Chris Knight Addresses Delay in New Music
There is nothing like a Chris Knight album and a Chris Knight song. The consummate songwriter’s songwriter, Chris Knight is one of the most revered in the craft, and all you have to do is look at the list of artists who’ve covered his songs over the years, from Randy Travis to Lee Ann Womack.
Ever since his first self-titled release in 1998, it’s been a steady diet of solid releases every couple of years or so from Knight. But his last record Little Victories was released going on four years ago now. It’s not as if a four-year hiatus in album output is unheard of, it’s just that there’s something about a Chris Knight album that can’t be satiated or substituted by anything else.
Chris Knight has also been decidedly mum on the subject of new music, but in a recent discussion with The Tennessean‘s Juli Thanki ahead of an appearance at Nashville’s City Winery, Knight opened up about his new album prospects, and his frustrations at writing new material.
“It’s hard for me to just write a song that ain’t going to be really interesting to me, just a nice little ditty,” Knight said. “If I could write a real good ditty, I’d do it all the time, but I’ve never been able to do that. I’ve always had to have some kind of story that interested … (Songs are) coming slower than they used to for some reason.”
It’s not unnatural for songwriters to slow down as they get older, and the now 56-year-old Knight has written more quality songs than most in his profession. But Knight did offer a glimmer of hope to hungry fans that he may try to get started on a new album soon.
“I need to get in the studio, record what I got, and see where I go from there.”
November 29, 2016 @ 7:40 pm
Thanks for the update. One of the best songwriters there is for sure – and I love his vocal delivery as well. His cover of Undone is amazing… Now, how about an update on Hank3? I go to his page everyday hoping for a tour…
November 29, 2016 @ 8:53 pm
I would love to give you an update on Hank3 if there was one to give.
November 30, 2016 @ 1:56 am
Funny. This morning a timehop pic of Knight and me from 2012 showed up on my FB feed. I have seen him since – this past summer.
The field has really gotten crowded since Knight and 3 went on hiatus – Sturgill, Isbell, Stapleton, Cody Jinks….
December 2, 2016 @ 7:31 am
I know it’s a little late, but an update on Leroy Virgil and Hellbound Glory would also be great.
December 2, 2016 @ 11:12 am
At the beginning of every year I usually post a roundup of the upcoming albums for the next year, as well as rumors, etc. If I have any news to report about Hellbound, it might be included there if not in an autonomous article. It seems Leroy is somewhat content just releasing singles at the moment.
December 2, 2016 @ 12:33 pm
Good thing I asked! I didn’t even realize he had new singles since the black mass ep!
Thanks!!!
November 29, 2016 @ 8:39 pm
I’d wait ten years for an album he thought was good enough.
Plus, life has probably been alright for him the last 5 years so maybe he hasn’t had the inspiration he had before with most if his material.
November 29, 2016 @ 9:12 pm
Chris’ is a sentiment I and many longtime songwriting friends and co-writers share ..many of us having been quite prolific at times .
If I understand CK , he’s saying he wants to write substance, not fluff . Fluff IS easy to write and , unfortunately , is what mainstream has been asking and settling for for too long . And there’s no shortage of it , as most serious listeners can attest .That does not exactly spell ” inspiration’ for a writer . Formulaic fluff-writing becomes too job-like and clock-punchingly repetitive ( boring ) in short order . There is nothing more frustrating for an inventive , talented and understanding writer than to have an original, substance -driven ” A” idea and know that finding a good home for it where it will be shared and appreciated has become progressively harder to do….even for writers with solid track records .
Yes …good writers write because they love it , they need to write and they do . But if you’re a painter and people are only buying paintings with three colours , you’ll run out of inspiringly artistic possibilities pretty quickly. It is challenging and frustrating enough finding a way to generate consistent income and , in many cases , support a family in a finicky profession . It is only exacerbated by the lack of inspiration in the music we hear .
November 29, 2016 @ 9:35 pm
Chris Knights last album “little victories” was a masterpiece… really thought he hit it out of the park. Gonna be tough to follow, but I’m patient.
What about the next Boomswagglers release??
