Steve Earle & The Dukes Release Justin Townes Earle Tribute Album ‘J.T.’

Steve Earle and The Dukes released a new album, J.T., consisting of covers of songs by Justin Townes Earle, who would have turned 39 years old today. The album also features the song “Last Words,” which was written by Steve Earle in honor of his son, Justin Townes Earle, who died from an accidental drug overdose in August 2020.

Steve Earle recorded J.T. with The Dukes whose lineup includes Chris Masterson on guitar, Eleanor Whitmore on fiddle, Brad Pemberton on drums, Jeff Hill on bass and Ricky Ray Jackson on pedal steel, guitar and dobro. The album presents covers of 10 songs written by Justin Townes Earle, from his 2007 debut EP Yuma, full-length debut album The Good Life, and other releases including the title track of Justin’s eighth and final studio album, 2019’s The Saint Of Lost Causes.

Steve Earle shared the following statement regarding the tribute album:

The record is called J.T. because Justin was never called anything else until he was nearly grown. Well, when he was little, I called him Cowboy. For better or worse, right or wrong, I loved Justin Townes Earle more than anything else on this earth. That being said, I made this record, like every other record I’ve ever made… for me. It was the only way I knew to say goodbye.

All artist advances and royalties from the sales of J.T. will go to a trust set up for Justin and Jenn Earle’s three-year-old daughter, Etta St. James Earle. CD and vinyl editions of J.T. will follow on March 19. Stream J.T. below: