Johnson and McConaughey “Playing The Part”

Jamey Johnson’s music video for “Playing The Part” is directed by Matthew McConaughey. The video, shot in L.A., was the actor’s first directing attempt and the first video from Johnson’s new 2-disc set The Guitar Song.

“Jamey, and this song, both have a great sense of humor, so I wanted the video to have a ‘wink’ to it,” says McConaughey. “For any video, if you like the song, you should like it even more after you see the video. I wanted this video to support the lyrics, and elevate the song. This is a story with a beginning, middle and a surprise at the end. I started out with a 250-pound stripper leaving work in the morning, and ended up with a man in a gorilla suit getting fired from used tire store.”

McConaughey met Johnson during the 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, where Johnson received the Song of the Year award for “In Color.” McConaughey presented the award for album of the year, for which Johnson was also nominated. “I met Jamey backstage,” McConaughey notes.”He hit on Camila, we shared a few laughs, and we stayed in touch.”

The video below offers some interview footage and fun “making of the video” stories from backstage on the set of “Playing The Part.”

Johnson, who is currently on tour, will perform on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Tuesday, October 26.