photo by: David Guest and designed by Two Wands Design

The Knot

Titel: The Knot

Vö: 13.02.2026

Label: Independently

Produced by: Mose Wilson

For anyone searching for authentic country duos today, you usually end up looking backward: George Jones & Tammy Wynette, Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn—and, of course, June Carter & Johnny Cash. But look closer, and you’ll find a name from Atlanta that has been carrying that torch with heart and soul for years: The Waymores.

Willie Heath Neal and Kira Annalise aren’t just partners on stage—they’re partners in life. That real-life bond pulses through every note and lyric, creating music that feels alive, intimate, and genuine. The Waymores embody traditional country, enriched with honky-tonk, folk, and Americana influences. When it comes to honesty and authenticity, they stand proudly beside the legendary duos of the past.

Their fourth studio album, "The Knot", drops February 13, 2026.

photo by: David Guest and designed by Two Wands Design

Opening track “Highway Song” blends wistful melancholy with a gentle spark of hope. A short instrumental intro sets the stage before Willie’s deep, resonant baritone carries you into the story—life on the road and the delicate rhythms of love and partnership. Kira told rockfrank.com:

“I wrote this song the day after our last tour ended, just before my neurosurgery. At first, it felt like a breakup song—not about a relationship, but about life on the road. In the end, it became more about us as a couple, but at its heart, it’s about how much we miss touring, and the fear of having to ‘leave it behind,’ not knowing what the future would hold for me.”

The title track, "The Knot", is a celebration of love and commitment. Its easygoing melody makes your feet tap while putting a smile on your face. For the album cover, Willie and Kira even wore their actual wedding clothes—a heartfelt nod to their own vows and life together.

From the very first note, the album feels like a night drive through Georgia, heading toward northern Nashville—honest, warm, and utterly personal. Songs like “For Good This Time” and the cheeky “Cowboy” show their storytelling wit and charm. In “Cowboy,” they gently poke fun at those who watch Yellowstone and suddenly think they’re ranch hands, despite never having been on a horse. The Waymores affectionately call them “Paramount Cowboys. ”Tracks like “Forever Fool” and “A Dozen Roses” carry you back to Georgia’s timeless highways, effortlessly blending nostalgia and joy. Kira Annalise’s warm, tender vocals make the emotions resonate even deeper.

photo by: Velveteen Visions

On “Don’t Know Why” Kira shared with rockfrank.com:

“The song was inspired by an episode of The Andy Griffith Show, where Barbara Eden’s character, Ellen Brown, opens a manicurist shop in Floyd’s Barber Shop. In a key scene, she confides in Andy about a painful breakup, repeatedly asking, ‘I don’t know why he would do that. Do you know why he would treat me that way?’
That moment became the spark for a country song that captures that universal ache—relationships ending without reason, leaving you searching for answers.”

The result is a song full of raw emotion and bittersweet hope, capturing that universal feeling of longing for closure while still holding onto a flicker of belief that something could change.

"Ain’t Missing You” is both a love song and a heartbreak song. It tells the story of a couple meeting again after a breakup, wrestling with the bittersweet pull of the past while not fully missing one another. The Waymores explained:

“When we wrote it, we felt they were fooling themselves if they claimed not to miss one another. In our imagination, they probably went home together that night—but never truly reconciled. That’s just our view; listeners can feel it however it resonates with them.”

“Waiting for You” and “No Good” round out the album, leaving listeners with a sense of completeness, closure, and lingering warmth.

Bottom line: "The Knot" is more than just another country album. It’s a heartfelt statement, proudly standing in the lineage of classic duos while blazing its own path with sincerity, vibrancy, and soul. Kira and Willie honor the roots of the genre while creating music that feels living and breathing—a testament that country music isn’t just alive; it’s essential, intimate, and deeply human.

The following studio musicians are also featured on “The Knok”:

• Acoustic guitar: Mose Wilson und Willie Heath Neal
• Lead guitar: Rick Wagner
• Bass guitar: Matt McGinnis
• Steel guitar: Tebbs Karney
• drums: Roger Ross
• fiddle: Derek Pell
• piano: Mose Wilson

photo by: Velveteen Visions