Exclusive: Charlie Worsham Discusses Upcoming Lainey Wilson Collaboration, ‘Handful Of Dust’

Speaking to Holler ahead of the release of his upcoming Compadres EP on October 13, Charlie Worsham delved into the creative process behind one of the project's most hotly anticipated collaborations, the Lainey Wilson-assisted ‘Handful Of Dust’.

The eagerly awaited track is a cover of Tony Arata's iconic ballad, which has been recorded over the years by the likes of Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Patty Loveless and more.

Charlie Worsham's new Compadres EP comprises five star-studded collaborations with the 2023 CMA Musician of the Year nominees’ closest friends and fellow artists.

The project includes duets with the likes of Luke Combs (‘How I Learned To Pray’), Kip Moore (‘Kiss Like You Dance’) and Elle King (‘Creekwater Clear’), along with Worsham's Hot Country Knights band-mate, Dierks Bentley (‘Things I Can't Control’).

As soon as the tracklist was unveiled and Lainey Wilson was confirmed as a guest on Compadres, fans have been clamouring for the track to be shared before the October 13 release date.

Charlie Worsham opened up to Holler about how this blockbuster duet with Lainey Wilson came about, “If you aren’t already familiar with ‘A Handful Of Dust’, I highly recommend finding Patty Loveless’ version. I’ve always loved that song, being a lifelong stan of Patty’s music, and I have performed the song once at the Opry. My buddy Vince Gill happened to catch that performance from the side of the stage and mentioned to me that he particularly enjoyed my singing on ‘Dust’”.

The Mississippi native native went on to outline how both he and his Compadres producer, Jaren Johnston, felt Lainey Wilson would be the perfect duet partner for ‘Handful Of Dust’, “As Jaren [Johnston] and I were coming up with ideas for Compadres, I thought about the song and Vince’s compliment and immediately thought of Lainey”.

Charlie Worsham highlighted the long-standing friendship the two artists enjoy, “Lainey’s record, Bell Bottom Country, is one of my favourite records I've ever picked guitar on, and Lainey feels like my sister-from-another-mister, having grown up along that same path from Louisiana through Mississippi to Memphis as me. I think you can hear in the recording that we both grew up on the same kinda dirt”.

With the release of Compadres only a matter of weeks away now, it's safe to say we can't wait until Charlie Worsham and Lainey Wilson's full studio version of ‘Handful Of Dust’ is available for all to hear.

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