2020 hasn’t been easy on anyone, especially Michael Ray. While unable to tour because of COVID-19, he also saw his marriage to Carly Pearce end after only eight months. But the Florida native is determined to find the silver lining, even amid so many challenges.

“It’s been a hard year on everybody,” Michael told Everything Nash. “For many different reasons. But, if you can take moments like this and really try to reflect, and learn more of yourself and who you are — that’s been something that I’ve done a lot this year.”

Michael may not be able to hit the road, but he has been performing online with his Honky Tonk Tuesday series, inviting singer-songwriters like Keith Anderson, Steve Wariner, Jerrod Niemann and more to join him.

“I was in need of that at escape,” Michael explained. “You know, we’re not getting it either. We’re not playing shows. We’re not getting that live concert feel. So I thought, ‘What can I do to bring an hour of that or so a week to fans?’ and came up with this idea. And honestly, I didn’t know what it was going to be, or what we were going to do. It was just a bunch of friends, you know, I think I had Marty Raybon on the first one, with Mark Wills, and then it started growing.”

Michael just released his new single, “Whiskey and Rain.” The song is from his upcoming fourth studio album, which he promises will be very, very country.

“It’s what I’ve always had in my head,” Michael told Everything Nash. “I guess I always knew that I wanted  more of a traditional country sound. That’s what I grew up on, what I listen to, to this day. And I just always felt like that was the record I wanted to make. It took this year, I guess, to really realize that on my own. So this song, it was just that catchy, hooky melody, that throwback to the Gary Allan. It sounds like Gary Allan, Dwight Yoakam — all of that. It just stood out. And really, we felt was a great way to introduce this new record and new sound.”