After his death, Johnny became Blue Skies in Stargill Simpson.

After pledging to release only five albums under his own name, the Grammy-winning shape-shifter returns with a daring new identity.

For over a decade, Sturgill Simpson was hailed as country music’s reluctant saviour—a title he carried with equal parts pride and bemusement. Following the 2021 release of The Ballad of Dood and Juanita, Simpson made a declaration that seemed final: five studio albums, and that would be it. Fans and critics alike braced themselves for silence.

Yet, with 2026 on the horizon, the man who once busked outside the CMA Awards has re-emerged—not as Sturgill, but as Johnny Blue Skies. The reinvention is more than nominal; it is a full-scale revolt against industry norms and expectations.

The metamorphosis began subtly with 2024’s Passage du Désir, recorded between the hallowed halls of Abbey Road in London and Nashville’s Clement House. Named after a weathered Parisian doorway, the album signalled a shift toward lush, progressive country, blending the cosmic wanderings of Waylon Jennings with the soulful precision of Joe Simon. It was a hint that Simpson’s musical journey was far from over.

However, it is his latest venture, Mutiny After Midnight, that has truly shaken the industry. Released through Atlantic Outpost, the album embraces a “disco-hedonism” aesthetic, described by Simpson as a “protest against oppression and suppression.” Drawing inspiration from 1970s fusion band Stuff and Marvin Gaye’s concept albums, the record fuses heavy grooves with spontaneous, on-the-spot lyricism.

In a striking departure from modern norms, Mutiny After Midnight is a physical-only release. There is no streaming on Spotify or Apple Music—only vinyl, CD, and cassette. It is an audacious attempt to restore intentional listening, forcing fans to engage with music as a tactile, immersive experience rather than a background noise.

Simpson’s long-time collaborators, the “Dark Clouds”—drummer Miles Miller, bassist Kevin Black, guitarist Laur Joamets, and keyboardist Robbie Crowell—bring a tight, instinctive energy to the project. Tracks such as “Make America Fuk Again” and “Excited Delirium” underscore a willingness to eschew radio-friendly conventions and embrace the unpredictable.

“Sturgill served his purpose, but he’s gone,” Simpson told GQ. As Johnny Blue Skies, he appears lighter, stranger, and untethered. From island escapism in “Scooter Blues” to cosmic lament in “Jupiter’s Faerie,” he demonstrates that surviving the music industry often means burning one’s former identity to dance in the ashes.

Key Albums: Sturgill Simpson → Johnny Blue Skies

Simpson’s transformation marks a rare act of artistic defiance in an era dominated by streaming algorithms—a reminder that true creativity sometimes requires letting go of your past persona entirely.