November 30, 2016 @ 7:28 am
Been a Chris Knight fan for a while. His song writing as always been second to none. He can makes you feel like you are right there living the song with him.
November 30, 2016 @ 9:08 am
Maybe that is why it’s been 4 years — quality control. Love Knight. I think he’s only played one show ever in Portland. There were 5 people there — and one was the bartender. But it was magic.
December 1, 2016 @ 11:50 am
Good for Chris that he plans to write when he has something artistic to convey.
He is one of my favorite singer-songwriters.
He’s been both prolific and excellent thus far.
I would hate to see his career end with a lot of forced, marginal work.
December 1, 2016 @ 4:30 pm
Would love to see him live. “North Dakota” is one of the best story songs ever written, imo. “It Ain’t Easy Being Me” is a song that I can relate to much more than I’d like! I’ve lost touch since his first two albums, so thanks for reminding me I’ve got some catching up to do. Very glad to hear he’s got the respect he deserves, from his peers if not from the public at large.
August 24, 2025 @ 7:54 pm
Got the tail gate speakers cranked up love wht u putting out. And whts crushing thru my speakers i been from probation to prison trying to be a father in the state of indiana I cnt turn to law. Local LPD and west LPD and sherriffs and. State long made clear im enemy of the state. And. Multiple judges. A black soul Chlid court And. Superior 5 laid down compunding driving hate and. The local beat and other branches of law have had me waiting on the god damn radio to clear and courts had. Me 6 asking for comtempt and everytine i lost more walking into court than i had. And. The mother of my child her box of shit uncle was head of cps. And. Him and tge judge absolutely knew wht they were doing and elected. Officials. Law,courts,elected officials,fck head principal and waiting for radio to clear and walking in losing more than i had in courtroom. And hoiilday traditions my little girl . And I. I screen shot foreworks. For 4th and easterbunny and eggs and dolly amd many if u helps me get out from behind the walls over 16 yrs still waiting on life begin with my daughter every hollow yr over 16yrs. Each yr there is 365 days a yr and 24 in a day. Ivy and I. Get maybe. Total closer less than more 10 total hrs a yr. Even the ines tht gave birth to me. Have. So alone in the world. And. Amd the last 3 over the yrs i was eat sleeping and showerjng with. Pushed off the cliff and told everyone i jumped. My daughter. Has spent might one time with me in over 16 yrs. Before. Courts stripping me and cutting my voice off and putting my dad in charge which was disater. From start. But. Wht. Stung me most was. I made to not be able to get out of my tfuck and help my little girl with her nag and teddy bear and help with my truck door. Cause head of cps. Mother of child. Reqeusting and stripping me of judge ne er any reason for it but riddling me losing mire than i had walking in. Its true. Probation to prison and daughter damaged and lost 16yrs. And. Probation to prison. Always. I forever carry. Life sentence. Trying to be a father in the state of indiana. Mative so. Indiana bad boy. Right kinda bad and. Country boy. I am im a country boy my parents meet each other a the wolcott coon club. Im a country boy. I love so much and so many past and present. Artist. And. Tracks. Tht. When life sentence. I cnt out run and my tommrows waking up compounded and compounding shots taking from media to law to courts to elected officials and schools and family both sides amd more keep my daughter from me. Back n forth. Back n forth pacing thinking replaying rolling back over 16 yrs in my mind sorting inventory and in my head its all i gotvyo slide across tabke to my daughter to hope she understand. I always there amd i love her we been kept apart. I want yo make her proud of me and. Kno its ok wanting her to love me and want me in her life dolly amd many of u help me thru hard candy Christmas. And hoilidays. Amd. Every night. Help me. Het out from behind walls amd find a comfort friend. Big thx you. Its. Super biggest THANK YOU. Friendship im running on for bald tires. And. All I have is garden rocks. For. Everyone many of you. If say no. Im going to take rocks back sometime anyway. So. I love ya. Run it past later lol And. Maybe Really I Start and end. My extend of Friendship and. You all are only takes little more to have the best and be the best u all are examples of. Quality. And. Fathers and humans navagating world. Helping me and many Striving qualities alot of. you