Randy Houser Celebrates Fourth No. 1 At 'Fired Up' Album Release Party

Pictured (L-R): Nick Hartley, Fitzgerald-Hartley; Greg Oswald, WME; Stoney Creek’s Chris Loss, Rick Shedd, Benny Brown; Randy Houser; Stoney Creek’s Carson James and Jon Loba. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images courtesy of BBR

“Fired Up,” the title to Randy Houser’s latest album, was the theme of the evening last night (March 10) at Nashville’s The Anchor Fellowship church. The event space hosted VIP guests for a preview of the Mississippi native’s sophomore Stoney Creek Records release, which hits retail today (March 11).

SiriusXM’s Buzz Brainard beamed Houser’s album preview performance to radio listeners while attendees enjoyed Mississippi Mule cocktails from commemorative copper mugs inscribed with the album title. Hattie B’s hot chicken fired up taste buds and a trio of soulful backup singers also ignited the title track, among select titles.

At times the acoustic set of new and memorable tunes featured Houser, solo—with just his guitar and booming vibrato. The co-written CMA Song of the Year-nominated “Like A Cowboy” may be the best example of that vocal power, which Broken Bow Music Group Exec. VP Jon Loba boasted, “If he doesn’t get him a Male Vocalist of the Year nomination at some point, it’s criminal.”

Loba went on to surprise the singer with a plaque recognizing Houser’s five singles with Benny Brown’s label group. Four of those have gone to No. 1, including this week’s airplay No. 1 “We Went,” in addition to two certified platinum singles and two gold singles.

“I’ve been in Nashville for 15 years and I think this is my fourth record deal,” Houser recalled from the stage. He thanked songwriters (many writers on his current album were in attendance) and advocated for their talent not to be taken for granted.

A songwriter himself, Houser contributed just five co-writes to his new Derek George-produced project. That left 12 slots on the deluxe album for outside songs. Broken Bow and its artist’s specialty is selecting those premier titles, which they did from the likes of Trevor Rosen, The Peach Pickers, Tony Martin, Craig Wiseman, Ashley Gorley, The Warren Brothers, and rival, reigning Male vocalist of the Year, Chris Stapleton, who also offered BGVs on Houser’s album.

Yes, “Song Number 7″ is actually track seven and it is the follow-up single, which shipped today with a reported impact date of March 28.

And in case you missed the faux headlines, Houser’s mad dash to yesterday’s event was caught on police dash cam.

Houser will continue to perform select dates before joining Dierks Bentley for the 2016 Somewhere On A Beach Tour in May.