Highway 79 is the tenth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Ne-Yo. It was released on July 10, 2026, through Compound Entertainment and HSG. It is his first album in almost four years since 2022's Self Explanatory.
Background and composition Highway 79 was recorded entirely in Nashville, Tennessee. On the Joe and Jada podcast in September 2025, Ne-Yo described the album as a fusion of his signature R&B sound with elements of country music. In an interview with iHeartRadio in March 2026 prior to the album's announcement, Ne-Yo further elaborated on the album's sound, saying that his source of inspiration for the project was "all the things" he admired about country music, but also remarked that explicitly calling it a country album would be "disrespectful [...] when I know for a fact that there are artists that eat, sleep, live, and breathe country music 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
Promotion The album's lead single, "Simple Things", was released on November 21, 2025. The second single, "Up Out & Gone", was released on March 27, 2026. The third single, "Ms. Tundra", was released in tandem with the album's announcement on May 22, 2026. "Thinking What I'm Thinking" was issued as the fourth single. The fifth "Dance Right Now" was unveiled alongside the album.
Critical reception
AllMusic's Andy Kellman wrote: "While nothing is truly substandard, not much sticks. Still, Ne-Yo sounds inspired and as if he's having fun a little outside his comfort zone."
Track listing
Charts + Chart performance for Highway 79 Chart (2026) Peakposition
References