K. Michelle Announces Debut Country Album ‘Jesus and Whiskey’

After spending decades establishing herself as a force in the R&B space, K. Michelle is officially returning to her musical roots. While the singer has previously experimented outside of the genre with tracks like “Tennessee” and “Jack Daniel’s,” the Real Housewives of Atlanta star is now fully committing to the sound that started it all: country music.

During a recent appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark, the singer announced that her highly anticipated debut country album, Jesus and Whiskey, is slated for release on October 16 via Real Outlawz Records. The project will feature nine tracks, showcasing a new chapter in her artistic evolution. To celebrate the announcement, she delivered a live performance of the title track, “Jesus and Whiskey,” which is described as a passionate declaration of living life on her own terms while pushing her sound into uncharted territory.

A New Chapter in Country Music

The transition to country has been a long-held ambition for the Memphis native. In 2024, she solidified this move by signing a deal with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, granting the label exclusive licensing for her latest work. Despite her excitement, the journey has not been without its challenges. K. Michelle has been vocal about the industry pushback she faced, including criticism from reporters who questioned her background in the genre and the racial barriers she encountered while attempting to break into the country music space.

“I was told I could not sing country music because I was Black, but it was something I had always been doing and will continue to do,” she previously shared. As artists like Beyoncé continue to reclaim space for Black voices in country music, K. Michelle is poised to bring her own unique perspective to the genre.

Jesus & Whiskey Track List

• “Intro” (K. Michelle)
• “Yodel” (K. Michelle, Tomy Gé, Kelly Sheehan, David “Messy” Mescon, Thomas Edwards)
• “Blame Tennessee” (K. Michelle, Ernest Keith Smith, Felly, Kristian Bush)
• “Damn Good Friend” (Justin Wilson, George Birge, Lalo Guzman)
• “Jesus & Whiskey” (K. Michelle, Ernest Keith Smith, Jordan Dozzi, Rocky Block)
• “Anything (feat. Blush)” (K. Michelle, Ant Clemons, Felly, Kristian Bush)
• “Handle On It” (K. Michelle, Tomy Gé, Kelly Sheehan, David “Messy” Mescon, Thomas Edwards)
• “Jack Daniel’s” (K. Michelle, Ernest Keith Smith, Jordan Dozzi, Rocky Block)
• “If It Ain’t Broke” (K. Michelle, Justin Wilson, Emily Landis, Jamie Moore, Kameron Glasper)