2 min read- Tim McGraw sings lead on a new collaboration with Lori McKenna and Bob Minner.
- The song is a Keith Whitley cover.
- Tim is a big Whitley fan and moved to Nashville the same day the legend died.
Tim McGraw may be in his vocal prime. A brand-new cover of Keith Whitley's “Kentucky Bluebird” with Lori McKenna, released Friday (February 27), just feels good.
The narrator is feeling downcast, missing his lover as he sings: “Blue is a feeling I'm learning so well / Turn on the TV in another hotel / Turn down the volume and stare at the wall / God, I wish you would call.”
You can tell he really means it, too. Both Tim and Lori, as touring musicians, have had to leave loved ones behind a lot. But blue as he may be, Tim sounds as strong as ever vocally, which is refreshing given his health setbacks in recent years.
He's also so comfortable singing this track—from Keith Whitley's posthumous 1991 album, also called Kentucky Bluebird—because Tim has always been a huge Whitley fan.
“Keith Whitley was a big influence on me. I moved to Nashville the day he died,” Tim recalls. The late legend died on May 9, 1989, the result of acute alcohol poisoning.
“Bob has played acoustic guitar for me for 33 years, and we’ve played 'Kentucky Bluebird' more times than I can remember before a show. When he asked me to sing it on his record, I was happy to help out,” Tim continues. “And having Lori McKenna singing harmony makes it even more special.”
Bob feels the same way about having Tim sing lead.
“Tim delivers [‘Kentucky Bluebird’] with such honesty and raw emotion, and having the amazing Lori McKenna sing harmony was the cherry on top,” the bluegrass musician adds, complimenting his boss.
Lori is one of country music’s most talented writers. She’s responsible for penning Tim's hit song “Humble and Kind,” but has a career as a singer, too. Bob is best known in bluegrass circles—he’s recognized for his incredible guitar talent, in addition to his 30-plus-year commitment to Tim’s band.
They’ll be together a lot this year: Despite Tim’s recent back and knee surgeries, he’s going back on the road on his Pawn Shop Guitar Tour, which will hit more than two dozen cities between July and September. If wife Faith Hill isn't on the road with him, expect Tim to be singing “Kentucky Bluebird” when he's alone in his bed at night.
Amanda Hensel Jermstad is a skilled writer based in Austin, Texas. She spent 14 years as Editor-in-Chief of Taste of Country, where she led coverage of the artists, stories and trends shaping country music. With a career deeply rooted in the genre, Amanda has built a reputation for sharp editorial insight and authentic storytelling. Outside of work, she’s a proud mom of three.
