Cody Jinks Criticizes Modern Country Music

The country star said today's artists lack the outlaw spirit of George Jones and Johnny Paycheck in an Instagram video.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Country

Cody Jinks Criticizes Modern Country Music

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Country singer Cody Jinks posted an Instagram video criticizing the current state of country music, saying there are no outlaw-style artists like George Jones or Johnny Paycheck today. Fans in the comments defended traditional country and criticized corporate radio.

Why it matters

Jinks's remarks add to an ongoing debate among country artists and fans over whether the genre has lost its independent, rule-breaking identity. His comments about record labels no longer signing problem children highlight concerns about how artists are developed and marketed.

Jinks's album "I'm Not the Devil" reached No. 4 on the Billboard Country Albums chart in 2016, and he is 46 years old. The video does not name the specific modern artists he was criticizing, and no industry response has been reported.

The players

Cody Jinks

Cody Jinks is a country music singer who began his career as the lead singer of a thrash metal band and is known for outlaw-leaning country records.

The details

In the Instagram video, Jinks, who began his career as lead singer of a thrash metal band, said record companies no longer sign problem children because they cannot control them. He also said modern country singers are singing about things they did not do, while fans in the comments pointed to Nashville, Houston and Phoenix as places where traditional country still thrives.

2016: "I'm Not the Devil" reaches No. 4 on the Billboard Country Albums chart.
November 6, 2026: Jinks posts the Instagram video criticizing modern country music.

Industry Dynamics

Jinks's comments echo the outlaw country movement of the 1970s, when artists such as Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson pushed back against Nashville's polished, label-controlled production. His criticism suggests that the independent, rule-breaking identity of that era has been replaced by a more controlled industry model.

Fans who want to hear Jinks's music can find his albums on major streaming platforms. The video itself is a social media post, so readers can follow his Instagram account for any further statements from the artist.

The takeaway

Jinks's video is a reminder that country music's identity is contested, and listeners who value the genre's independent roots can seek out artists and records that still embrace that tradition.