A Tom Petty classic.
Last Friday, Lainey Wilson and Wynonna Judd released a cover of Petty’s song “Refugee,” as part of the forthcoming tribute album Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty.
They are definitely a powerful duo with two very unique voices in country music, and a really fun pairing for this album that is the strongest we’ve heard from the 20-song tracklist so far. Of course, “Refugee” was written by Tom Petty and Mike Campbell and released in January of 1980 as the second single from their Damn the Torpedoes album.
Lainey says getting to record with Wynonna one of the “coolest experiences” of her life:
“That was one of the coolest experiences of my life. My gosh, every time I tried to use that growl in my voice, I was trying to channel my inner Wynonna. Everybody wants an inner Wynonna.”
So far, we’ve also heard Steve Earle’s rendition of “Yer So Bad,” Chris Stapleton covering “I Should Have Known It,” queen Dolly singin’ some “Southern Accents,” and Dierks Bentley’s version of the Petty classic “American Girl.”
In a lot of ways, Lainey and Wynonna have similar styles and approaches to music, so I think they were a natural fit and the perfect people to sing this one because they always perform with so much passion. Check it out:
Willie Nelson and his son Lukas Nelson are also featured on “Angel Dream #2,” George Strait’s live rendition of “You Wreck Me” will be included on the tracklist, in addition to songs reimagined by Luke Combs, Brothers Osborne, Marty Stuart and more.
Two former Heartbreakers, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench will also appear on the album on “Ways to Be Wicked” and “Don’t Come Around Here No More,” which features Margo Price and Rhiannon Giddens, respectively.
You can view the entire all-star cast and tracklist below, which is sure to be one of the most intriguing projects released in 2024. The full album is slated for release on May 31st.
Petty Country tracklist:
1. “I Should Have Known It” – Chris Stapleton
2. “Wildflowers” – Thomas Rhett
3. “Runnin’ Down a Dream” – Luke Combs
4. “Southern Accents” – Dolly Parton
5. “Here Comes My Girl” – Justin Moore
6. “American Girl” – Dierks Bentley
7. “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” – Lady A
8. “I Forgive It All” – Jamey Johnson
9. “I Won’t Back Down” – Brothers Osborne
10. “Refugee” – Wynonna Judd & Lainey Wilson
11. “Angel Dream #2” – Willie Nelson & Lukas Nelson
12. “Learning to Fly” – Eli Young Band
13. “Breakdown” – Ryan Hurd feat. Carly Pearce
14. “Yer So Bad” – Steve Earle
15. “Ways to Be Wicked” – Margo Price & Mike Campbell
16. “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” – Midland
17. “Free Fallin’” – The Cadillac Three feat. Breland
18. “I Need To Know” – Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives
19. “Don’t Come Around Here No More” – Rhiannon Giddens feat. Benmont Tench
20. “You Wreck Me (Live)” – George Strait
“Refugee”
