Lost Highway Saloon (Texas Music Group, 2000)

Johnny Bush's new record is a winning combination of shuffles and ballads, dominated throughout by his inimitable voice. Combining honky-tonk edge with world-wise pathos, Bush's voice still compels despite what he's lost from illness and age and is at least as good as his more celebrated contemporaries. The opening track, "The Same Ole Me," is a classic Ray Price shuffle. Bush shares a lovely duet with Leona Williams on "The Wall" and his duet with Kate Williams on "I'll Never Be Free" is an evocative cover of the old Tennessee Ernie Ford/Kaye Starr 1950 hit. This is proof that heroes can age gracefully.