Country singer-songwriter and U.S. Army combat veteran John PayCheck released “Battles You Never Knew” on Sept. 11 via HorseBite Entertainment, the third focus track from his forthcoming third studio album, “Better Plan,” set for a Nov. 27 digital release. The song was written by PayCheck and recorded at Gnome Studios with producer Bill McDermott, whose credits include George Strait, Tim McGraw and Brad Paisley.
According to the announcement, the track takes aim at artists who write about military sacrifice without having experienced combat themselves. PayCheck, who says he joined the Army after the events of Sept. 11, describes the song as a challenge to what he characterizes as a trend of profiting from soldiers’ experiences rather than genuinely honoring them.
PayCheck is the son of country artist Johnny PayCheck. The label says his collaboration with Struggle Jennings, “Sons Of The Spark,” has surpassed 51,000 Spotify streams. He continues to tour independently, with 2026 tour dates announced across the Midwest, East Coast and Texas in support of “Better Plan.”
Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Jason W. Ashcraft / JWA Media, jwamedia.com.