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Jamey Johnson delivered a soulful rendition of a classic country ballad by late legend George Jones, which tributes other iconic artists who made history in the genre.
Johnson recently appeared as a guest on God’s Country, joining podcast hosts Dan and Reid Isbell to talk about music and more. The group ended the episode with Johnson’s cover of “Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes,” the title track of Jones’ studio record released in 1985. The lyrics nod to unforgettable songs by Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty and more: “No, there will never be another/ Red-headed stranger/ A man in black and Folsom prison blues/ The Okie from Muskogee/ Or hello darling/ Lord, I wonder who's gonna fill their shoes/ Who's gonna fill their shoes?/ Who's gonna stand that tall?/ Who's gonna play the Opry/ And the Wabash cannonball?/ Who's gonna give their heart and soul/ To get to me and you?/ Lord, I wonder who's gonna fill their shoes”
“The week Reid and Dan host legendary artist and Grand Ole Opry member, Jamey Johnson out in God's Country. They dive in on why it's been 14 years since Jamey has released new music and how his current duet came to fruition. Jamey tells the story behind how ‘In Color’ became the song that is it and the personal touches they were able to throw in there throughout the writing process. Reid and Dan ask a million questions about the legendary ‘Traler Park Boys’ here in Nashville and Jamey shares some stories that had the boys in tears. The episode ends with a George Jones gravorite and we don't know who's gonna fill his shoes after this!”
Dan and Reid — who have written music for Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Scotty McCreery, Jon Pardi, Lainey Wilson and others — started their weekly podcast in early January 2024. Some of the first guests to appear on the show include HARDY, Dustin Lynch, Colbie Caillat and others.
“One of our favorite things about country music has always been how intertwined it is with the outdoors,” Dan and Reid Isbell said in a statement when God’s Country launched. They hope to “bring the outdoor enthusiast or country music lover an up close and personal look into the minds of some of the best songwriters and artists of the genre — a place where they can be honest about struggles, relationships, their connection to the outdoors, the music business, family, whatever they feel comfortable talking about. We can’t wait to see where this partnership will lead and who this podcast will reach.”
The iHeartPodcasts/MeatEater show is available anywhere you listen to podcasts, including in the iHeartRadio app. Select country stations will broadcast the show between 7-11:30 p.m. local time on Sunday evenings. Find God's Country here.