Jade Eagleson is entering a new era. Ahead of his first headlining tour, the Canadian country star opens up about returning to his roots, embracing classic country sounds, and putting authenticity first.

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You’re about to kick off your first-ever headlining tour. When did it really sink in that this moment had arrived?

Jade: I feel like it won’t really sink in until we’re out there doing it, but it’s pretty crazy to see the setup and all the prep that’s gone into this. We’re quite excited.

We’re sitting in a honky tonk talking about your tour, Coming to a Honky Tonk Near You. How important is that atmosphere to who you are as an artist?

Jade: I think the people who go to those kinds of places are really what make a song a song—that’s what country music is. It’s about the people you’re singing about and the stories you’re telling.

You’ve said this tour is about doing bigger and better things than ever before. What does that actually mean when fans walk into the room?

Jade: I think fans can experience us at our best. It’s a situation where we’re in control—we’re headlining—and we can take the time to do things the way we want to do them.

It’s definitely different from a festival. At festivals, there are guidelines and rules you have to follow, and we’re really blessed and lucky to play those shows. There are other artists on the bill, and it’s a very well-oiled machine with thousands of people to manage, which I totally appreciate.

Something like this, though, allows us to be more personal with the fans and adapt the show. Everything you see on stage is what you get, and it allows us to interact and create more moments.

You’ve mentioned lots of pedal steel and fiddle. What does that classic country sound allow you to express live that nothing else does?

Jade:
I think what made country music so special back in the day was how perfectly in sync the stories and the instrumentation were. There are different versions of that now, and there’s room for all kinds of country music—whether it’s pop country or something else—but my version really leans into the steel and the fiddle. They get to do their thing and do some of the talking as well.

Are there any songs that surprised you once you started rehearsing them for your set?

Jade: There are a few, especially the brand-new ones that weren’t fully developed before. You don’t really know what a demo is going to sound like until you put the instruments on it and have the full band behind it.

Some of those songs have really come to life in rehearsal and have been surprising and exciting. We kind of vetted what new songs we were going to play based on how they turned out, and there’s some really exciting stuff in there.

You’ve described this tour as marking a new era musically, one that’s more country and truer to yourself. What changed for you creatively?

Jade: I think for me, it’s about spending all these years going down the path that was laid out in front of me, which I’m grateful for. I’m grateful for the songs we’ve released and the teams we’ve worked with, but I think this new era is going to be truer to what I grew up listening to and what I want to release.

We’ve definitely touched the surface with some of those songs before, but I’ve spent a great deal of time really writing this year. It’s been a bit of a hiatus from releasing music, just so I can really get it right, make it the way I want it to be, and express how I feel it should be.

Neo-traditional country has always been part of your sound. Why do you think that style is connecting with fans right now?

Jade: I think everything kind of does a bit of a 180 at some point, where people are like, “Hey, we’ve heard this for so many years.” What I will say is that pop country and those sounds brought a lot of new fans in, and that allows people to get eyes on the music.

When that happens, people do a deep dive and discover things like the ’90s and the ’60s, when country music was huge and amazing—just like it is now. What we’re seeing now is a resurgence, and it’s everywhere. It’s similar to the ’60s, where Bakersfield country, Western swing, bluegrass, and Americana were all living in the same space without being heavily categorized. Radio played all of it, and it all lived happily together.

Things got a little stagnant when everyone started doing the same thing, so I think people really appreciate being able to get a little bit of everything now. You’ve got artists like Zach Top, Jake Worthington, and so many others coming up and doing their own interpretation of that sound. Cody Johnson really helped usher that in during the modern era—he came in and said, “Hey, this is country,” and people started playing it.

Country radio has supported me incredibly, and I’m so grateful they’ve allowed me to play country music. I think people from all walks of life are finally saying, “Hey, this is awesome.”

Do you feel like you’re pushing back against trends, or just following your gut more than ever?

Jade: I wouldn’t say I ever really followed trends to begin with, but I feel like you’re never pushing against a trend if you’re just being true to yourself. You’re the one who has to make yourself happy when you go out on stage, and when you’re playing songs you love, you feel it.

You can follow a trend, an artist you like, or someone you admire to a certain degree, but eventually there’s a point where you have to move forward on your own. Trends can get in the way of that sometimes, so it’s better to just be authentic.

There’s a new single coming out ahead of the tour. How does it set the tone for this new chapter?

Jade:
Sonically, it’s what we’ve been trying to do for a while. We’ve come close before, but this one isn’t as in-your-face. It still is instrumentally, but what’s important to me is that people can really hear the music, rather than just a couple of instruments overpowering everything.

It’s a really exciting new chapter, and I’ve got a great collaboration on it that I’ll be sharing very soon. We’re super excited about it.

Does this new music reflect where you are personally, professionally, or both?

Jade: A little bit of everything. The cool thing about music is that it doesn’t necessarily have to reflect where you are right now. It can be stories or emotions you felt as a kid, in the middle of your life, or even imagining the future.

You might sit down and think about something that happened five years ago and write from that place. It doesn’t always have to match exactly how you’re feeling in that moment. When you write, you can really write about anything you want.

This tour crosses Canada and the U.S. Do you notice differences in how audiences connect with your music?

Jade: Yeah, it’s interesting. We don’t have the same radio support in the U.S., so fans there might love a B-side song we barely play anymore or one that’s near the bottom of the set. To me, that means everything, because it shows they’ve really listened to the catalog and dove in.

We played Norway once, and “Whiskey Thinks I Am” was their favorite song. They were asking if we could close the set with it, and we were like, “You sure?” It got to the point where we brought back songs that weren’t even in the set just because that’s what people wanted.

It’s unique going from state to state and country to country—different audiences know different songs. It’s interesting, and it’s a good lesson to learn.

That’s awesome. What does it mean for you to be flying the flag for Canadian country music internationally?

Jade: It’s a complete honor. Some of my greatest heroes did the same thing. I grew up listening to Hank Snow and a lot of Shania Twain—she’s still one of my biggest heroes.

Seeing how proud she was of where she came from is a great lesson for all of us. It makes me feel like if she could do it, anyone can, as long as they put their heart and mind into it.

Does playing this close to home bring extra pressure or extra fuel?

Jade: A little bit of both. Ending the tour in Peterborough and selling it out so quickly was amazing to see. It really feels full circle, we’ve grown alongside the audience.

The fans took a chance on me years ago and followed my music, and them believing in me is what led to this moment. For me, this tour is a way to give back and put on the best experience I possibly can, just to show how grateful I am that they showed up and supported me.

You’ve said leaving a lasting impression on fans has always been your mission. What do you hope people feel when they leave your latest shows?

Jade: I hope they walk away with something they can carry with them. Every show is unique, and I know that sometimes you can leave a concert loving the music but not feeling an emotional connection.

Songs have the power to create that connection. For me, who I am today is reflected in the shows—I’m a family man, I have strong faith, and I think you can feel that when you’re there. I want it to be a safe place where everyone feels loved, valued, and welcome.

I hope people can just enjoy the music, feel present, and walk away feeling a little more whole.

When the tour is over, how do you want it to be remembered?

Jade: That’s a great question. I want it to be remembered in a way that makes people excited for the next one. If fans leave saying they can’t wait for us to come back and do it again, that’s the ultimate win.