DISClaimer Single Reviews: Jon Pardi Kicks Off 2026 With ‘Bodacious Single’

/by

Jon Pardi

It’s a country clash of the titans as DISClaimer kicks off a new year.

Luke Combs, Zach Top, Riley Green and Jon Pardi compete for our attention as we head into 2026. Most of them are performing ballads, as are Hannah McDonald, Jim Lauderdale and Kaitlin Butts. The lone tempo tune in the stack belongs to Jon Pardi, and his bodacious single wins the Disc of the Day.

An honorable mention goes to Jackson Dean, for having the coolest production of the listening session. A tip of the cap to Jesse Welles for carrying on the tradition of the early Bob Dylan.

The DISCovery Award goes to Zandi Holup. She’s kinda masochistic on her single, but there is definite promise in her debut.

JACKSON DEAN / “Make a Liar”
Writers: Jackson Dean/Luke Dick/Randy Montana; Producer: Luke Dick; Label: Big Machine Records
– Very cool. An ear tickling rhythm pattern, haunting guitar work and a range-y, expressive vocal performance add up to a dynamite single. Please make this a massive hit.

BRETT YOUNG / “Yukon”
Writers: Carter Lang/Daniel Chetrit/David White/Dijon Duenas/Dylan Wiggins/John Madara/Justin Bieber/Kejuan Muchita/Marshall Mathers/Robert M. Crawford/Tauheed Epps; Producer: Jimmy Robbins, Keaton Simons; Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
– This Justin Bieber cover is just as tuneless as the pop original was.

KAITLIN BUTTS / “The Middle”
Writers: James Adkins/Rick Burch/Tom Linton/Zachary Lind; Producer: Oran Thornton; Label: Republic Records
– Acoustic, gentle, comforting and wonderfully soothing. A devout wish/promise that “everything will be all right.” The song was a 2001 hit for the rock band Jimmy Eat World, but she makes it sound much more touching and meaningful.

RILEY GREEN / “Change My Mind”
Writers: Erik Dylan/Randy Montana/Riley Green; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
– Nicely done. He’s completely over her. Yeah, sure he is. Until she seduces him again.

HANNAH McFARLAND / “Called It”
Writers: Ben Williams/Hannah McFarland/Zach Abend; Producer: Zach Abend; Label: Capitol Records/The Core Records
– Riley Green’s tour supporting act and Chase Rice’s recent duet partner returns with a bittersweet ballad about being drawn reluctantly back into a relationship she knows isn’t good for her. Her voice has a certain warmth and an undeniable relatability.

LUKE COMBS / “Giving Her Away”
Writers: Gary Garris/Josh Mirenda/Josh Phillips; Producers: Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton, Luke Combs; Label: Columbia Nashville
– The groom speaks to the father of the bride as they stand in church at the wedding. A lovely, heartfelt country ballad from a master of the form. Combs rules.

DALE ANN BRADLEY / “Mary’s Rock”
Writers: Ellen Britton/Will Hopkins; Producer: Dale Ann Bradley; Label: Pinecastle Records
– Bluegrass music’s six-time Female Vocalist of the Year winner submits a moody, mid-tempo mystery song. Mary is forced into marriage by her father, and the groom takes her for a mountain hike from which she never returns. Did she jump? Did she slip and fall? Did he push her?

ZACH TOP / “South of Sanity”
Writers: Carson Chamberlain/Mark Nesler/Zach Top; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Label: Leo33
– He’s a traveling musician whose lover back home is calling it quits in this downbeat ballad. The misery pushes him to the edge of losing his mind. As always, the triple Grammy nominated Top sings like a honky-tonk angel.

ZANDI HOLUP / “Gas Station Flowers”
Writers: Brian Alexander/Stefanie Joyce/Zandi Holup; Producer: Al Torrence; Label: Big Loud Records
– The lyric is rather self destructive, but it’s also compelling listening. The ballad finds her accepting his substance abuse, just so she won’t be lonely. Her cracked and quasi-broken vocal makes the whole thing sound authentic and honest. Highly promising.

JIM LAUDERDALE / “Artificial Intelligence”
Writer: Jim Lauderdale; Producers: Jay Weaver, Jim Lauderdale; Label: Sky Crunch Records
– I’m fairly certain that this is the first country song on this topic. The honky-tonk ballad manages to be both an effective barroom moaner and a witty commentary on our culture. Lauderdale’s uber-cool country delivery and the serio-comic lyric are both essential listening here. “Do we still stand a chance, or has it made up our minds?” he sings. The capper is, “Did I write this song?” I remain a huge fan of this new Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer.

JESSE WELLES / “Join ICE”
Writer: Jesse Welles; Producer: Jesse Welles; Label: JW
– Welles is nominated for four Grammy Awards this year. The Nashville breakout star isn’t afraid to speak his mind politically. He has a protest anthem titled “No Kings” as a duet with the legendary activist Joan Baez. Last month, he introduced this lacerating talking-blues indictment of ICE during his appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. Welles was much admired for his performance during BMI’s tribute to John Fogerty in November.

FILMORE & PITBULL / “Yeehaw”
Writers: Armando Perez/Elijah Perez/José Carlos García/Justin Allen Ebach/Mauro Bertran/Tyler Filmore; Producers: Elijah Perez, José Carlos García (IAmChino), Justin Allen Ebach; Label: Mr. 305 Records
– Nashville meets Miami on this slow-groove banger. Filmore does the heavy lifting vocally, but the catchy vibe is hip-hop all the way.

JON PARDI / “Boots Off”
Writers: Jon Pardi/Luke Laird/Wyatt McCubbin; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– Rollicking, rump-shaking rhythm and a snappy rocking production, plus a sly, sexy lyric. What’s not to love?

Robert K Oermann
Latest posts by Robert K Oermann (see all)