In “Honky Tonk Degree,” rising country artist and Navy reservist Ed Earl blends service, storytelling, and a whole lot of heart.
A Country Artist Who Can Load a Torpedo
It’s not every day you meet a rising country artist who can also assemble a torpedo tube, but then again, Ed Earl isn’t your average Nashville newcomer.
A proud U.S. Navy Reserve Officer and neo-traditional country singer, Earl is honoring this Veterans Day with the release of his newest single, “Honky Tonk Degree” — a lively, boots-on-the-floor anthem about the kind of wisdom you won’t find in a textbook. The track drops November 13, right in time for the holiday — and you can pre-save the track here. “The Navy changed my life,” Ed says. “And this track, in a weird way, is about the kinds of lessons you learn when you’re all in — whether that’s on a submarine, in a dive bar, or anywhere life pushes you out of your comfort zone.”
“I stuffed a little electric guitar near the outboard of a torpedo tube and played it when I could,” Ed told me in an exclusive interview, “because it was quiet on Friday nights.”
Ed’s story starts in Texas and Santa Fe, New Mexico, raised on Merle Haggard, George Strait, and George Jones. But it was the Navy that gave him a global view. “My recruiter said, ‘Join the Navy, see the world, and he was right. I’ve been everywhere and forged amazing friendships.”
Enlisting straight out of high school in 2009, Ed served aboard the USS Pasadena as a Torpedoman’s Mate, later earning his submarine warfare qualification. Today, he holds the rank of Lieutenant (O-3) in the Navy Reserve. “The Navy taught me leadership, resilience, and the value of showing up for something bigger than yourself,” he says.
Making Music in the Margins
Still, music was always humming in the background — even on duty. “You can’t exactly bring a full guitar on a sub,” he admits. “But I had a green submarine logbook I used as a songwriting journal. It’s still with me. It’s the OG.” And when he couldn’t play, he was writing poems and lyrics in the logbook, which he still carries.
That creative instinct carried forward as he built his music career in Tennessee. Influenced by Brooks & Dunn, George Strait, and Alan Jackson, Ed proudly calls his sound “neo-traditional with an ’80s and ’90s backbone.” Pedal steel, fiddle, and storytelling are non-negotiables. “It always comes down to the stories. I want the listener to put themselves in the stories of my songs, and whenever they hear them, they’re reminded of another part of their life. I always wanted to do that specifically. And just play and sing.”
“I always wanted to do that specifically, to play and sing songs that told a story.”
A Veterans Day Anthem You Can Two-Step To
His latest single, “Honky Tonk Degree,” is Ed’s clearest statement yet, a funny, heartfelt, and sonically rooted in pure honky-tonk. The idea for the song came from a writing session with Alex Dooley the day before a scheduled studio recording. “We already had our songs picked out,” Ed recalls, “but I said, let’s try to beat what we’ve already got. And I threw out what I’d written: ‘I got my honky tonk degree in barstool chemistry, two-stepping PhD, professor of party, Friday night faculty.’ Dooley just said, ‘That’s the one.’
They finished the song in under an hour and recorded it the next day. “Fastest turnaround I’ve ever had” — and now it’s on 30+ stations before it even drops officially.
“Sometimes it comes in a flash. Those are the ones that stick with people.”
What Veterans Day Means to Him
For Ed Earl, Veterans Day isn’t just a date on the calendar or about the sales and savings deals — it’s a moment of deep reflection.
“It’s a chance to honor the people who’ve served — those who’ve put their lives on hold, or on the line, for something bigger than themselves,” he says. “Freedom’s not free. It’s all paid for in blood. I respect all veterans, from all walks of life.”
Ed also has a message for service members with creative ambitions: don’t let the uniform silence your artistic side. “Take those sanity breaks,” he says. “Even if it’s five minutes to jot down a song lyric or a poem — use that time. If you’re a young writer in the military, write about your day. Just keep at it, and don’t give up. The opportunities will come.”
He also took time to shine a light on CreatiVets, a nonprofit in Nashville helping veterans heal through art.
“CreatiVets is doing amazing things for veterans dealing with PTSD and trauma. Richard Casper, the founder, has built something powerful — they completely immerse veterans in art. Every spring, they run songwriting classes through Vanderbilt, and they’ve got this great network of veteran creatives. I reached out because I just wanted to write with other vets. It’s a fantastic program, and they deserve the shoutout.”
A Career Built on Character
Looking ahead, Ed’s gearing up for the release of his third EP — titled simply 3 — and continuing to tour, co-write, and connect with fans across the country. “My first EP was about finding my voice. The second was refining it. This one? It’s confident. It’s who I am.”
Between Navy drills, dad duty, and playing honky-tonks, Ed juggles it all with the same discipline he learned in the service. “It’s not glamorous,” he says. “But it’s real. And I think that resonates with people.”
So this Veterans Day, whether you’re raising a glass or spinning some steel guitar, give “Honky Tonk Degree” a listen — and remember the sailor who wrote it with a pen, a dream, and a submarine logbook.
Again, if you want to support Ed Earl, consider pre-saving “Honky Tonk Degree,” here.
Story Continues
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