Ringo Starr will be releasing his new country album, Look Up, on January 10, 2025. The former Beatles drummer recently chatted with The Associated Press (AP) about the project and revealed that he jokingly came up with an alternate title for the album inspired by another music star who recently crossed over into the country genre.
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Starr recalled that someone had asked him what he was going to call the record, and Ringo said he suggested, humorously, “Be … On … Say, but nobody laughed.”
He continued, “But that was just having fun, ’cause she was great anyway.” Pop/R&B superstar Beyoncé, of course, received plenty of acclaim and media attention for her chart-topping country-influenced 2024 album Cowboy Carter, which features a cover of the classic acoustic Beatles tune “Blackbird.”
Starr proceeded to point out that he loves a wide variety of music styles.
“Music is open,” he said. “You can do rock, you can do this, you can do that. You don’t have to be, like, stuck [in one genre].”
More About the Look Up Album
As previously reported, Look Up features Starr collaborating with acclaimed producer and songwriter T Bone Burnett. Nine of Look Up’s 11 were written or co-written by Burnett, who also produced the album. Ringo co-wrote one song with his longtime studio engineer Bruce Sugar, “Thankful,” a duet with acclaimed country/bluegrass artist Alison Krauss.
Besides Krauss, Look Up features several other guest artists, including Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Lucius, and Larkin Poe. Starr’s brother-in-law, Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, also contributed to the album.
Look Up can be pre-ordered now.
Starr Says the Country Album Is Getting a Positive Buzz in Nashville
Starr also told the AP that Look Up is “getting [a] good reception in Nashville,” where he and his All Starr Band have played numerous times at the famed Ryman Auditorium.
Ringo said he loves playing at the historic venue.
“It’s like, ‘oh my God … I’m at the Ryman,’” Starr noted. “It’s an emotional moment for me … to get on that stage.”
Ringo will return to the Ryman to celebrate the album’s release with two special concerts, on January 14 and 15. He reported that the shows will be the subject of a TV special.
Starr said he’s excited about the concerts, because he’ll be country-flavored versions of Beatles tunes and his solo hits as well songs from Look Up.
For example, Ringo revealed, “We’ll be doing ‘[With] a Little Help from My Friends’ in a country fashion, country style.”
Tickets for the Ringo Starr & Friends concerts are on sale now.
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