Whey Jennings‘ sophomore Baptized by Fire album is out. The 12-track record, the follow-up to the 2024 Jekyll & Hyde, features Jennings as a writer on ten of the tracks, teaming up with hit songwriters like Jim “Moose” Brown, Karen Waldrup, Tyler Booth, Wes Shipp, and more to bring the project to life.

“I got to write with some really cool people on this one,” Jennings tells Everything Nash. “And we came up with, I think, the best album I’ve ever put out, honestly. It ain’t as rocking country as I’ve usually put out, but it’s got so much depth that it scares me. It’s a vulnerable feeling. I hope people like it, because it’s totally different than anything I’ve ever put out.”

An autobiographical project. Jennings says people will know him by listening to all of the songs on Baptized By Fire.

“It’s got my life experiences in it,” Jennings says. “We’ve all [had] ups and downs, gone through the darkness into the light kind of a situation. But I got a lot of love in there. I got a lot of heartache in there. I got a lot of faith in there. I got a lot of pain through faith in there. And then at the end, you’re baptized by fire. That’s when you come out like a phoenix out of the ashes.”

Whey Jennings Talks About Releasing Music Sober

Jennings has been vocal about his sobriety, after battling a drug and alcohol addiction for 27 years. Although Jennings was not sober when he began releasing music, he finds a new freedom in being able to share his gifts while not under the influence.

“It’s more authentic,” the father of seven shares. “It’s more real. I sing about things that I want my kids to hear. … I look at everything through the lens of a father now. Used to, I wanted to be this wild, crazy guy, the craziest guy on Music Row. And now I’m just like, I want that guy to stay away from my kids. I want to be able to be a family-friendly, anybody can listen to my music kind of guy. So I kind of walked the line on that. I go as dark as I possibly can without it being too dark for families to listen to.”

Perhaps no one is more pleased with his evolution than Jennings, who is coming into his own, and realizing the kind of music he wants to make.

“I’m pretty comfortable in what I do,” Jennings boasts. “I’m feeling good about the music I’m putting out now. So I feel really good about my last album, and really good about the EP before that. And I feel good about it all. It all has its place in my catalog, but I feel more comfortable now and more confident in the music I’m putting out now than ever.”

‘Baptized By Fire’ Track List:

1. “Wrong For The Time” (Jim “Moose” Brown, Whey Jennings, David Wade)
2. ”What Lovin’ You Does” (Dustin Spears)
3. “Can’t Outrun A Train” (Jack Dempsey)
4. “Damned If I Stay” (Whey Jennings, David Wade, Karen Waldrup)
5. “A Whole Lotta Nothin’” (Whey Jennings, Wes Shipp)
6. “Force Of Nature” (Whey Jennings, Wes Shipp)
7. “Whichever Way The Wind Blows” (Whey Jennings, Tyler Booth, David Wade)
8. “Wild Horses & Bad Habits” (Whey Jennings, Tyler Booth, David Wade, Kayla Ray)
9. “I’ll See You Soon” (Whey Jennings, Wes Shipp)
10. “Copperheads And Butterflies” (Whey Jennings, Tyler Booth, David Wade)
11. “Take His Hand” (Whey Jennings, Dustin Spears)
12. “Baptized By Fire” (Jim “Moose” Brown, Whey Jennings, David Wade)

Find Baptized By Fire tour dates at WheyJennings.com.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Galletti