It’s finally here.
At this point, there’s absolutely no denying that Charles Wesley Godwin is a certified star in today’s alt. country scene. With three incredible studio records under his belt, continual placement on high-profile festivals throughout the year and high praise from his peers, fans and critics alike, the West Virginia native has cemented himself as a staple throughout multiple subgenres/scenes in the genre.
Throughout 2025 and into 2026, Godwin has been keeping fans satisfied with a plethora of different teasers. Between “Every Once In Awhile” and “Better That Way,” as well as “Hallelujah High” and “Try Again,” it’s more than apparent that he’s looking to outdo himself once again upon the release of his next record. In some ways, it simply feels like he’s teasing us at this point, also sharing stellar tracks like “Stranger on the Street,” “Christian Name” and a Lori McKenna cowrite, “Hey There Son.”
He’d turn heads just two weeks ago at Stagecoach when he’d announce that the highly-anticpated “Better That Way,” was coming today featuring none other than superstar Luke Combs. During the performance, Godwin would acknowledge the fact the new album has been in the works for quite awhile at this point before ultimately dropping the bomb that Combs is featured on the track, drawing a huge roar from the Stagecoach crowd.
“It’s been two and a half years since our last album; I know that’s too long. But this has been a labor of love, and we turned a new one in in the wintertime. We have the first single on that album coming out on May 15th. It’s called “Better That Way.” I got my buddy Luke Combs on it.”
As it turns out, Godwin didn’t just have the single drop incoming, he’d go ahead and announce the release of his fourth studio album, Christian Name, which is coming out Friday, June 24th.
Teaming up once again with Al Torrence, who has produced each of his first three albums, Christian Name will contain 13 tracks. Unsurprisingly, a bunch of the aforementioned, previously-teased tracks such as “Try Again,” ” Hallelujah High,” “Every Once In A While,” “Stranger On The Street” (which has been renamed to “Street Advice”) and the title track will all make appearances on the album.
Most excitingly, the standout Lori McKenna co-written track, “Hey There Son,” will feature a collaboration from Wyatt Flores, marking the first time the alternative juggernauts have released a song together.
As for today’s highly-anticipated release with Luke Combs, “Better That Way,” it has a mainstream hit written all over it in the best way possible.
While still keeping that classic CWG sound, complete with his powerhouse vocals, it’s an incredible melodic and simple love song. Fittingly, he opens the track with a slick reference to hearing the greatest country band of all time (in my opinion), the Turnpike Troubadours, on the radio. From there, he launches into the chorus, which sees him reflect on the thing that makes him the best version of himself- the steady love of his wife, Samantha.
“I’m better
When my jeans have lost ’bout half their blue
I’m better
When the work on the farm is done by noon
Better,
When her eyes of green are looking back at me
Fell in love at 23, are still mine to this day
Yeah, I’m just better that way…”
Immediately after the chorus, Combs takes charge of the second verse. Here, the “Hurricane” singer delivers a rock-solid vocal performance in typical fashion, once again continuing the theme of their lives being better with all the simple things in life.
“Better with a pocket ace in a poker game
Cover charge paid with that stray change
Being a shoulder for a friend in need
Picture frame, make you laugh memory
Walkin’ this earth with my head held tall
Hearing my name in a southern drawl
Calling my mom ’cause I still can…”
I’m sure there’s some staunch traditional and independent fans that are recoiling at the fact that Godwin would collaborate with an artist as massive as Combs, but I’m happy to report that the “Hardwood Floors” singer did not compromise anything here on “Better That Way.”
Is it a little more streamlined than the likes of “Cranes of Potter” and “Seneca Creek?” Sure. With that being said, however, it’s an incredibly fun, rock-solid track that serves as a beautiful ode to both Godwin and Combs’ wives as well as a stellar prelude to the rest that Christian Name has to offer when it’s released on July 24th.
Christian Name Tracklist
- “Sermon”
- “Try Again”
- “Better That Way” (with Luke Combs)
- “Hallelujah High”
- “Hey There Son” (with Wyatt Flores)
- “I Caught The Sunrise”
- “Place I Know”
- “Street Advice”
- “Every Once In A While”
- “Christian Name”
- “God’s Been Good to Me”
- “Gospel Of The South”
- “Brand New”
“Better That Way”
