Josh Ross has launched 2026 with the release of his new single ‘Bar And Back,' marking his first new music of the year and setting the tone for what promises to be a major chapter ahead. The Universal Music Canada, MCA and CORE Records artist uses the track to explore the emotional grey area between casual connection and something deeper, capturing the moment when feelings stop matching on both sides.
Ross describes the song as a reflection on realising you want more than the person across from you, caught in the familiar push and pull between fleeting attraction and the desire for something real and lasting. It is a sentiment that feels instantly relatable, delivered with the emotional honesty and melodic pull that have helped Ross build a rapidly growing global audience.
With nearly 1.3 billion global streams and just one full-length album released so far, ‘Bar And Back' arrives as a clear statement of intent for the year ahead. The multi-platinum artist recently earned four nominations at the 2026 JUNO Awards, including Fan Choice, Single of the Year for ‘Hate How You Look,' and both Album of the Year and Country Album of the Year for his debut LP Later Tonight.
Released in September, ‘Later Tonight' was produced by longtime collaborator Matt Geroux and further cemented Ross’s signature blend of emotive, rock-leaning country. The album debuted at number five on the U.S. Current Country Album Sales chart and claimed the top spot on the Canadian Country Albums chart, pulling in 11 million on-demand streams in its first week alone. That momentum continues into 2026 as Ross prepares to take his music back on the road.
Next week, Ross will kick off the Bud Light Presents Later Tonight Tour, a 17-date Canadian headline run beginning February 6 with direct support from Chandler Walters. He has also been announced as direct support for Nate Smith’s Long Live Country Rock and Roll 2026 Tour, ensuring ‘Bar And Back' will quickly find its place in front of live audiences across North America.
