In 2009, That Lonesome Song earned Jamey Johnson a Gold Record. The set's "In Color" was named Song of the Year by both the ACM and the CMA. Jamey also manged to collect five Grammy Award nominations and toured with country titan Hank Williams Jr. In the midst of that whirlwind, Jamey started putting together the landmark project, The Guitar Song, a sprawling 25-song double album with thematically linked sets of songs dubbed the Black Album and the White Album.

The 'Black' songs include the menacing, partly spoken "Poor Man Blues," the intensely defiant "Can't Cash My Checks," the sighing and bluesy "Even the Skies Are Blue" and the chillingly aggressive "Heartache." The lighter 'White' songs are highlighted by the strongly autobiographical "That's Why I Write Songs," the languidly relaxing "Front Porch Swing Afternoon," the rocking "Good Times Ain't What They Used to Be" and the easy-going groove tune "Macon."

A lover of classic country sounds, The Guitar Song also contains Jamey's versions of Kris Kristofferson's "For the Good Times," Vern Gosdin's "Set 'Em Up Joe" and Mel Tillis' "Mental Revenge."