Kaitlin Butts Brings New Album To Life With ‘Hello, Honky Tonk: The Mini Musical’

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Kaitlin Butts. Photo: Thomas Crabtree

Kaitlin Butts is welcoming fans inside the colorful world of Kait B’s Honky Tonk Saloon with the release of Hello, Honky Tonk: The Mini Musical, out now.

Written by Butts and co-directed with friend/frequent collaborator Chris Beyrooty, the 30-minute mini-musical brings eight songs from her album Hello, Honky Tonk to life on screen, introducing the zany cast of characters who populate her larger-than-life honky tonk universe. The theatrical production offers fans an immersive introduction to the characters, stories and personalities found on the album, transforming her love letter to honky tonks and nightlife into a full-fledged musical.

Butts steps into the role of Master of Ceremonies, ushering viewers through the saloon and introducing the regulars who inhabit the bar. Inspired in part by the vaudeville vignettes of Chicago and Disney World’s Country Bear Musical Jamboree, the album unfolds like a musical set inside a neighborhood bar, where every character has a story and every night brings a new scene. Butts’ theatrical vision extends beyond the music and performances as well to the production’s extensive visual details, with the artist deeply involved in styling and creating the distinctive looks that bring the honky tonk’s characters to life.

“Getting to welcome everybody into Kait B’s Honky Tonk Saloon is truly a dream come true,” shares Butts. “This whole project has been such a labor of love, from writing the songs to bringing them to life on screen. It really fed my inner theater kid in the best possible way. I’ve always seen my songs visually, and getting to create an entire world around them and invite everybody in has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. I hope everybody finds their favorite regular, grabs a drink and stays awhile.”

The production arrives on the heels of a whirlwind week for Butts, who celebrated the release of Hello, Honky Tonk with appearances including her national TV debut performing “I Wanna Be Bad” on TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle. She also stopped by LGBTQ+ nightlife favorites Flaming Saddles and Pieces Drag Bar before celebrating the album with a release show at Lucinda’s in New York City on Oct. 27 and a performance at Nashville’s Skinny Dennis on Oct. 29, the very honky tonk that helped inspire the album’s world.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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