The much-anticipated collaboration “McArthur” has arrived.
HARDY, Tim McGraw, Morgan Wallen and Eric Church have released their collaborative new song “McArthur.” Written by HARDY, Chase McGill, Jameson Rodgers and Josh Thompson, and produced by Jay Joyce, “McArthur” delves into themes of legacy and lineage.
“Father time don’t leave anyone out,” they sing over tenderly strummed guitar, “When you pass on/ What you gonna pass down?”
In the cryptic rollout of the song, HARDY, Wallen, McGraw and Church each posted images on Instagram filled with names, all linked by the last name McArthur, along with various birth and death dates.
Church posted, “Junior McArthur. b. September 2, 1945. d. April 4, 1967.” Wallen posted, “Hunter McArthur. b. May 13, 1993” (the birthdate also happens to line up with Wallen’s own actual birthdate). HARDY posted, “Jones McArthur. b. June 5, 1968. d. January 5, 2025.” McGraw posted, “John McArthur. b. Nov. 2, 1920 d. Nov. 22, 1963.”
The foursome each trading off lines and joining together at various points in the song does, of course, bring to mind other country music collaborative groups such as The Highwaymen’s Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings, and The Highwomen’s Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Amanda Shires and Natalie Hemby.
Some of the performers behind “McArthur” have previously collaborated in various configurations. HARDY is a writer on several of Wallen’s hits, and the two have previously teamed up for songs including “Come Back as a Redneck” and “He Went to Jared.” Church and Wallen have previously partnered for songs including “Man Made a Bar” and “Number 3 and Number 7.”
HARDY has previously noted that one of his artistic goals is to write a song recorded by McGraw. In an interview with Smooth Radio back in May, HARDY previously said, “Tim McGraw is one of the last people left that I haven’t been able to convince to record one of my songs…he’s just a legend and records only great music, so I know it’s going to have to be a special song.”
A slate of esteemed musicians contributed to “McArthur,” including Joyce on percussion, bass, keys and electric guitar, along with Fred Eltringham (drums and percussion), Rob McNelley (electric guitar), Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar and mandolin) and Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor (fiddle).
Listen to “McArthur” below: