A phenomenal vocalist, Bucky Heard is releasing his debut country album available today entitled, Breathless! The record has eight brand new songs, capturing all of Heard’s incredible vocal ranges, from rock, country and ballads. 

For the last decade, Bucky Heard has been working alongside Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Bill Medley, for the revival of The Righteous Brothers. Now, Heard is showcasing more of his artistry as a solo artist with his new country album, Breathless.

Photo Credit: Michael Gomez

Recently, The CMBeat got the opportunity to chat with Bucky Heard about his new album, Breathless. Along with that, Bucky Heard also talked about his experience with The Righteous Brothers and what he would want fans to know who might be just discovering himself or his music! 

Emily Ann Wells: What can you tell me about your forthcoming album, Breathless?
Bucky Heard: The last ten years standing beside Bill Medley and carrying on the legacy of The Righteous Brothers have been some of the most meaningful of my life. When the farewell tour was announced, I felt deep gratitude — but also a clear sense that it was time to step out on my own and tell my story through a solo album.

Breathless was created to lift people up and remind listeners that hope is real, determination matters, and dreams don’t have a shelf life. After searching through hundreds of songs, I chose these eight because each one speaks straight to the heart and reflects what I truly believe and want to share with the world.

Emily Ann Wells: I personally love your song, “It Is What It Is (Till It Ain’t).” What’s the story behind how the song came to be?
Bucky Heard: Thank you! That song was a blast to write. I co-wrote it with two fantastic Nashville songwriters, Terri Jo Box and Patrick “Trick” Savage, and we had a lot of fun flipping a familiar phrase on its head. “It is what it is” usually sounds like throwing your hands up and giving up — and we thought, what if it didn’t have to mean that?

By adding “Till It Ain’t,” the song turns into a little nudge to take a chance when life opens a door. It’s about saying yes, being brave, and not overthinking yourself out of something great. After all, life’s only life if you live it up. 

Emily Ann Wells: What made you decide to pick Breathless for the title track?
Bucky Heard: Breathless feels like a movie moment — that instant when everything changes because someone walks into your life and suddenly the world looks brighter, bolder, and full of possibility. It’s about being pulled into a love so powerful and exhilarating that it leaves you completely swept away.

The song has a driving, electric energy that never lets up, and that emotion carries through the entire record. I wanted Breathless to set the tone for the album — something that grabs you from the first note and doesn’t let go. When the music ends, I want people to feel like they’ve just experienced something unforgettable.

Since 2016, Bucky Heard has been one-half of the legendary duo, The Righteous Brothers, as when Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Bill Medley asked him to join him in continuing the legacy of The Righteous Brothers and their music. The Righteous Brothers are best known for their hit songs, You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’, Soul and Inspiration and Unchained Melody. The duo is currently on their farewell tour, which is one reason why Heard has the chance to share some of his solo music now. 

Photo Credit: Michael Gomez

Emily Ann Wells: You’ve been one half of the legendary duo, The Righteous Brothers, for a decade as of this year. What has that experience been like for you?
Bucky Heard: It’s truly hard to put into words, and I never take it for granted. One of the most meaningful moments in our show is when I get to pause and thank the audience for welcoming me into the Righteous Brothers family. I often share how surreal it still feels that a little kid from a small town in Alabama — Dadeville — who once sang these songs alone in his bedroom, has been given the opportunity to stand onstage for the past ten years alongside Rock & Roll Hall of Fame icon Bill Medley, helping keep this music — and the memory of Bobby Hatfield — alive.

That experience has shaped me deeply, both as an artist and as a person. Everything I’ve learned along the way found its way into Breathless. It’s a reminder to take chances, even when they feel uncomfortable and to give your heart fully to the journey — because that’s often where the most meaningful growth happens and how dreams become reality. 

Before joining The Righteous Brothers, Bucky Heard was and still is, a well-known name and entertainer in Branson, Missouri. The town was once a very bustling city specifically for the stars, with iconic artists and country artists coming to build theaters or appear to perform shows. Heard spent quite a bit of time there where he learned a little bit of everything about the entertainment business, leading him to build the extraordinary career which he has today. 

Photo Credit: Michael Gomez

Emily Ann Wells: You’ve spent a lot of your time in Branson. How do you think your time there developed you as an artist, and which moments do you reflect back on most?
Bucky Heard: My wife — who’s also in the business — and I called Branson home for over twenty years, and those years were an absolute gift. We were there at a time when so many legendary artists decided to slow the touring life down, plant roots, and build incredible theaters. It turned Branson into a living classroom, and I soaked up every lesson I could.

I learned by watching, listening, and sometimes sharing the stage with icons like Mickey Gilley, Mel Tillis, Andy Williams, Tony Orlando, Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, and so many others. Every night felt like a master class in entertainment. And just to keep things interesting, I even spent a little time as a “Russian dancer” for Yakov Smirnoff — which proves you never know where this business will take you! Those years in Branson gave me a deep respect for the craft and prepared me for everything that came next.

Emily Ann Wells: If someone is just now discovering you or your music, what would you like them to know?
Bucky Heard: I’d want them to know that when they play my music or walk into one of my shows, I’m giving them everything I’ve got and my goal is simple — I want people to leave feeling a little lighter, a little more hopeful, and a whole lot better about themselves and the world around them than they did when they arrived. 

If my music helps someone take a chance they’ve been afraid to take, then every note was worth it because, trust me when I say, it’s far better to take the leap and come up short than to have to spend a lifetime wondering “what if.”

Click the image to download/listen to Bucky Heard’s new album, Breathless (Photo Credit: Michael Gomez)

Bucky Heard’s new album, Breathless, is captivating from start to finish. It’s amazing to see Heard blend together so many music styles so seamlessly in one album. Bucky Heard’s talent is certainly showcased on this new album, Breathless, spotlighting his incredible vocals and his ability to convey such a compelling message through each song on the album. 

Be sure to follow Bucky Heard on all of his social media including on Facebook, Instagram and at his website, www.BuckyHeard.com. 

Have you listened to Bucky Heard’s new album, Breathless? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment below or on social media!

(Photo Credit for photos in this article belong to Michael Gomez.)