Tim McGraw displayed “raw emotion” unlike ever before when he recorded “Hey Whiskey,” his latest song to release on Friday (June 23). On the same day, the country music giant also revealed that his next album is due to release later this summer.
McGraw’s vocals on “Hey Whiskey” turned out “so authentic,” he said in an Instagram caption. McGraw gave up alcohol to focus on a healthy lifestyle in 2008, according to a previous PEOPLE report. He sings: “I let you stay, you made her leave/ You made me say things I don't mean/ To the only girl that ever made me choose/ I gave you everything I had/ Went to hell and can't get back/ The only thing I couldn't stand to lose/ Hey whiskey/ Hey whiskey, what'd I ever do to you?”
“There is just something special about this song,” McGraw said. “Anyone that knows anything about my history knows it’s very personal to me. When we were recording the track, the vocal performance captured a raw emotion that I hadn’t experienced before. In fact, it was the first take we laid down for the album, and it felt so authentic that we decided to keep it as is.”
“Hey Whiskey” released as McGraw shared details about his forthcoming album, named after his previous single, Standing Room Only. the 13-track project is set to release on August 25. McGraw released the title track earlier this year, serving as a heartfelt reminder to appreciate the most important things in life.
“For me, this song is so positive and life affirming… it caught my ear the first time I heard it,” McGraw said at the time. “I hope it can be a reminder to live a life filled with gratitude, and not take things for granted. ‘Standing Room Only’ is out now! I hope you love the message as much as I do.”