Ward Davis first gained attention in Nashville as a songwriter, placing songs on albums by Trace Adkins, Wade Hayes, Merle Haggard & Willie Nelson, and Cody Jinks. The latter was a pivotal connection for Davis. After he co-wrote three songs for Jinks' 2018 album Lifers, Jinks chose to go out on tour with the like-minded Davis, thereby raising his profile as a practitioner of lean, literary neo-outlaw country.
Originally from Monticello, Arkansas, Davis moved to Nashville in 2000. He quickly became a professional songwriter in the Music City, while simultaneously attempting to...