If California Sunrise was Jon Pardi’s arrival, and Heartache Medication was his confident stride, Honkytonk Hollywood is the full-blown cowboy blockbuster. Out now via Capitol Records Nashville, the 17-track record finds Pardi embracing every ounce of who he is — rowdy, refined, rooted, and ready to break new ground. Or as the man himself puts it, “Just get in and get it done. Get your hands dirty. That’s nothing new to me.”
And while the album is all business in its sharp songwriting and rock-solid vocals, it’s anything but buttoned up. With fuzzed-out fiddles, thundering bass lines, and Pardi’s unmistakable vocal punch, Honkytonk Hollywood is a high-octane collision between grit and glam, classic country and cowboy charisma.
“I feel like I made one of my best records of my career,” Pardi told Celeb Secrets and other press during a media session ahead of the album’s release. “This one’s got more grit… my vocals are just right there in your ears. It’s not polished—it’s in your face.”
Pardi may still sing about whiskey, boots, and heartbreak, but he’s no longer just the life of the honky-tonk. Now a girl dad to two daughters (and battling fierce competition from “The Muffin Man” and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” for top plays at home), he admits this record is his most “grown up” yet.
“There’s less drinking and partying — but there’s still drinking and partying,” he joked. “Having kids and starting a family… you start finding songs you can feel a little more. That’s just a different chapter of my life.”
That chapter hits hard on songs like “She Drives Away,” a poignant ballad that debuted at CRS 2025 earlier this year and caught even Pardi off guard. “That’s a song I wish I wrote,” he admitted. “It gets the moms, it gets the dads. It’s powerful.”
The sonic tension on Honkytonk Hollywood comes courtesy of a dream (and risk) collaboration with legendary producer Jay Joyce. Known for pushing artists out of their comfort zones, Joyce helped Pardi lean into experimentation—without losing an ounce of authenticity.
“I told Jay [Joyce], ‘Me and you together, two worlds collide — that’s what we need to do,’” Pardi said. “We worked really well together. I knew we would, but you never know… it could’ve gone completely sideways. But it didn’t. It couldn’t have gone better.”
One chaotic highlight? Watching Joyce and Pardi’s longtime steel guitar player, Terry, go toe-to-toe in the studio. “Jay’s like, ‘Terry, stop playing!’ And Terry’s like, ‘Man!’ It was hilarious. That’s where the push-it-to-the-limit stuff happened,” Pardi laughed.
We asked Pardi the most Celeb Secrets-coded question possible: If Honkytonk Hollywood was a music festival, who would headline, where would it be, and what would we be eating afterward?
Without missing a beat, Pardi launched into a full vision board.
“Shut down Broadway. I mean, old-school Capitol Street Party style,” he said, picturing 20,000 fans packed onto Nashville’s most iconic street. “When I think of Honkytonk Hollywood, I think of glitz and glam—cowboy hats, western style, Beyoncé, Yellowstone, LA. Everybody’s western now!”
And food trucks? “Forget ’em,” he said. “We’re hitting the bar. It’s Pardi Time!”
To celebrate Honkytonk Hollywood‘s release, Pardi took over New York City with performances on NBC’s TODAY and Fox & Friends earlier in the week before throwing an exclusive release party at Common Country Bar. But the real celebration begins April 25, when he kicks off the Honkytonk Hollywood Tour in Lubbock, Texas. With opening acts like Corey Kent, Kassi Ashton, Jake Worthington and Colby Acuff on select dates, it’s a star-studded lineup worthy of Pardi’s glitter-meets-grit aesthetic.
“I spent some money, blew some stuff up,” he teased about the show’s production. “But really, I’m just excited to play these new songs. We’ve lived with this album since July 2024 — so we know it by heart. But now it’s time to see what the fans think.”
VIP experiences, backstage tours, and Pardi Time lounges will elevate the live experience — plus, a portion of ticket sales will benefit the Starlight Fund, which he founded with wife Summer to support kids in agriculture, trades, and construction.
It’s been two and a half years since Pardi dropped a full-length record. And in his words? “Here’s your record.”
Whether you’re throwing on boots in a Nashville apartment or chasing California dreams, Honkytonk Hollywood is the soundtrack for those unafraid to do country their way — with a little chaos, a little shine, and a whole lotta heart.
Listen to Honkytonk Hollywood below and don’t forget to let us know if you’re loving the album by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecrets.
With reporting by Brianna Vacca.
