On the eve of WWE’s SummerSlam weekend, the heart of Nashville didn’t just beat to the rhythm of wrestling, it sang to the soul of Ron Killings. Inside an intimate, vibed-out listening session packed with fans, family and, friends, Killings, formerly known to wrestling fans worldwide as R-Truth, invited us into his world of music, memory, and Southern spirit with The White Album, his first full country album set to release on August 12, 2025.
Opening the session with “What’s Up!” in a room with about 75 to 100 fans, Killings was nothing short of magnetic. He didn’t just press play; he performed from the moment the speakers kicked on and it was clear that this wasn’t just another promotional stop; it was a passion project born from years of artistic evolution. Killings grabbed phones to take selfies, cracked jokes with fans, took photo requests, and gave shoutouts mid-performance. He made the room feel like a family reunion and not a rollout. That’s the essence of Ron Killings.
It all started with a conversation with a friend and country music star, Jelly Roll, that sparked this creative turn. They talked about the South, where they come from, what it means and how stories from those roots deserve to be told in every medium, “We were having the conversation and Jelly Roll was like ‘Dude, you’ve lived in Georgia, Nashville, South Carolina, and when you go north, they say we’re country,’” stated Killings. “Country to me is a state of mind, some of ya’ll up north sound country!” he laughed. “Southerners got that soul by heart. It’s a way of feeling, a sense of pride, a culture. What we are doing now is New Country, and if you don’t call it country, then I don’t know what to tell you.” For Killings, that translates to bringing his country influences to life on a new musical canvas. The White Album is his tribute to his legacy; an honest reflection of where he’s been and where he’s going.
Killings performed several tracks from the project, including standouts like “Better Play,” “Making the Cut,” a gritty anthem about the circle you keep, and “For Real,” a testimonial ballad that had the room singing along. His signature charisma resonated through every lyric, but it was the vulnerability, the storytelling, and the connection with the crowd that helped elevate the moment. His sound may be country, but the message was universal: faith, hustle, healing, and home.
Fans know Ron Killings as one of the most beloved performers in WWE history, a veteran of the game, he’s a WWE United States Champion, multi-time WWE Tag Team and 24/7 Champion and one of the few Black wrestlers to hold the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, long before the mainstream recognized the value of Black storytelling in the ring. Ron Killings has never been just one thing. Whether he’s rapping on his way to the ring or cracking the locker room up with his legendary comedic timing, he’s always brought music and wrestling into the same conversation.
What The White Album makes crystal clear is that Ron Killings isn’t just a crossover artist; he’s a cultural bridge. He’s always found a way to merge wrestling with music, charisma with consciousness and Southern roots with global reach. He’s not chasing relevance; he is relevant because he’s real.
There’s a reason fans have stood with him for over two decades. At the listening party, the love in the room was undeniable. From longtime wrestling supporters to new fans of his music, everyone showed up for Ron Killings because in every performance, he’s always shown up for us.
The White Album drops August 12. Do yourself a favor, pre-download and tune in. Ron Killings is more than a WWE legend. He’s a national treasure, one who raps, wrestles, and now, rides out to the country twang of his own Truth.
In this industry, that’s rare and worth protecting.
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