Jason Aldean's “How Far Does A Goodbye Go” manages to evoke nostalgia for the early days of his career, while simultaneously stirring anticipation for the chapter ahead.

Aldean said his newest single, which arrived on Friday (September 12), is “for anybody who has ever felt the sting of a breakup.” Tully Kennedy, Kurt Allison, John Edwards and John Morgan teamed up to write the storytelling ballad. The lyrics set the scene of a couple enduring a rocky point in their relationship. The woman heads to her mother’s house “to try to clear her head” and take “a little time.” When the man goes days without hearing from her, he contemplates whether she’ll ever return.

“How far/ Does a goodbye go/ Is it down to a corner bar/ Or outta town in a getaway car/ If it’s on a map this cowboy’s gotta know/ Is it a couple miles away comin’ up the road or on a midnight train on a runaway track/ How far does a goodbye go/ Till it don’t come back”

Aldean began teasing “How Far Does A Goodbye Go” with sneak peeks on social media last month. Some of the commenters said the ballad sounds like “old school” Aldean. He also hinted at next chapter, including “How Far Does A Goodbye Go,” while chatting with Dax Shepard on a recent episode of Armchair Expert. The reigning Academy of Country Music Artist of the Decade’s most recent full studio record is Highway Desperado, which arrived in November 2023. That album included “Try That In A Small Town,” “Whiskey Drink” and more.

The country superstar also extended his headlining “Full Throttle Tour” into 2026, in addition to releasing a new single on Friday morning. The 2026 shows will include Nate Smith, Lanie Gardner and Dee Jay Silver. Aldean will also take the stage in Australia next year for his first headlining run since 2016. Tickets to the new U.S. shows will be available at 10 a.m. local time on Friday, September 19. See the list of new tour dates (and his remaining 2025 stops) below, and listen to “How Far Does A Goodbye Go” here:

Bob Delmont