Jon Wolfe has always been the kind of artist who makes country music feel real again—songs that sound like they were lived before they were written, carried on a baritone that feels equal parts strength and soul. With the release of his new album, Barstool Therapy: Session One, out now on all streaming platforms, Wolfe returns with his most personal and grounded project to date.

Produced by GRAMMY®-nominated Dave Brainard, the eight-song collection captures both the grit and grace that have come to define his career: a whiskey-soaked reflection on heartbreak, hard truths, and the healing that happens under the warm hum of neon light.

It’s been four years since Wolfe’s last studio record, Dos Corazones, and in that time, life has shifted in ways that would ultimately shape this new chapter. “It’s kind of crazy that there’s been that sort of span between albums,” Wolfe says. “To be honest, a lot of personal life stuff has happened over the past four years. My wife and I got married, we moved out into the hill country, and I’ve spent more time at home. I think this album really reflects that—getting back to my roots, moving away from the city, and just slowing down.”

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That sense of reconnection runs through every note of Barstool Therapy: Session One, especially in the album’s opening track, “The Older I Get (More Country I’m Gettin’ to Be),” which Wolfe describes as autobiographical. “This record really digs into my earliest influences,” he explains. “I’ve always been a traditional country singer, but this one leans even deeper into the artists I grew up loving- Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, George Strait. It’s me on default, just being myself and having fun with country music. The genre I fell in love with as a teenager.”

That love for tradition doesn’t come at the expense of freshness. Wolfe worked closely with Brainard to strike the perfect balance between the timeless and the new, honoring his heroes while still pushing the sound forward. “It’s tough to do,” he admits. “There are a lot of artists out there who kind of regurgitate what’s already been done. It’s hard to make something that feels fresh but still familiar. Dave’s brilliant at that, he’s a traditional country junkie like I am, and he really knows how to bridge those worlds. With ‘Barstool Therapy,’ for example, we wrote that song three different times before it felt right. The first versions were too on the nose. We had to dig deeper to find those subtle modern touches that make it feel alive today.”

The result is an album that feels like a conversation across generations of country music, songs that could live on a jukebox beside Haggard or Price but still sound right at home on a 2025 playlist. From the confessional title track to the tender resilience of “Jesus and Marianne,” Wolfe showcases a voice and vision shaped by honesty, humility, and the kind of lived experience that can’t be faked.

That deep respect for the genre’s roots is what keeps Wolfe passionate, even after years of touring and recording. “Country music is our music,” he says. “It’s a mix of influences from all over the world, but it’s something uniquely American. The traditional side of it has always meant so much to me. I still get inspired every time I put on an old Ray Price record. I’ll listen to something like For the Good Times, and it reminds me why I do this. It keeps me grounded and excited to make my own version of that timeless sound.”

Even after five studio albums, Wolfe remains as much a fan as he is an artist, and his audience can feel that authenticity. “My fans have been with me for a long time,” he says. “I think if you’re true to yourself, they’ll go with you. The music’s evolved a bit as I’ve gotten older, but it’s all still me. We’ve seen them really connect with songs like ‘The Older I Get (More Country I’m Gettin’ to Be),’ which has already become a fan favorite. It’s just cool to see them jump on board and grow with me.”

That mutual loyalty is what makes Barstool Therapy: Session One feel both intimate and communal. It’s the kind of record that sounds best shared, with old friends, cold beer, and stories that get truer as the night goes on. Wolfe’s humor and humility shine through even in his visuals; the music video for the title track, filmed at Riley’s Tavern, the oldest bar in Texas, features a comedic appearance from Uncle Lazer, and perfectly captures the record’s spirit: honest, heartfelt, and a little tongue-in-cheek.

Still, for Wolfe, this is just the beginning of the story. “We’ve got a lot of music recorded,” he teases. “Barstool Therapy: Session One is just that, the first session. There’s more to come, and we’ve got a big collaboration on the way early next year. I wanted people to be able to really take in this first set before we give them more, but trust me, there’s a lot of fun ahead.”

As Wolfe looks toward 2026, his barstool confessions have never felt more relatable. In a world that often moves too fast, Barstool Therapy: Session One is an invitation to slow down, to pour one, press play, and remember that sometimes the best kind of healing comes with a jukebox in the corner and a song that knows exactly what you’re feeling.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Thomas