John PayCheck Crafts a “Better Plan” Ahead of New Album

As we like to say about our country heroes, they’re gone but not forgotten. It’s even easier to not forget them when their progeny make it a personal mission to keep their legacy going, and not just by being a reenactment, but by following in their footsteps and making country music their way. That’s what 2nd generation performer John PayCheck has been doing since launching his own country music career in 2021 after 20 years in the military.

PayCheck worked as the tour manager for his father for a number of years, but then after 9/11 enlisted in the Army, and went on to become a helicopter and fixed wing pilot, and earned the rank of Major, making him one of the highest ranking officers in country music, if not the highest. But saving country music is his primary mission now, and leaning into the more traditional, ’90s inspired side of the genre. You hear that in his new song, the fiddle-driven “Better Plan,” which is the title track to his upcoming album.

“This is a song about the quiet struggle to become a better person in a world that is quick to judge and slow to understand,” PayCheck says. “It follows a man who has made mistakes, carried pain and doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but refuses to stop trying. It’s not about chasing perfection. It’s about choosing humility, hope, forgiveness and the determination to keep searching for a better you with a better plan.”

The song “Better Plan” is out now (listen below), and the album will be out November 27 from HorseBite Entertainment. It was produced by Bill McDermott at Gnome Studios in Nashville. PayCheck composes 10 of the 14 songs himself, with frequent collaborator Scott Gabbey also contributing to the writing. The album also includes the previously-released song “Son of the Spark” that PayCheck cut with another son of country music, Struggle Jennings.

“I would like to give people what they feel they have been missing the past 15 years, more traditional country music based off the 90’s sound; with an updated return to a more country western feel that people can dance to,” John PayCheck has said in the past. “I believe my widely diverse and unique personal experiences allow me to reach out to many different people and understand them in some small way.”

TRACK LIST:

1. “Better Plan” (John PayCheck)
2. “Clover”  (John PayCheck, Scott Gabbey)
3. “Sons Of The Spark” (John PayCheck, Struggle Jennings)
4. “Point Them North” (John PayCheck)
5. “Uber To The Opry” (John PayCheck, Scott Gabbey)
6. “Battles You Never Knew” (John PayCheck)
7. “Pieces” (John PayCheck)
8. “Texan One Day” (John PayCheck)
9. “Stop and Say Hello” (Scott Gabbey)
10. “All Up To Time” (John PayCheck)
11. “Daddy Are You Listening” (John PayCheck)
12. “JD Foster” (John PayCheck)
13. “Turn the Page” (John PayCheck)
14. “Shine” (John PayCheck)