Waylon Payne Releases Video for "The Roses"

With his new album Wayward, Waylon Payne affirms his place as one of country music’s most poetic songwriters and storytellers. The album is released via Big Loud Texas and produced by Frank Liddell and Eric Masse. This is Payne's third studio album, and the first since signing with his new label. The 13-track album features an impressive array of collaborators: Pam Tillis, Miranda Lambert, Aaron Raitiere, Ashley Monroe, Brennen Leigh, Dean Person, Matraca Berg, and Charlie Worsham. Wayward vibrates with authenticity, pain, and strength.

Payne belongs to the classic troubadour tradition and has always let his own story influence his music. Songs like "Looking For A Feeling," named by Holler as one of the best new country singles, as well as "Holding On To Lonely," bear witness to his ability to convey vulnerability through shimmering melodies and heartfelt singing. Billboard has praised his voice for containing both "resignation and longing," while MusicRow highlights its "achingly beautiful tone." Half of the songs on Wayward are written solely by Payne, while the rest have been created in collaboration with some of Nashville’s most respected songwriters—something that underscores his high regard in Music City.

The centerpiece of the album is the newly released video for "The Roses," which Payne wrote after a breakup while grieving his mother. Themes of sorrow, hope, and fleeting connections are drawn straight from Payne’s own experiences, reinforcing his reputation as a raw, honest storyteller. On Wayward’s 13 tracks, listeners are taken on an emotional journey through highs and lows, sketching the contours of a life lived without compromise.

Waylon Payne’s roots in country music are deep. He is the son of GRAMMY®-winning Sammi Smith and Jody Payne (guitarist for Willie Nelson), as well as godson to Waylon Jennings. He first garnered attention in 2003 with his debut The Drifter and received further acclaim for Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me from 2020. Outside of music, Payne has also made a mark as an actor, including in the role of Jerry Lee Lewis in Walk the Line (2005) and as the title character in Crazy (2006).

Wayward is more than an album—it is a testament to both the trials and triumphs that shape Payne’s artistry. With moving new stories, a powerful music video, and a summer on the road with one of country music’s legends, Waylon Payne is ready to write a new chapter in American songwriting.