Whiskey (Jana Kramer song)

"Whiskey" was released to country radio on February 1, 2016, as the lead single from Jana Kramer's third studio album, Thirty One, which followed in October of that year. The song was written by Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby, and Lindsay Rimes, three established Nashville songwriters. Kramer has stated that the song's theme of using alcohol to cope with heartbreak resonated with her personal experiences, and she felt an immediate connection upon first hearing the demo.

The song is a mid-tempo country ballad with a prominent steel guitar and a melody that builds from a subdued verse to a powerful chorus. Lyrically, it explores the paradox of seeking comfort in whiskey while knowing it only deepens the pain of a lost love. The chorus features the lines "Whiskey, you're the devil / You're the one that gets me in trouble," personifying the drink as a tempting but destructive force.¹ Critics noted the song's clever wordplay and its blend of traditional country instrumentation with a contemporary pop sensibility.

"Whiskey" became Kramer's biggest hit, reaching number 5 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and number 30 on the Hot Country Songs chart. It also crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 84. The song received positive reviews from music critics, who praised Kramer's vocal delivery and the song's relatable lyrics. Taste of Country described it as "a smart, sassy take on heartbreak," while Roughstock called it "one of the strongest singles of her career."

The accompanying music video, directed by Eric Welch, premiered in March 2016. Shot in black and white, it depicts Kramer in a dimly lit bar, interspersed with scenes of her performing the song with a band. The video's moody aesthetic mirrors the song's themes of loneliness and regret. It has been viewed over 10 million times on YouTube.²

Despite its success, "Whiskey" was not originally intended for Kramer; the song was pitched to several other artists before she recorded it. Co-writer Nicolle Galyon later revealed that the song was almost cut by a male artist, but the demo was passed along to Kramer by her producer.³ Additionally, the song's bridge features a key change that was added during the recording session at the suggestion of the session musicians, a detail not present in the original demo. Kramer has also noted that the song's title was nearly changed to "Whiskey (You're the Devil)" but was kept simple to avoid confusion with other songs.⁴

Country Airplay

A Billboard chart ranking the most-played country songs on U.S. radio stations.

Hot Country Songs

A Billboard chart that combines airplay, streaming, and digital sales data for country songs.

Steel guitar

A type of guitar played with a steel bar, commonly used in country music to produce a distinctive sliding sound.