Jordan Davis has rolled out a full-on, thematically cohesive chapter for his career with Learn The Hard Way, his third studio album, released as fans were already buzzing from a year of new music leading up to the project’s unveiling. After releasing singles that climbed country radio and streaming charts—“I Ain’t Sayin’,” “Know You Like That,” along with “In Case You Missed It” and “Bar None”—Davis released Learn The Hard Way in August, centered on heartbreak, growth, and resilience.
The album comprises 17 tracks that together trace a man’s navigation through heartbreak and toward a renewed sense of self. It opens with an uptempo, buoyant feel on “Her Way Or The Highway,” setting the stage for the emotional ride that follows. Across the record, Davis explores waves of grief, memory, and moving forward. Standout moments include the Marcus King duet on “Louisiana Stick” and the Carly Pearce collaboration on “Mess With Missing You.” Davis notes that the theme emerged organically; he didn’t initially realize he was building a breakup album until after hearing the title track “Learn The Hard Way” during the demo stage, which helped shape the album’s direction and sequencing.
In discussing the songwriting process, Davis explained that the 22 songs his team considered over two years were narrowed to 17 for the final cut. Time constraints—balancing family life with four young children and a demanding tour schedule—pushed him to be selective and intentional about who he wrote with and which songs best fit the album’s arc. He also left room for the possibility that some of the unreleased material could surface later as B-sides, an extended release, or future singles.
Recognizing the album’s emotional throughline, Davis emphasizes standout tracks that feel particularly resonant as the project’s anchor points. “Louisiana Stick” stands out due to its collaboration, “Turn This Truck Around” marks a clear moment of progress in moving on, and “Mess With Missing You”—with Pearce—offers a poignant duet that Davis has long hoped to record.
Fans will also be looking forward to how the songs translate live. Davis kicks off the Ain’t Enough Road Tour on September 11, hitting 18 stops through October before a European leg in February 2026. The live itinerary includes a pair of dream venues: Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, on September 24, and Radio City Music Hall in New York City on October 2. Davis has a well-earned history of performing in such icons, and the tour is framed as a chance to let audiences experience the album’s emotional journey in real time.
Beyond the album and the tour, Davis—who previously released Bluebird Days, an album that yielded four consecutive No. 1 singles and two Song of the Year awards—frames Learn The Hard Way as a continuation of his evolving artistry. He asserts the project is different in tone and sound from his prior work, but equally personal and heartfelt. He also teases a future for the unreleased songs: he believes they could find homes on an extended release, a collaboration project, or future singles as his career progresses.
Away from the studio and stage, Davis reflects on family life as a core influence. With a busy schedule that includes family time at the farm outside Nashville, fishing trips, and holidays, he views his personal life as a grounding force that informs his music and pacing on the road. He plans a quieter stretch later in the year, taking November through January off from touring to rest and reconnect with loved ones.
Learn The Hard Way is now available across streaming platforms, with Davis inviting fans to experience the album’s narrative through its 17 tracks and the accompanying tour.
Summary:
Jordan Davis’s Learn The Hard Way is a thematically unified breakup-era concept album spanning 17 tracks, featuring collaborations with Marcus King and Carly Pearce. Written over two years from an initial “Album Three” concept to a named project, it maps a journey from heartbreak toward renewal. The accompanying Ain’t Enough Road Tour runs from September through October with a European leg to follow in 2026, and the artist looks forward to bringing the songs to life on stage at Red Rocks and Radio City. Davis balances a prolific release pace with family life, underscoring his evolution as a storyteller and performer.
Additional notes:
– Expect live surprises: while on tour, guest appearances from friends in the country scene could pop up, adding fresh interpretations to the new material.
– The album’s core themes and strong collaborations position Davis to attract both longtime fans and new listeners drawn to heartfelt, guitar-driven storytelling.
– Given his past commercial success with Bluebird Days, Learn The Hard Way aims to sustain momentum while exploring a more cohesive concept and live-ready performances.