Cancer is a terrible, terrible thing. It causes so much damage to not only the afflicted person but also to those around them. So whenever someone gets to ring the wonderful bell of remission, they should be jumping for joy.
But when you're a musician, your version of joy comes in another form - instruments and vocals and lyrics and the like. And that's exactly how Joshua Ray Walker is celebrating his recovery from cancer.
In an interview with People, he explained just what that feels like. "I feel like I've already won. Everything's lined up just right... I got a clean bill of health. This record perfectly encapsulates this time that I'm in and the time I went through."
In his new album, Ain't Dead Yet, he revealed he was playing himself. While in his previous records he played fictionalised, sensationalised characters, this time it's a lot more stripped back and candid. "It's definitely harder to not hide behind a character," he explained.
Of course, when you're writing about such serious and personal topics, it really isn't a cakewalk. Walker explained, "This is the third iteration of this record, and I feel like with each try, it got more and more honest."
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The Country Star Revealed He's Been Working on the Album Since Before His Cancer Diagnosis
But the album was always designed to be this candid and honest—even since before he was diagnosed with cancer.
"I think subconsciously I could feel that I was dying and I didn't know what to do about it," he explained. And of course, a musician's first instinct would be to explore their inner workings through song, right?
Walker continued, "I always felt pretty invincible... I was on the road so much and was having trouble eating and was in a lot of pain and couldn't figure out what was going on."
And there were more than just medical issues the "Cowboy" singer was having to navigate. He was also dealing with the loss of his father and his mentor, as well as financial strains.
We're so happy to hear that he's doing well. Who else is excited for the new album?
