Paul Thorn Releases 'Holy Hottie Toddy' Single

The fourth single from Mississippi-renaissance-man Paul Thorn's upcoming album Never Too Late To Call may be his most joyous to date. "Holy Hottie Toddy" takes a simple-but- groove and a resounding chorus to get a very basic, but all-too-important message across; "Love everybody."

The song's last verse sums up the idea succinctly: "Let go of any grudges while you're still around / You can't say you're sorry when you're laying six feet in the ground / The best time is right now." Thorn came up with the idea on a trip to see his daughter's band perform in Oxford, Mississippi. "All throughout her performance, drunk boys kept yelling the words 'Hottie Toddy,' which is a buzz word at Ole Miss," says Thorn. "It's a greeting." Thorn cooked up a catchy hook with the university's classic catch phrase and spun it with his infectiously positive message. "The song is about being all-inclusive," he says. "Let's love everybody." Fans can hear "Holy Hottie Toddy" right now at this link and pre-order or pre-save Never Too Late To Call ahead of its August 6th release via Thirty Tigers right here.

"Holy Hottie Toddy" comes on the heels of three other singles from Never Too Late To Call. "Two Tears Of Joy" is a slow-burn ode to life that finds Thorn naming all that he's thankful for without once coming across as cheesy or overly earnest. "It sounds a little corny to say this but I'm a 56-year-old man who has had a really blessed life," says Thorn about the inspiration behind the tune. "I'm really grateful and thankful for everything I have and for the people I've met. 'Two Tears of Joy' is another way of simply saying I'm grateful." The album's title track was written about Thorn's sister Deborah who passed away in 2018. "When I was on the road, I would want to talk to someone after my shows, after the members of my family were asleep," remembers Thorn. "My sister, a night owl, would often stay up all night. I'd call her and she would say, "It's never too late to call." "Here We Go" is about Deborah's twin sister, Charlotte, who she left behind when she died. "Charlotte is a devout Christian and firmly believes that they'll be reunited in a better place and will never be apart again," says Thorn. Like most of his songs, this one also has a broader meaning. "Anyone that has someone they love knows it's a joy and privilege," he says. "This song is about having somebody."

Thorn's music has always been a reflection of where he's been or where he is in his life. On Never Too Late To Call, we find mellower Paul Thorn. The wit and the-at times-humorous commentary on life's existential questions are in evidence, but here there is a peace about his life's journey. Or, to put it in his words, "I've been such a lucky boy. I'm crying two tears of joy."

In addition to releasing Never Too Late To Call, Thorn has announced a slew of new tour dates including stops in New York City, Chicago, and Atlanta. A list of upcoming dates can be found below and all scheduled (and rescheduled) dates and ticket information can be found at paulthorn.com/tour.

Catch Paul Thorn On Tour:

July 29 - Cincinnati, OH - Memorial Hall

July 30 - Marietta, OH - Adelphia Music Hall

Aug. 1 - Black Rock, NY - Sportsmens Park

Aug. 3 - New York, NY - City Winery

Aug. 4 - Shirley, MA - Bull Run

Aug. 5 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for the Arts

Aug. 6 - Pawling, NY - Daryl's House

Aug. 7 - Philadelphia, PA - City Winery

Aug. 8 - Lancaster, PA - Long's Park Amphitheater

Aug. 11 - Annapolis, MD - Ram's Head

Aug. 12 - Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere

Aug. 13 - Union Hall, VA - The Coves Amphitheater

Aug. 14 - Bristol, VA - Birthplace of Country Music Museum

Aug. 15 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle

Aug. 25 - Chicago, IL - City Winery

Aug. 26 - St. Louis, MO - Delmar Hall

Aug. 27 - Louisville, KY - Old Forester's Paristown Hall

Aug. 28 - Goshen, IN - Ignition Music Garage

Aug. 29 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark

Sept. 10 - Columbus, OH - Athenaeum Theatre

Sept. 11 - Jasper, IN - Astra Theatre

Sept. 12 - Kent, OH - Kent Stage

Sept. 14 - Boston, MA - City Winery

Sept. 16 - Millville, NJ - Levoy Theatre

Sept. 17 - Richmond, VA - Tin Pan

Sept. 19 - Wilkesboro, NC - MerleFest

Sept. 20 - Greenville, SC - Radio Room

Sept. 23 - Birmingham, Al - Lyric Theatre

Sept. 24 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse

Sept. 25 - McMinnville, TN - Cumberland Caverns Volcano Room

Oct. 7 - Little Rock, AR - Revolution Music Room

Oct. 9 - Weiner, AR - Arkansas Rice Festival

Oct. 15 - Baton Rouge, LA - Manship Theatre

Oct. 17 - Tomball, TX - Main Street Crossing (solo acoustic)

Oct. 18 - Tomball, TX - Main Street Crossing (solo acoustic)

Oct. 19 - Tomball, TX - Main Street Crossing (solo acoustic)

Oct. 21 - San Antonio, TX - Sam's Burger Joint

Oct. 22 - Greenville, TX - Texan Theater

Oct. 23 - Oklahoma City, OK - Tower Theatre

Nov. 3 - Sutter Creek, CA - Sutter Creek Theater

Nov. 4- Tuolumne, CA - Black Oak Casino

Nov. 5 - Petaluma, CA - Mystic Theatre

Nov. 6 - Berkeley, CA - Cornerstone

Nov. 7 - Felton, CA - Felton Music Hall

Nov. 9 - Portland, OR - Alberta Rose Theatre

Nov. 10 - Seattle, WA - Triple Door

Nov. 11 - Eugene, OR - Soreng Theater at The Hult Center

Nov. 12 - Grants Pass, OR - Rogue Theatre

Nov. 17 - Morro Bay, CA - The Siren

Dec. 4 - Sparta, NC - Muddy Creek Music Hall

Dec. 5 - Saluda, NC - The Purple Onion