"Drowns the Whiskey" is a song written by Josh Thompson, Brandon Kinney, and Jeff Middleton and recorded by American country music singer Jason Aldean featuring Miranda Lambert. It was released in May 2018 as the second single from Aldean's album Rearview Town.

"Drowns the Whiskey"
Single by Jason Aldean featuring Miranda Lambert
from the album Rearview Town
ReleasedMay 14, 2018 (2018-05-14)
GenreCountry
Length3:22
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Michael Knox
Jason Aldean singles chronology
"You Make It Easy"
(2018)
"Drowns the Whiskey"
(2018)
"Girl Like You"
(2018)
Miranda Lambert singles chronology
"Keeper of the Flame"
(2018)
"Drowns the Whiskey"
(2018)
"It All Comes Out in the Wash"
(2019)

History and content

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The song is a steel guitar-led song with neotraditional country influences. In it, the male narrator sings about his vain attempts to "drown" the memory of a former loved one by drinking whiskey, but instead observes that the memory of said lover "drowns the whiskey."[1]

Aldean said that he was a "big fan" of Lambert, and had wanted to do a second duet with her after "Grown Woman", an album track from his 2007 album Relentless. After she expressed indifference to the first song he had suggested to her, he sent her "Drowns the Whiskey" and she agreed to perform on it.[2][3]

Commercial performance

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The song reached No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart for chart dated August 25, 2018, where it then stayed for a further week. It is Aldean's 19th, and Lambert's 6th, No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart.[4] It also reached No. 3 on the Hot Country Songs for chart dated September 1, 2018.[5] It has sold 242,000 copies in the United States as of December 2018.[6]

Music video

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The music video for the song was released on June 18, 2018. It retells the song's story in an "empty Nashville dive bar".[7]

Live performances

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Aldean performed the song live on the CMT Music Awards on June 6, 2018. Lambert did not attend the performance, so backing vocalists in his road band performed her part.[8] Aldean and Lambert performed the song live together for the first time on the 52nd Annual Country Music Association Awards telecast together on November 14, 2018.

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[16] Gold 40,000
United States (RIAA)[17] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Sawyer, Bobbie Jean (8 May 2018). "Hear Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert's Classic Country Heartbreaker 'Drowns the Whiskey'". Wide Open Country. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  2. ^ Aldrich, Jennifer (June 20, 2018). "Watch Miranda Lambert and Jason Aldean's New Music Video for "Drowns the Whiskey"". Country Living. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  3. ^ Hudak, Joseph (7 May 2018). "Hear Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert's New Song 'Drowns the Whiskey'". Rolling Stone Country. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  4. ^ Asker, Jim (August 28, 2018). "Cole Swindell's 'All of It' Flies in at No. 1 On Top Country Albums, Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert's 'Whiskey' Extends Atop Country Airplay". Billboard.
  5. ^ "Hot Country Songs". Billboard. September 1, 2018.
  6. ^ Bjorke, Matt (December 3, 2018). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles: December 3, 2018". RoughStock. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  7. ^ Aniftos, Rania (June 18, 2018). "Jason Aldean & Miranda Lambert Release Lonely 'Drowns the Whiskey' Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  8. ^ Atkinson, Katie (June 6, 2018). "Watch Jason Aldean's Intoxicating Performance of 'Drowns the Whiskey' at 2018 CMT Music Awards". Billboard. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Jason Aldean Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  10. ^ "Jason Aldean Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  11. ^ "Jason Aldean Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  12. ^ "Jason Aldean Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  13. ^ "Jason Aldean Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  14. ^ "Country Airplay – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  15. ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  16. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Jason Aldean – Drowns the Whiskey". Music Canada. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  17. ^ "American single certifications – Jason Aldean – Drowns The Whiskey". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 14, 2019.