An Introspective Americana Album Exploring Family, Memory, and Growth.
[WATERFORD, WI]: Kenny Hotopp, a Midwest-based Americana singer-songwriter, draws from authentic, lived experience on his new album “The South Looks Good on You,” out January 30, 2026, on all major streaming platforms. This introspective release marks a significant step forward in his career with elevated production.
Listen Here: https://open.spotify.com/album/3Nrvf0xON0e2XpQtzhOQlQ
Hotopp’s creative journey began with a country band named Kenny and the Night Owls. Following the sudden passing of a band member, a shift in the band’s dynamic prompted him to pursue a solo path as a singer-songwriter. On this new path, his sound evolved from country to Americana through collaborations with professional musicians from Nashville.
Photo Credit: Kevin Viol
The album’s title track “The South Looks Good on You” documents the special moment when Hotopp’s daughter moved away to college in Mississippi. This song initially began as a poem and later transitioned into a song, recalling tears of goodbye and the realization that his daughter was thriving in her new chapter.
“She came home… looking healthy, having fun… and I just said, ‘The South looks good on you.’” – Kenny Hotopp.
From a wider lens, the album explores themes of family, love, reflection, and loss. The songs are drawn from small yet meaningful moments of his life, transforming Hotopp’s journal entries into music. The musician also shares memory-based stories to reflect his gratitude towards his father, starting with a previously released song, “American Legion Days,” written in remembrance of his time in the Air Force.
This album further reflects Hotopp’s artistic growth through collaborations with Nashville musicians who built full arrangements around his original songs. As the project came together, it evolved into a thematic calling card shaped by Hotopp’s time in Nashville, documenting both his musical and personal journey. What began as a creative process ultimately took on deeper personal meaning, capturing a pivotal chapter in both his artistic and personal evolution. The artist felt empowered and fully focused on songwriting and singing, almost as if he were performing karaoke to his original songs.
Photo Credit: Kevin Viol
Credits
All songs written by: Kenny Hotopp
Vocals: Kenny Hotopp
Electric Guitar: Chris Leuzinger & Austin Crum
Acoustic guitar: Austin Crum & Adam Knight
Bass Guitar: Duncan Mullins & Aaron Dingus
Steel Guitar: Tony Dingus
Fiddle: David Yates
Keys: Adam Knight
Drums: Johnathan Presnell
Sax: Tim Kinchen
Harmonica: Randy Miller
Background Vocals: Victoria Bowlin
Recorded at: Hilltop Studios / Nashville, TN
Mixed & Mastered: Adam Knight
Album Photos: Kevin Viol
About Kenny Hotopp
Based in Waterford, Wisconsin, Kenny Hotopp writes and sings soul-felt songs about family, love, memory, and the lifelong search for peace. His music blends genres from Americana and folk to blues and country but always centers on authenticity, heart, and lived experience. Every track is a story, every lyric an invitation to connect.
Connect with Kenny Hotopp
Website: https://kennyhotopp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenny_hotopp/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kenny.hotopp