Lee Brice has enlisted two of his good “Drinkin’ Buddies” for the release of a new song. The country star, along with Nate Smith and Hailey Whitters, are bringing the party to you this year.
Brice’s “Drinkin’ Buddies” was co-written by Zach Kale, Chris Destefano, Justin Wilson, Ben Glover, and Jerrod Niemann. The new country anthem will have just about everyone in your circle or at the bar singing along in no time.
“The camaraderie between just like being friends, you know, girls, guys, friend groups. I just thought it was really fresh and cool. And so that even added a bigger thing,” Brice told Backstage Country.
The ACM and CMA Award winner knew right away he wanted to cut his new track as soon as he heard it. When it came time to select his “Drinkin’ Buddies” for the new song, Brice expressed that he wanted a girl and a guy he could get along with and, most importantly, connect with.
“They both jumped on it. They loved the idea of it and it really just kind of came together quickly. In fact, the first time we met was on the video shoot. It wasn’t even a video shoot. So, really natural,” Brice said of “Drinkin’ Buddies.”
He continued, “Both of them are obviously great talents and worked hard. We’ve become buddies, literal buddies since the day we met.”
This summer, fans can catch Brice performing at select festivals including Carolina Country Music Fest, Country Jam, Windy City Smokeout, and more. He will also join Dierks Bentley out on the road this fall for his 2024 Gravel & Gold Tour.
Click here to listen to Lee Brice’s “Drinkin’ Buddies” featuring Nate Smith and Hailey Whitters.
11 Great Country Songs About Drinking: Tim, Miranda, and More
Country music has its fair share of drinking songs, songs about drinking, and songs about what drinking can do to you. Actually, there may be fewer songs in country music that don’t mention the drink than songs that do.
Tim McGraw is the latest country star to have a song about drinking; Tim’s new tune is called “Hey Whiskey.” Its release closely follows Luke Bryan’s new single, “But I Got A Beer In My Hand.” It’s not the first song McGraw has released about whiskey. In 2008, he released a single called “Whiskey And You.”
McGraw’s new song’s lyrics include, “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?”
McGraw recently announced details on his brand new album Standing Room Only, which will be released on August 25. McGraw also announced a new song from the project today (6/23) called “Hey Whiskey.”
Standing Room Only will feature 13 new tracks produced by Tim and his longtime producing partner Byron Gallimore. The new album marks McGraw’s first new record since 2020’s Here On Earth, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Chart.
Tim said in a statement, “As an artist, I always want to dig deeper and get better every time I make a new record – it’s a big part of what drives me, and I really believe this is one of the best projects we’ve made. I’ve been working on this album since 2020, and this collection of songs is some of the most emotional, thought-provoking, and life-affirming music I’ve ever recorded.”
He added, “I’m excited to have ‘Hey Whiskey’ out so fans can start hearing more of what we’re working on – and maybe even more before August…”
While this list was more challenging than most to whittle down, we share what we believe are country music’s best songs about drinking.
11 – Willie Nelson – “Whiskey River” (1973)
Share
This is a true classic. Released in 1973 on Willie's "Shotgun Willie" album, it was one that Nelson did not write but has become one of his signature career songs.
10 – Blake Shelton – “The More I Drink” (2007)
Share
The video for this song begins with many heavily intoxicated bar patrons getting arrested (including Blake) and getting into a fight. Blake starts the song in a police booking room before the scene cuts to the bar patrons getting rowdy and drunk at a local bar.
9 – Brad Paisley – “Alcohol” (2005)
Share
Brad wrote this song, and it is one of his biggest hits—an interesting song coming from Paisley, who does not and has never drunk alcohol.
8 – Lady A – “Bartender” (2014)
Share
A catchy song written by all three members of Lady A. The trio debuted the song during the "American Idol" season thirteen finale on May 21, 2014.
7 – Eric Church – “Drink In My Hand” (2011)
Share
This fun drinking song became Church's first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Eric co-wrote the song that appeared on his breakthrough "Chief" album.
6 – Toby Keith’s “Red Solo Cup” (2011)
Share
This song came off Toby's album "Clancy's Tavern" album and is the only song on the album that Keith did not write or co-write. It was ranked by "Insider" as the second worst song of the 2010s decade, and Toby himself called it "the stupidest song I ever heard in my life." Regardless of its reviews, it was a big ol' hit and became a drinking anthem.
5 – Little Big Town – “Day Drinking” (2014)
Share
This fun song was released as the lead single from LBT's sixth studio album, "Pain Killer." The group debuted the song at the CMT Music Awards on June 4, 2014.
4 – Chris Stapleton – “Tennessee Whiskey” (2015)
Share
This is the song that made Chris a superstar. Stapleton performed it at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards as a duet with Justin Timberlake. The performance was described as the best moment of the night. Yeah, it was! But Chris wasn't the first to record it: David Allen Coe and George Jones both didn't versions of the song decades before Chris.
3 – Dierks Bentley – “Drunk On A Plane” (2014)
Share
Dierks co-wrote this instant classic about a man who is left behind at the altar and takes a trip to Cancún by himself after he is unable to obtain a refund for the airplane tickets he had purchased for a honeymoon. The video for the song won Music Video of the Year at the 2014 CMA Awards.
2 – Luke Combs – “Beer Never Broke My Heart” (2019)
Share
Maybe the perfect drinking song. It's the song Luke Combs' fans in stadiums wait all night to hear at the end of his shows. In the video, Combs performs in a small dive bar, similar to gigs he played early in his career.
1 – Miranda Lambert/Elle King – “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” (2021)
Share
This song went all the way to number one on the country charts and even got a Grammy nomination. It brought Elle King into country music full-time and is just a great drinking song.
Sign me up for the Backstage Country email newsletter!
Backstage access to the top names and rising stars of Country Music and more delivered to your inbox.
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.
