Article Contributed by Devious Planet
Published on 2026-02-27
Dale Watson is excited to announce the release of a new single, “If You Really Love Me (Outlive Me.)” Pre-save here. It’s off of his forthcoming release Unwanted due April 24th via 40 Below Records, Pre-order here. The single has been premiered by Glide magazine, check it out here.
The first single, “Willie Waylon And Whiskey” has been warmly embraced by press and radio. It was premiered by Holler, and featured in Taste of Country, The Bluegrass Situation and also added to Sirius XMs Outlaw Country.
The ballad “If You Really Loved Me (Outlive Me)” reflects on loss and survival. “When you’ve lived awhile unfortunately you will lose people. At some point your heart weighs heavy with that knowledge that we are here for a short time, but worse yet, so are our loved ones. So, this is my selfish way of asking my loved ones to take care of themselves for me.“
With his new album Unwanted, Watson delivers another unapologetic statement from the heart of American roots music. It’s a lean, hard-hitting blast of honky-tonk, outlaw country, western swing, and rockabilly — the sound he named Ameripolitan and has championed for more than 40 years. Entirely written and produced by Watson, the album is another defiant stand from one of American roots music’s true originals.
Backed by The Lonestars, Watson is joined by Celine Lee, The Memphians, Katie Shore (Asleep at the Wheel), and pianist Matt Hubbard. “Everybody on this record knows how to make the music breathe,” Watson says. “That’s the difference.”
THE DOCUMENTARY
The Texas rockabilly icon is the subject of the forthcoming documentary IF YOU REALLY LOVE ME, OUTLIVE ME — a part love story, part musical odyssey that offers an intimate portrait of Watson and his creative partner and wife, Celine Lee.
Stars of their own Southern fairytale, Dale and Celine forged a magnetic bond rooted in their shared devotion to the rockabilly tradition. That connection didn’t just shape their personal lives — it resonated straight into the microphone between them, launching a life of lyrical adventure, hard-won triumphs, and deeply intertwined artistry.
Dale reflects; “I didn’t think a simple song about love and life would strike such a universal chord, but stepping back and looking at it, the song and the documentary do go hand in hand. Love is the do all to end all.“
A film by production companies Easy Mondays & Poster, directed by Alejandro Ruax and Saskia d’Altena, and produced by d’Altena, Ruax and Asori Soto.
Before the film hits the festival circuit, a friends-and-family pre-screening will take place on March 11 in Austin at the Eastside Ballroom. This is an invite-only event. For additional information or to inquire about the guest list, please contact pati@deviousplanet.com
ABOUT DALE WATSON
Watson has shared stages and bills with some of the most respected names in American music, including Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Ray Price, Loretta Lynn, and Dwight Yoakam — artists who recognized in him a kindred spirit and a deep respect for the tradition.
He’s brought that same unapologetic sound to national audiences through appearances on Austin City Limits, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and The Late Show with David Letterman. Despite such high-profile appearances, Watson remains rooted in the road. “I still play over 300 shows a year,” he says. “That’s where the truth is. That’s where the songs tell you if they’re real.”
Honored as a Texas State Musician and founder of The Ameripolitan Music Awards, Watson sees Unwanted as part of a living tradition. “Outlaw country isn’t nostalgia,” he says. “It’s alive, it’s loud, and it’s still being written.”
