Said, “I’m a whiskey drinker, chasing cowboys, a damn lot of time.”
I like Kenny, Keith, Alan and Patsy Cline
I am a fully grown queen bee looking for honey
Ha-ooh-hoo, oh, play some country.”

The story begins with the protagonist hanging out at a honky-tonk before a striking woman bursts through the saloon’s doors with an explosive attitude that he compares to a “TNT” bomb. The woman immediately chooses the narrator, briefly summarizes some of her key traits – including her love of cowboys and whiskey – and then reels off her favorite country icons, “Kenny, Keith, Alan and Patsy Cline.”

“Kenny” could refer to either Kenny Rogers or Kenny Chesney, both being revered figures in the genre, while “Keith” is probably a reference to Keith Whitley, although it could also refer to Toby Keith. We think it’s safe to assume that “Alan” is Alan Jackson, although Patsy Cline is such a big country legend that her full name is read out to her. The woman concludes her introduction by asking the band to start the evening with country music.

“Yes, the band took a break
The DJ played P Diddy
She said: “I didn’t come here to hear it
Something is booming from the city”
Said, “I shaved my legs, I paid my money.”
Ha-ooh-hoo, play some country
Ha-ooh-hoo, oh, play some country.”

Given the scandal currently surrounding it, many fans were surprised that the “P Diddy” reference was left out – however, it’s important to stress that it’s unclear exactly when “Play Something Country” was re-recorded, as this may have been the case This was already the case before the year. Allegations were made against P. Diddy. In this verse, the woman criticizes the DJ’s hip-hop-oriented choices, dismissing it as “something blaring from the city.” She emphasizes that she made the effort to shave and dress completely so that she wants to dance to her favorite music – country. The howl highlights the wild, raw spirit of this character.

“Put the band on, play the steel guitar
Make yourself comfortable, let’s rock this bar
Tossed back a shot and yelled, “I’m a George Strait junkie.”
Ha-ooh-hoo, play some country
Ha-ooh-hoo, oh, play some country.”

The woman asks the band to break out the steel guitar – a staple of traditional country music – before indicating that she wants to hear them play something by Hank Williams Jr. She fires back a shot and then makes another suggestion – maybe it’s time we listen to some groundbreaking hits from the King of Country, George Strait.

“Yeah, the bartender yelled, “Y’all, it’s closing time.”
She had this wild look on her face
And said, “Your truck or mine.”
I know a place further down the road
It’s kind of unconventional
Ha-ooh-hoo, everyone out to the country
Ha-ooh-hoo, now play some country!”

As the bar begins to close, the woman looks intently at the protagonist before teasingly asking him if they should use his or her truck to get out of here. She hints that the evening is far from over when she admits that she wants to drive to a quiet place she knows on a back street where she can enjoy the good times with the help of some country music playing over can keep the truck’s speakers running.

In a press release, Kix Brooks praised the charisma that Lainey Wilson brought to the recording session for “Play Something Country”: “Lainey was one of the first artists to go into the studio with us for this project. She was on fire from head to toe, bell bottoms and all, adding that Louisiana swagger like only she could. That was fun!”

Lainey Wilson emphasized how special this collaboration was to her, championing Brooks & Dunn as a crucial influence on her own career and the genre as a whole: “I don’t know anyone in this city, in this generation of country music, who could say that , that these people have no influence on what they do. They were the soundtrack of my childhood and I was excited to create some magic with them.”

“Yeah, she burst through the door like TNT
She put her hand on her hip and pointed her finger at me
Said, “I’m a whiskey drinker, chasing cowboys, a damn lot of time.”
I like Kenny, Keith, Alan and Patsy Cline
I am a fully grown queen bee looking for honey
Ha-ooh-hoo, oh, play some country.”

–

Yes, the band took a break
The DJ played P Diddy
She said: “I didn’t come here to hear it
Something is booming from the city”
Said, “I shaved my legs, I paid my money.”
Ha-ooh-hoo, play some country
Ha-ooh-hoo, oh, play some country.”

–

The band turns it up, plays the steel guitar
Make yourself comfortable, let’s rock this bar
Tossed back a shot and yelled, “I’m a George Strait junkie.”
Ha-ooh-hoo, play some country
Ha-ooh-hoo, oh, play some country.”

–

Yes, the bartender yelled, “Y’all, it’s closing time.”
She had this wild look on her face
And said, “Your truck or mine.”
I know a place further down the road
It’s kind of unconventional
Ha-ooh-hoo, everyone out to the country
Ha-ooh-hoo, now play some country!”

–

The band turns it up, plays the steel guitar
Make yourself comfortable, let’s rock this bar
Tossed back a shot and yelled, “I’m a George Strait junkie.”
Ha-ooh-hoo, play some country
Ha-ooh-hoo, oh, play some country.”

–

The band turns it up, plays the steel guitar
Make yourself comfortable, let’s rock this bar
Tossed back a shot and yelled, “I’m a George Strait junkie.”
Ha-ooh-hoo, play some country
Ha-ooh-hoo, oh, play some country.”

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