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Back in the 2000s and early 2010s, country music on the radio was drenched in whiskey, beer, and barroom heartbreak. Whether you were tailgating, nursing a hangover, or drowning your ex out of your memory, country had a drink in hand right there with you. We’re talking Toby Keith’s “I Love This Bar,” Blake Shelton’s “The More I Drink,” Brad Paisley’s “Alcohol.” These weren’t just songs. They were anthems. A lifestyle. A barstool gospel. And during the bro-country era from 2012 to 2017 or so, you couldn’t turn on the radio without hearing a song about throwing back a cold one on a dirt road or taking shots of Fireball around a bonfire. But here in 2025? Something strange is happening. Artists are starting to put the bottle down. Lyrics are getting more personal, more honest. Some of your favorite musicians, like Billy Strings, Ashley McBryde, or even wild card Tyler Childers have talked openly about getting sober. And younger fans? They’re tuning in. So what the hell’s going on? Is country music sobering up? Let’s back up and take a look at how country used to treat drinking like a second religion. Eric Church – “Smoke a Little Smoke” (2010) “I’m gonna sit right here, stay away from there I’m gon’ make pretend I just don’t care I could get up, go get her back Or maybe I’ll just let her go Drink a little drink, smoke a little smoke” Here’s one you might’ve pounded shots to without realizing it’s actually about avoiding emotions. This is country’s version of “I’m fine, bro,” when clearly no one is. Still slaps, though. Toby Keith – “Red Solo Cup” (2011) “Let’s have a party I love you, Red Solo Cup I lift you up Proceed to party” This one needs no introduction. A party anthem with the depth of a beer pong table, and we loved every second. It was dumb, loud, and brilliant. It didn’t just glorify drinking, it made it patriotic. The Red Solo Cup became a symbol. If you weren’t shotgunning Nattys with this blasting, were you even living? Dierks Bentley – “Drunk on a Plane” (2014) “It’s Mardi Gras up in the clouds I’ll try anything to drown out the pain” This track is peak “drink your heartbreak away and laugh about it.” Dierks made being left at the altar sound like a vacation. Sure, he’s sad, but tequila always helps! The video? Flight attendants getting tipsy, sombreros, chaos at 30,000 feet. Sadness has never been this much fun. Tyler Childers – “Whitehouse Road” (2017) “Get me drinkin’ that moonshine Get me higher than the grocery bill” Moonshine, cocaine, and heartbreak all bundled into a backwoods banger. Childers is reckless, and the song makes it sound like freedom. You almost forget he’s talking about real pain. And “Charleston Girl”? Same deal. Booze, brawls, and beautiful messes. It’s not a critique (it’s a celebration of chaos). So What’s Changed? Lately, something’s different. The music’s still damn good, but the message is shifting. Zach Bryan – “Oklahoma Smokeshow” (2022) “I’ve been up all night thinkin’ about a life with you and I…” No alcohol. No “whiskey lullabies.” Just raw heartbreak. Zach isn’t pouring a drink (he’s pouring his soul). And fans are eating it up. It’s not weakness…it’s reality. Tyler Childers – “Angel Band” (2022) “I was blind, but now I see…” Childers came full circle. The same guy who once shouted for moonshine is now writing gospel-style songs about clarity, redemption, and finding purpose. His album Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven is basically a spiritual detox. It’s not just about quitting drinking, it’s about why he needed to. The Castellows, Wyatt Flores – “Sober Sundays” (2024) “I held you ’til you got sober…” Wyatt and The Castellows hit a nerve here. It’s not about wild nights, it’s about getting through hard nights. This is what happens after the party, when you realize something has to change. And yeah, it hits hard. Final Shot: Is Country Still Fun Without Booze? Here’s the thing: the party’s not over. Country music isn’t turning into a therapy session. But it is growing up. That wild Saturday night still has a place, but so does Sunday morning clarity. Of course the change in country music comes amid a broader shift as study after study shows that young people are drinking less – and in many cases abstaining from booze altogether – than previous generations. The heart of country has always been about truth. And sometimes the truest thing you can do is admit when it’s time to put the bottle down. So yeah, pour one out for the Toby Keith era, but maybe raise a glass (of whatever you’re drinking) to the new wave, too. Because real country ain’t just about getting drunk anymore. It’s about getting real.The post Beers, Tears, and Growing Up: Is Country Music Finally Getting Sober? first appeared on Whiskey Riff.