There Ought to Be Country in Country Music | Jake Worthington
Jake Worthington isn't interested in sanding the edges off country music.
The La Porte, Texas native grew up listening to his grandfather sing Ray Price, Merle Haggard and George Jones on the front porch. Years later, that same traditional sound has taken Jake into honky-tonks, onto major tours and into the growing roster of Big Loud Texas.
When Jake joined Heart of the Gulch during CMA Fest 2025, we talked about keeping that sound alive, his viral single “It Ain’t The Whiskey” and why country music tradition still matters to him.
Jake Worthington during his Heart of the Gulch interview at CMA Fest in Nashville.
Inside Jake Worthington’s Heart of the Gulch Interview
Welcome to Heart of the Gulch, a Nashville-based interview show and country music platform featuring artists, singer-songwriters and personalities shaping music and entertainment. Host and creator Tony Mendoza sat down with Jake Worthington during CMA Fest to discuss “It Ain’t The Whiskey,” Texas honky-tonk music, his country influences and life on the road.
Raised on the Real Stuff
Country music was part of Jake's life long before it became his career.
Raised in La Porte, Texas, he learned the genre through his grandfather's love for Ray Price, Merle Haggard and George Jones. Jake was already performing at VFW halls by 12 and honky-tonks by 14.
That upbringing still defines his music today: fiddle, steel guitar, Texas drawl and songs built to sound at home in a dance hall.
As Jake puts it, there ought to be room for country in country music.
Heart of the Gulch host Tony Mendoza interviewing Jake Worthington during CMA Fest.
It Ain’t The Whiskey
Then there's “It Ain’t The Whiskey” — a song with an origin story that's almost too perfect.
Jake co-wrote the track after a real-life incident during his first year of marriage landed him and his wife in the back of a police car. Before the song was even officially released, clips teasing it had already generated more than 25 million listens.
Released through Big Loud Texas in April 2025, the song became another showcase for Jake's ability to make traditional country feel current without abandoning what made it country in the first place.
Keeping the Honky-Tonk Alive
Jake Worthington discussing his viral country single “It Ain’t The Whiskey.”
Our conversation also came back to Texas — including playing places like John T. Floore's Country Store — and the importance of keeping honky-tonk culture alive as Jake's career grows.
At the time, he was hitting the road with Zach Top before joining Jon Pardi's Honkytonk Hollywood Tour later that year.
The stages may be getting bigger, but Jake Worthington still sounds like the kid who learned country music on his grandfather's porch.
Watch Jake Worthington on Heart of the Gulch
Watch our full conversation with Jake Worthington as he discusses “It Ain’t The Whiskey,” Texas honky-tonk music, George Jones, Ray Price and keeping traditional country music alive.
Tony Mendoza is the Nashville-based host and creator of Heart of the Gulch, featuring conversations with country artists, singer-songwriters and personalities from Nashville and beyond.
