Tyler Halverson releases new album, 'In Defense of Drinking' - out now!
TYLER HALVERSON
SOUTH DAKOTA-BORN, NASHVILLE-HONED OUTLAW SINGER-SONGWRITER RELEASES IN DEFENSE OF DRINKING ALBUM TODAY
UPCOMING 2026 TOUR WITH PARKER MCCOLLUM & NEW SHOW IN QUEENS, NY AT HONKY TONKIN’ FEBRUARY 27TH
January 9th 2026 - Today, South Dakota-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Tyler Halverson has released his highly anticipated In Defense of Drinking Album via CMDSHFT. The album features previously released tracks “Beer Garden Baby” ft Parker McCollum, “More Hearts Than Horses,” “Smoke You Out,” “Fort Worth Losing” and “Like The Rodeo” ft Wade Forster.” The album features six new unreleased songs including album focus & title track “In Defense of Drinking.”
Stream In Defense of Drinking HERE
On the release of the new album and the title track Halverson said: “The song “In Defense of Drinking” was a gift from one of my best friends Jon Decious. He’s an ex-punk rocker turned songwriter, who knows the ups and downs of the road. I like to say he brought me the right song at the wrong time. The track spells out who is to blame for all your chaos: YOU. The hook being “I’m the reason that I'm lonely, drinking’s the excuse,” is a hard hitting truth.
Continuing on about the album he noted: “This album is all heartbreak and hopefulness. You've been unlucky in love, but still long for it. Be it from yourself, others, or god. Tracks like “More Hearts Than Horses” and “Fort Worth Losing” speak on recklessness. Others like “Cowboy Babies” and “Like The Rodeo” show what you still desire. While “In Defense Of Drinking” and “Son Brother Believer” represent wanting to be better.”
Up next Halverson will continue on the road with Parker McCollum as well as a mix of festival appearances, major arenas and select headline dates. As part of the run, Halverson will make a special stop in Queens, NY on February 27 at Gottscheer Hall, bringing his high-energy live show to New York City amid a packed stretch of performances. See full list of tour dates below.
Known for his evocative songwriting and bold modernization of the outlaw outlook, Halverson continues to carve out a lane that bridges classic country storytelling with a modern edge. Raised in Canton, South Dakota, he grew up balancing ranch work with a wide-ranging musical diet that included Merle Haggard and Garth Brooks alongside Mac Miller and Drake. That blend continues to shape his sound, grounding it in tradition while keeping it firmly contemporary.
The full body of works follows “Like The Rodeo” which features fellow songwriter Wade Forster, whose roots in the rodeo world mirror Halverson’s own. Grounded in lived experience, the track captures the tension of loving someone who runs just as hard as you do, set against a backdrop of miles, motion, and the pull of the road.
Built on steady acoustics, steel guitar, and Halverson’s rough-hewn vocal delivery, “Like The Rodeo” tells the story of two lives constantly in motion. One chasing stages and showtimes, the other chasing white lines and barrel turns. The song wrestles with whether love can survive when neither person is willing to slow down, asking the question at its core: Are we ever gonna catch up?
Talking about the new single Halverson said: “You don’t make any money sitting still, whether you rope, ride, or sing. This song is about chasing somebody who’s chasing something themselves. A world Wade and I both know well.”
On the new track and working with Halverson, Forster said: “Tyler Halverson and I come from similar backgrounds. We know the road and world of rodeo and for us to do a song together is pretty cool.”
Throughout 2025, Halverson steadily built momentum with a series of releases that further cemented his place in the modern outlaw country landscape. Songs including “More Hearts Than Horses,” “Beer Garden Baby” featuring Parker McCollum, and “Smoke You Out” showcased his ability to balance raw storytelling with wide-reaching appeal.
2026 TOUR DATES
Jan 5 Mon - Steamboat Springs, CO - The Musicfest Steamboat 2026
Feb 5 Thu - University, MS - Pavilion at Ole Miss*
Feb 6 Fri - Lexington, KY - Rupp Arena*
Feb 7 Sat - Salem, VA - Salem Civic Center*
Feb 12 Thu - Winston Salem, NC - Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum*
Feb 13 Fri - Auburn University, AL - Auburn Arena*
Feb 14 Sat - Savannah, GA - Enmarket Arena
Feb 26 Fri - Ridgewood, NY - Gottscheer Hall
*with Parker McCollum
IN DEFENSE OF DRINKING TRACK LIST
More Hearts Than Horses
Beer Garden Baby (ft. Parker McCollum)
8 Second High
Fort Worth Losing
Smoke You Out
In Defense of Drinking
Like The Rodeo (ft. Wade Forster)
Cowboy Babies
Old Men, Younger Women
The Dreamer
Son, Brother, Believer
