In a recent post on Instagram, Johnny Van Zant from Lynyrd Skynyrd confirms that his upcoming album deviates from the rock genre.
The singer wrote the following to update the fans on his new record:
“Happy Sunday! I am back in Nashville today with my brother, Donnie. We are doing a quick trip to record for our new gospel album! This has been 3 years in the making and I am very excited to get it out to you all and to hear your feedback. I will make sure to keep everyone updated, but we are having a blast in the meantime!”
Reflecting On New Year’s Eve Performance
Van Zant continued, referring to his New Year show in Nashville:
“I have been overwhelmed with people reaching out about our New Year’s Eve performance. It was amazing to see everyone who came out to support and to be able to bring in another new year with our Skynyrd nation. We love honoring all of the fallen legends, and it sure means the world to us that you all appreciate that as much as we do.”
Legacy Continuation And Unfulfilled Plans
In a Fall 2023 interview with Goldmine, the rocker also discussed the importance of carrying on the Skynyrd legacy following the passing of guitarist Gary Rossington in March 2023. When questioned about a potential new Lynyrd Skynyrd studio album, Johnny responded:
“We had all intentions of going in and making a record and doing it with Gary. But he got sick and so it just never happened. But there are songs out there that we could record in his honor. So who knows? We’ll see what happens in the future.”
Contradictions Regarding A New Album
However, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s new guitarist, Damon Johnson, refuted the claims about a new album. Johnson clarified that no discussions about a new album took place within the band, dismissing the rumors during an October interview on Barstools & Bandtalk, saying:
“Something he may have said that in an interview, I can tell you that there has been not one word of that discussed in the band, in rehearsals or the van, to the venue or the hotels and that kind of stuff. But look, that’s all part of it. New music is fulfilling for the musicians in any band, and the new music, if you have something brand new to talk about, you got another tour coming up.”
While the statements from Van Zant and Johnson have sparked a degree of uncertainty regarding the possibility of a new Lynyrd Skynyrd album, it remains clear that the band is navigating uncharted musical territories with Johnny’s upcoming gospel album.
You can watch his video on Instagram here.
