Charlie Worsham has the entire Music City creative community in his corner, and that’s never been more apparent than with Compadres. The five-cut project finds a handful of his friends and admirers working with one of Middle Tennessee’s most accomplished collaborators and, in turn, putting their stamp of approval on an artist who makes high-value music with even higher-value intent.

Produced by The Cadillac Three’s frontman, Jaren Johnston, Compadres features the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs, Female Vocalist of the Year Lainey Wilson, CMA Fest co-hosts Dierks Bentley and Elle King, plus raspy hit-making adventurer Kip Moore. That’s an all-star lineup, and those artists’ willingness to play supporting roles on Compadres is a sign of just how deeply Worsham is respected.

Bentley has called him “the next Stapleton” – that’s Chris Stapleton, just to dot the i’s and cross the t’s – and it’s a good comparison. Stapleton spent several years joining and leaving bands, writing hits for other artists and singing background vocals before he broke through as a perennial hitmaker and award-winner. Worsham’s story isn’t all that different.