After years of singles, EPs, tours, and hard-earned #1s, Josh Ross has finally dropped his debut full-length album Later Tonight — and it’s every bit as bold, emotional, and unpredictable as his journey to get here.
Released via MCA / Mercury Nashville / Universal Music Canada / CORE Records, the 15-track set shows off Ross’ unique brand of country: part stadium-ready rock, part heart-on-your-sleeve storytelling, and all anchored in lived experience. From his “nobody from nowhere” beginnings to becoming Canada’s reigning CCMA Entertainer of the Year, Ross has been building to this moment since moving to Nashville seven years ago with nothing but a dream and a voice that demanded attention.
When Celeb Secrets asked Ross what fans will finally understand about him after hearing Later Tonight, he didn’t overcomplicate it: “There’s depth. I think that’ll be the best way to put it. The record’s got a lot of fun, but then there’s a lot of serious and just emotional songs,” he told us exclusively during a media session. “Sonically there’s a tie to so many different things. I listen to a lot of different stuff, and you can hear that through this record.”
That depth stretches across the album, weaving high-octane moments like “Hate How You Look” (his newest country radio single) with intimate tracks like “Scared of Getting Sober” and “Songs You Gave Me.” For Ross, those emotional ballads aren’t just highlights — they’re the most honest reflection of his life.
“The most personal songs are the easiest for me to write,” Ross explained during the roundtable. “’Nobody From Nowhere,’ ‘Scared of Getting Sober,’ and ‘Songs You Gave Me’… those are lived experiences. That’s me.”
If Later Tonight feels more thoughtful than most debut albums, that’s by design. Ross admits his early years in Nashville were fueled by fear of falling behind, but touring with heavyweights taught him to slow down.
Opening for Nickelback in 2023 was a turning point. “What I really took away was: don’t rush the process,” he said. “I wanted to be an artist that’s still around in 20 or 30 years. Watching Chad [Kroeger] showed me the importance of patience.”
Contrast that with Jelly Roll, whose rise Ross describes as electric. “Jelly takes life lessons and turns them into the power of music. I learned a lot from him,” he told Celeb Secrets. “Nickelback taught me patience. Jelly taught me the power of honesty.”
That blend of patience and truth defines Later Tonight — an album that took six years of living, heartbreak, and growth to write.
But why Later Tonight? Interestingly, Ross didn’t write the title track himself, but its meaning became bigger than one song.
“It just felt easy to digest, but also tied everything together,” he explained. “Later tonight, you’ll leave me too… later tonight, I’m scared of getting sober. So many of the record’s concepts happen later tonight.”
That framing gave the project its identity, and tracklist sequencing was approached the same way Ross builds his live shows — a rollercoaster of highs and lows designed to hold attention.
If anyone doubts Ross’ momentum, just look at his last week. Fresh off winning Entertainer of the Year and Single of the Year for his breakout smash “Single Again” at the Canadian Country Music Awards, Ross is celebrating Later Tonight with a whirlwind of Nashville appearances — Ole Red, Luke Combs’ Category 10, SiriusXM’s Happy Hour at Margaritaville, and a Grand Ole Opry return later tonight (pun intended).
And that’s just the beginning. He’s joining Dylan Scott on tour this fall, heading to London for back-to-back shows at The Camden Assembly, and launching a 17-date Canadian headline tour in February.
Ross admits that finally turning in the album felt like “closing a chapter.” But don’t expect him to stop writing anytime soon.
“Once I submit songs, I don’t listen again. Yesterday was the first time I’d heard the record since turning it in months ago,” he laughed. “Now I just want to start fresh — write for fun, and see what comes next.”
For fans who’ve followed Josh Ross from his earliest Nashville days — and for the ones just pressing play for the first time — Later Tonight is a debut worth celebrating. It’s an album that proves country music’s newest superstar isn’t here for a moment; he’s here for a career.
“Slow growth is just as good, if not better,” Ross told us. “That’s what this album is about. Depth. Honesty. Patience.”
And if Later Tonight is the start, just imagine where the 31-year-old will be by “later tonight” in another seven years. From football fields to Nickelback tours to Jelly Roll collabs, Josh Ross’ debut record proves he’s anything but a typical Nashville story — and that’s exactly why fans are listening.
For more on Josh’s new record, make sure to watch our full interview below, and don’t forget to let us know if you’re loving Later Tonight by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecretscountry.
