Shaboozey2026 is shaping up to be a big year for Shaboozey, and with a new record on the way, he’s ticked off another milestone by way of making his debut on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series.
Appearing on the long-running series as part of NPR’s Black Music Month takeover, Shaboozey offered up a five-song preview of beloved hits and forthcoming cuts, opening the set with his Jelly Roll collab Amen.
New material was showcased by way of Burn It Down, Cowgirl, and Drunk, while his 2024 single Good News was also offered a worthy spot in the set. Along the way, he was also joined by a vast group of backing musicians and vocalists, including none other than the great Leon Bridges, who offered guest vocals throughout.
However, it was clear that Shaboozey himself was having a stunning time, praising NPR producers for their efforts in turning the Tiny Desk “into a dive bar”.
“13 years ago I played my first ever show in DC,” he added on social media. “Getting to come back and do Tiny Desk where it all started is an honor I’ll never forget!
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“My upcoming album, The Outlaw Cherie Lee, includes my proudest work yet and I’m excited for y’all to hear some of those songs early! And you know I had to bring the legend @leonbridges with me.”
Indeed, as Shaboozey noted, his forthcoming record – formally titled The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales – is set for release on July 31st, and is said to be his most “cinematic” album to date, combining western storytelling with the genre bending sound that’s made Shaboozey one of the most talked-about names in modern country.
“It’s a western about revenge told continuously through every song, centered on the character Cherie Lee,” he explained. “It explores so many themes, as many timeless westerns have: revenge, redemption, and romance, through the eyes of a protagonist looking to challenge everything she once thought true about her world.
“I poured all of myself into this and I hope people become as immersed in the world and the journey as I have. This album was a promise to myself and something, no matter what, I had to keep. It pushed my songwriting and storytelling to new heights, and I couldn’t be more proud to say it’s done and almost yours.”
The forthcoming record is set to arrive off the back of a massive couple of years for the artist, including the chart-dominating A Bar Song (Tipsy), which made history across multiple Billboard charts and cemented his crossover appeal.
