12 October 2026

Award winning actor and songwriter James Woods has released his third album, “The Killer’s Wife”, a 10 track concept record inspired by real events from his early years as an actor. Produced by Woods alongside four time Grammy Award winner Shooter Jennings, the album explores themes of good, evil and morality through a connected narrative. Woods describes the project as an “epic saga”, although he has asked listeners to treat the story as fiction to protect the privacy of the woman who inspired it. The album’s first single, “The Hearts Of Men”, received its premiere through GodTube. “The Killer’s Wife” explores a story inspired by real events Best known for his extensive acting career, which includes four Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe and two Academy Award nominations, Woods has increasingly turned his attention towards songwriting and recording. “The Killer’s Wife” draws on experiences from his early acting career, when he spent considerable time travelling for work. Rather than presenting those events as a straightforward autobiographical account, Woods has developed them into a fictionalised musical narrative. Reflecting on the album’s central themes, Woods said: “I have been graced with the good fortune to have lived on this earth for a long and fruitful time. I have witnessed wars, terrorism, corruption, and hate. “I have also seen men and women sacrifice their lives standing for the most honorable values mankind has to offer.” “‘The Killer’s Wife’ is a musical parable into the dark heart of Evil, and the glorious triumph of Good.” Shooter Jennings and Bob Wayne collaborate on new album The project continues Woods’ creative partnership with Shooter Jennings and musician Bob Wayne. Woods contributes lyrics, vocals and production, while Wayne provides music and vocals. Jennings oversees production and contributes to the music, with distribution handled by Select O Hits. The collaboration between Woods and Jennings began when Jennings asked the actor during a dinner conversation whether he had ever written song lyrics. That exchange helped launch Woods’ recording career and established a partnership that has now continued across three albums. Jennings believes the latest record represents a further development in their approach to musical storytelling. He said: “One of my favorite things about working with James Woods is how cinematic his writing is.” “With ‘The Killer’s Wife’, he really found such a unique way to unfold this mini-opera, and paired with Bob’s amazing musical structures, this album explores so much sonic space that we hadn’t in the beginning.” Jennings also highlighted the increasing presence of Woods’ own vocals throughout the project and singled out “Man on the Radio” as a particularly ambitious recording. “Through our three-album arc, we’ve been able to set and expand new musical boundaries, all while sticking to the storytelling that makes a hallmark James Woods album,” he explained. James Woods develops his independent music career Away from his acting work, Woods has established his own record label, Breakheart Music, as the foundation for his recording career. The independent operation allows him to release music and communicate with listeners directly, rather than relying entirely on traditional record label structures. According to information accompanying the album announcement, Woods’ previous releases have reached the Top 10 of Apple Music’s Country albums chart at various points. His music catalogue has also generated several thousand physical sales across CD and vinyl formats, alongside streaming activity on major digital platforms. The label forms part of what Woods describes as the second act of his creative career, with songwriting providing another outlet for his interest in character, narrative and dramatic storytelling. From Hollywood acting to country music storytelling Woods’ move into music has been shaped by the narrative techniques that have characterised much of his screen career. His work with Jennings and Wayne places an emphasis on developing stories through lyrics and musical arrangements, with “The Killer’s Wife” taking that approach further through its interconnected concept. The new album also reflects a growing emphasis on Woods as a vocalist, alongside his established role as the principal lyricist. Beyond recording, Woods maintains direct contact with his audience through his X account, which has more than five million followers, and his newsletter, “The Road Back”, which has attracted tens of thousands of subscribers.