Talk about a star-studded new project! Jimmie Allen just announced he will release his new EP, Bettie James, on July 10, featuring collaborations with some of music’s biggest artists, of all genres. The Delaware native will be joined on the seven-track album by a who’s who of artists, including Tim McGraw, Darius Rucker, the Oak Ridge Boys, Tauren Wells, Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Mickey Guyton, Nelly, Noah Cyrus and Tauren Wells.
The album’s name is Jimmie’s way of honoring his father, James Allen, who passed away last September, and his grandmother, Bettie Snead, who passed away in February of 2014.
“My dad and grandmom were two completely different people, but both played a huge part in my life. Since they died, I have been wanting to leave trails of their legacies throughout my music,” Jimmie said in a statement about the project.
Jimmie is proud of not only the songs on Bettie James, but the numerous artists who sing with him on the tracks.
“I am a fan of every artist on this project and humbled to have each one of them be a part of it,” Jimmie said. “Each artist has touched the life of my dad, my grandmother and me through their music. I’m proud of this body of music and thankful to every writer that helped me create Bettie James.”
The father of two recently spoke out after the senseless killing of George Floyd, urging people to remember kindness when dealing with racial injustices.
“One thing that I’ve been doing with my black friends and my black family, I’ve been telling them, ‘In the midst of wanting to get your point across, delivery’s everything,” Jimmie said on The Bobby Bones Show. “‘Hateful words don’t welcome a listening ear. You have to give information, give your point of view, but still give people time to process things the way they need to.’ The biggest thing isn’t about me telling them. The biggest thing is about making sure people can understand and process things the way they need to.
“I can sit here and just yell and yell and yell, and nobody understands what I’m saying,” he continued. “That defeats the whole purpose of what this movement is. I feel like this movement is big on love and understanding. It has to be understanding from both sides.”
Photo Credit: BBR Music Group / Dustin Haney
