We were running our morning scan of country music news when this one stopped everything: Shaboozey has released his lead single “Born to Die” and officially announced The Outlaw Cherie Lee and Other Western Tales, his fourth studio album, arriving July 31, 2026 via his American Dogwood imprint in partnership with EMPIRE. This is not just a release announcement. It is a full-scale cinematic concept album and the most ambitious project of his career, and from what we are already hearing in “Born to Die,” he is about to make a serious run at a very different kind of legacy in country music.
The Story Behind The Outlaw Cherie Lee and Other Western Tales
We went deep on every detail the moment the album was announced, and the concept behind this record is unlike anything happening in mainstream country music right now. The album follows a character named Cherie Lee, the daughter of a sheriff who is murdered by a gang called the Bootcut Boys. What begins as an outlaw revenge story takes a sharp turn when Cherie Lee falls in love with one of the very outlaws she set out to destroy, driving the narrative toward consequences Shaboozey himself describes as disastrous. He has called this the most personal and ambitious project of his career, one that has been years in the making. What we found most striking is where he pulled the creative framework from: classic Greek epic poetry. He has cited Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey as direct touchstones, saying the project is built around the same themes of fate, love, and consequence that have driven storytelling for thousands of years. That is a reference you do not often hear from a country artist, and it signals that this album is aiming for something larger than a standard release.
Born to Die: What the Lead Single Tells Us About the Album
The lead single “Born to Die” is available now on all streaming platforms, and it does exactly what a great lead single should do: it places you inside the world of the album immediately. The sound is dark and cinematic, built for wide-open spaces, and Shaboozey is writing at a level of ambition we have not heard from him before. Billboard has noted that this project represents the artist fully committing to a narrative concept, and “Born to Die” is the kind of opening statement that makes you want to hear the rest of the record right now. We have been tracking Shaboozey since his crossover moment, and this feels like a genuinely new chapter.
Outlaws Never Die Tour: 25 Dates Across North America This Fall
To support the album, Shaboozey has confirmed the Outlaws Never Die Tour, a 25-date North American run starting September 8 in Phoenix at the Arizona Financial Theatre and wrapping October 27 at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. The run hits major rooms coast to coast: Moody Amphitheater in Austin, South Side Ballroom in Dallas, The Criterion in Oklahoma City, Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville on September 18, plus New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Atlanta, Charlotte, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia. Supporting acts include Brittney Spencer, Noeline Hofmann, BigXThaPlug, Kashus Culpepper, Noah Cyrus, Carter Faith, and Angel White. Tickets are on sale now via Live Nation.
- September 8: Phoenix, AZ at Arizona Financial Theatre
- September 11: Austin, TX at Moody Amphitheater
- September 12: Dallas, TX at South Side Ballroom
- September 15: Oklahoma City, OK at The Criterion
- September 16: Chesterfield, MO at The Factory
- September 18: Nashville, TN at Ascend Amphitheater
- October 7: Columbus, OH at KEMBA Live!
- October 27: Los Angeles, CA at Greek Theatre (final date)
Frequently Asked: What is Shaboozey’s new 2026 album about?
Shaboozey’s fourth studio album, The Outlaw Cherie Lee and Other Western Tales, releases July 31, 2026 via American Dogwood and EMPIRE. The project is a concept album telling the story of Cherie Lee, a sheriff’s daughter who seeks revenge against the gang that killed her father, then falls in love with one of the outlaws. Shaboozey has described it as inspired by Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. The lead single “Born to Die” is available now.
Here at Sunset Country Fest, this is exactly the kind of story we are here to cover. Shaboozey has already redefined what a country crossover moment looks like, and with The Outlaw Cherie Lee and Other Western Tales he is now redefining what a country album can be. Keep following Sunset Country Fest, the voice of country music in Central Florida. Sunset Country Fest 2027 is coming to Apopka, Florida on March 13, 2027.
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Sources & References
- Billboard — Shaboozey Announces New Concept Album The Outlaw Cherie Lee
- Variety — Shaboozey Sets Outlaw Cherie Lee as New Album
- Country Now — Shaboozey Announces Concept Album and Outlaws Never Die Tour
- MusicRow — Shaboozey Unveils New Album Due in July
- Consequence — Shaboozey Announces 2026 Outlaws Never Die Tour
When does Shaboozey’s new album The Outlaw Cherie Lee come out?
Shaboozey’s fourth studio album, The Outlaw Cherie Lee and Other Western Tales, releases on July 31, 2026 via American Dogwood and EMPIRE. The lead single “Born to Die” is available now on all major streaming platforms.
What is the Shaboozey Outlaws Never Die Tour 2026?
The Outlaws Never Die Tour is Shaboozey’s 25-date fall headline tour from September 8 in Phoenix to October 27 in Los Angeles, with stops in Nashville, Austin, Dallas, New York, Chicago, and more. Special guests vary by date.
What is Shaboozey’s new single Born to Die about?
“Born to Die” is the lead single from The Outlaw Cherie Lee and Other Western Tales, introducing the album’s cinematic outlaw revenge narrative. The song sets up the story of Cherie Lee, whose sheriff father is killed by a gang. Shaboozey described the album as inspired by Homer’s Greek epics.
Disclaimer — Important Notice
The information published in this article is based on publicly available data from official sources, press releases, and music industry publications available at the time of writing. Tour dates, ticket prices, venue details, and all other details referenced are subject to change at any time without prior notice. Sunset Country Fest shall not be held liable for any decisions taken by readers based on the information published here. Verify current details directly through official artist channels and authorized ticketing platforms before making any plans or purchases.
Last updated: July 11, 2026 · Sunset Country Fest Editorial Team · Contact Us