Jake Worthington Is New And He’s Keeping It Real Country

First off, full disclosure: I don't watch much of the newer shows on television. And by 'newer', I mean anything much from over, say, the last decade or two.

With that being said, I'm not a big fan of shows like 'America's Got Talent', 'Dancing With the Stars', 'So You Think You Can Dance', the zombies, the ghosts, or anything with Kardashian in it. Nothing against these shows (and many others), it's just that I'm pretty much watching 'The Andy Griffith Show' and Gunsmoke' reruns.

In other words, I think I've become an old dog that doesn't care much for new tricks.

• Keepin' It Country: William Michael Morgan

And so it is that, you probably already know this artist named Jake Worthington since you are probably among the millions that watch 'The Voice'. But let me tell you how I got to know him.

There are hundreds of songs that I come across in my work here at KXRB. And the vast majority of them are 'country' in name only. Most of them are rehashed 1980's rock and roll or simply loud noise, something about tailgates and short-shorts (I'm not really sure, can't understand a lot of it. And I get it, they sell millions and wear their baseball caps backwards. I have nothing against it, it's just not real country.

But then, every once in a while, something 'real country music' will pop through and I smile. And I'm introduced to names like Ward Davis, Teea Goans, Mo Pitney or Monte Good.

Or recently, Jake Worthington. I'm hearing a song called 'Just Keep Falling In Love', and I'm lovin' it! Real honest to goodness country music by....who again? Oh yeah, Jake Worthington.

I have no idea who this fella is, but this is good! So I do what I find myself doing quite often..I Google him. I find his website and that's when I first realize...I'm late to the party again. Turns out Jake made a huge splash on 'The Voice'. And me? I was probably watching Barney in Mayberry or laughing at Festus on 'Gunsmoke'.

Then I see he also sang what I consider the greatest country song ever (sorry 'He Stopped Loving Her Today'), the great Keith Whitley classic 'Don't Close Your Eyes'. Uh-oh. This might not be good.

Well, turns out it's waaaay good.

So that's Jake Worthington. But you probably already knew that. As for me? Well, again in the quest for honesty, I'm not sure I'll be leaving Mayberry or Dodge City for the newer shows (the past decade or so), but I will say this: Jake sounds plum fine between the Hank's and the George's, between the Johnny's and the Waylon and Willie's.

So great to know there are artist's that keep it country, real country.