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Honky-Tonk Woman: Kaitlin Butts Is As Ambitious As She Wants to Be
Kaitlin Butts has released *Hello, Honky Tonk*, an imaginative country album built around the characters and experiences found in honky-tonks. Its theatrical storytelling and mix of musical influences reflect the Oklahoma singer-songwriter’s distinctive approach as she reaches a wider audience.
Butts’ previous album, *Roadrunner*, included “You Don’t Have to Die (To Be Dead to Me)”, which gained attention on TikTok after Ella Langley shared it; Avery Anna also helped the song spread. The renewed interest brought record-label meetings, a deal with Republic Records and opening slots for Langley and Lainey Wilson in 2026. Wilson also introduces the new album, while Brothers Osborne’s TJ Osborne sings on “The Bartender”.
In short
- Kaitlin Butts has released the honky-tonk-inspired album *Hello, Honky Tonk*.
- A TikTok boost helped her previous song reach a wider audience.
- She signed with Republic Records and toured with Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley.
Explained simply
Honky-tonks are bars associated with country music, dancing and live performance, and they have long provided settings for songs about work, love and everyday life. Oklahoma singer-songwriter Kaitlin Butts uses the people and stories linked to these venues as the starting point for an album that blends country with other musical influences.
Butts had already released the album Roadrunner, whose song “You Don’t Have to Die (To Be Dead to Me)” found a larger audience after singers Ella Langley and Avery Anna shared it on TikTok. That attention led to record-label meetings and a deal with Republic Records. Country performers Lainey Wilson and TJ Osborne also have links to the new album and Butts’s wider profile.
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