Austin’s Rose Captures Lightning in a Bottle: Alan Jackson Endorses the Most Soulful Cover of ‘It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere’ Yet
There are songs that are made to be sung—and then there are songs that are meant to be lived. For decades, “It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere” has been a carefree anthem for breaking away, letting loose, and forgetting the clock. But when Austin’s Rose, a rising Americana duo, released their stripped-down cover of the song, they did something rare: they made Alan Jackson feel it all over again.
“This is the cover I didn’t know I needed,” Jackson said.
“It captured not just the melody, but the meaning. It reminded me why we wrote it in the first place.”
In a landscape filled with covers that are often rushed or overproduced, Austin’s Rose brought something different to the table: heart, harmony, and a little bit of hurt. And people are stopping everything to listen.
A Song We Thought We Knew
When “It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere” first hit the airwaves in 2003, it was an instant hit. A collaboration between Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett, the track became a symbol of escapism, humor, and the joyful defiance of work-week blues.
But Austin’s Rose approached the song not as a party track—but as a soulful confession. Their rendition slows things down just enough to let each lyric land. Their voices—raw, rich, and soaked in Southern spirit—bring out an emotional depth that often gets lost in beach-bar singalongs.
“They made the song breathe,” Jackson noted.
“It’s the same words—but it hits different.”
Who Are Austin’s Rose?
Formed by real-life couple Elia and Austin Moody, Austin’s Rose has always been about storytelling. Their music blends country, folk, and Americana with an honesty that audiences crave. With just a guitar, harmonies that feel like home, and a sincere love for the genre, they’ve built a grassroots following—now amplified by this unforgettable cover.
Their version of “It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere” begins with a simple strum, then slides into harmonies that feel equal parts playful and pained. You hear the longing behind the lyrics, the quiet frustration behind the smile. It’s no longer just about leaving work early—it’s about needing an escape from everything weighing you down.
And perhaps that’s why it resonated so deeply with Alan Jackson.
Fans Are Pouring In—And So Are the Tears
After the video dropped on YouTube and TikTok, fans lit up the comments section with reactions that ranged from emotional to stunned:
“Never thought this song could bring tears to my eyes. Until now.”
“This isn’t just a cover. It’s a reinvention.”
“Austin’s Rose just turned a bar anthem into a ballad for the soul.”
Even longtime fans of the original admitted they were hearing the song in a new way—one that dug deeper than just sipping margaritas at noon.
Alan Jackson’s Rare Public Praise
For someone like Alan Jackson—who has kept a relatively low profile in recent years—to comment publicly on a cover is no small thing. But this one struck a nerve.
“They got it right,” he said.
“Every note, every breath—it was like looking in a mirror that shows you what the song always meant to be.”
His words sparked a wave of renewed interest in both the cover and the duo behind it. Streams surged. Shares exploded. And Austin’s Rose found themselves being heralded not as copycats—but as storytellers.
More Than Just a Time on the Clock
What makes this cover stand out isn’t just the talent—it’s the timing. In a world where many feel burned out, stressed, and constantly in motion, “It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere” isn’t just a cheeky excuse to pour a drink. It’s a quiet rebellion. A permission slip to pause.
Austin’s Rose tapped into that truth, not with flash—but with feeling. Their delivery reminds us that behind the humor, there’s always a human. Someone trying to take a breath. Someone just needing a moment.
What Comes Next?
With praise from Alan Jackson and a growing audience behind them, Austin’s Rose is poised for much bigger stages. But when asked about the sudden attention, Elia simply said:
“We didn’t try to impress anyone. We just wanted to sing something that felt honest.”
And that honesty is what’s making thousands of people stop scrolling, take a deep breath, and say—“Same here.”
