NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Chart-topping bluegrass Gospel leaders Chosen Road return June 23 with the much-anticipated new full-length set It Never Gets Old. Hallmarked by the band’s signature blend of traditional Appalachian instrumentation and tight harmonies atop fresh originals and updated arrangements of familiar favorites, the Thoroughbred Records release was produced by group members Zachary Alvis, Tyler Robertson and Jonathan Buckner.
Steeped in tradition with a nod to the future, It Never Gets Old showcases 13 songs, including the most newly-penned tracks the band has featured on a project to date. “This album represents a season of growth in our personal lives, and I believe that’s facilitated the growth we’ve experienced musically,” says Chosen Road founding member Jonathan Buckner. “We’ve also grown more confident in our own ideas and thought processes, as well as how we want to define our sound.”
“We live in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, where bluegrass and old-time music were born,” he continues. “Our people have always been great storytellers and musicians, and when you pair those things with the Christian faith, something special happens. We call it ‘heart’ music, and I believe that’s what this album is made of. We hope listeners hear us telling our stories through our music and are challenged to share their God-given story. After all, if it’s a story God has given you, it’s a story that will never get old.”
The Lee Patrick Black and Tony Wood-penned modern hymn “Awake My Soul” opens the album, setting a buoyant, joyful tone for the collection. Additional highlights of It Never Gets Old include the tender ballad and lead single “I Want To Be Just Like You,” which will be available on streaming platforms June 2, as well as two songs with special meaning to the band. “People’s Praise” was inspired by a letter left behind by missionary Karen Watson, who was killed while working with refugees in Iraq; and “One Willing Soul” was written for a ministry close to Chosen Road’s heart.
“Zachary and I were asked to write a song for our friends at the North American Mission Board’s Church Replant and Revitalization Team,” Buckner shares of the origin of “One Willing Soul.” “We come from a small town in the coalfields of southern West Virginia where many churches have been on the decline for quite some time. Pastors are often juggling the responsibilities of being a husband, a father, and shepherding a flock of local believers, all while working multiple jobs to make ends meet. We wanted to encourage them that their contributions to the Kingdom matter and they are making a difference.”
Chosen Road will be performing selections from It Never Gets Old at multiple upcoming events, including the long-running “Sunday Mornin’ Country” celebration, to be held June 11 during Nashville’s CMA Fest; and Michigan’s Big Ticket Music Festival, headlined by Crowder and Zach Williams, June 23-24. The band is also among the star-studded lineup for the popular “40 Days & 40 Nights at the Ark” concert series this summer at the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky.
ABOUT CHOSEN ROAD
Chosen Road has carved a singular niche in the musical landscape with their world-class Appalachian instrumentation combined with a passion for sharing and living the Gospel. Comprised of founding member Jonathan Buckner, along with Zachary Alvis, Tyler Robertson, Josh Hicks and Chris Stockwell, the group has been carefully honing their craft since 2009, releasing seven albums and performing at festivals, fairs, churches and theaters across the United States as well as overseas. Last year’s Appalachian Christmas debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Albums chart, while 2020’s Appalachian Worship and 2021’s Appalachian Hymns each spent multiple weeks in the Top 10 on the same chart.
Throughout their career, Chosen Road has garnered six Top 10 bluegrass radio singles, including the #1 hit “When I Get Home,” and the group has performed on stages alongside such greats as Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Dailey & Vincent, and The Isaacs. With deep roots in the Baptist tradition, the band has an ongoing partnership with the North American Mission Board’s (NAMB) Church Replant and Revitalization Team, where they help increase awareness about the number of churches closing their doors each year.
ABOUT THOROUGHBRED RECORDS
Daywind Music Group, home to top Gospel labels Daywind Records, New Day Records and mainstream bluegrass label Billy Blue Records, relaunched the historic bluegrass Gospel imprint Thoroughbred Records last year with the signing of flagship artist Chosen Road. Thoroughbred debuted in 1995 as a premier outlet for bluegrass Gospel music and was home to genre giants the Lewis Family from 1995 until shortly before the group’s retirement in 2009. Boasting such leading artists as the Easter Brothers, and The Chigger Hill Boys & Terri, the label directed attention to Christian bluegrass music during a period of resurgence for the bluegrass genre. Thoroughbred culminated its initial tenure with an audio and video collaboration featuring Jeff and Sheri Easter, the Lewis Family, and the Easter Brothers, aptly titled We Are Family. The new Thoroughbred Records is distributed to Christian retail by New Day Christian Distributors.
For further information, visit chosenroadmusic.com or turningpointpr.com. Follow Chosen Road on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.