Can Morgan Evans make gravy as good as Australian music icon Paul Kelly?
That’s the question everyone’s asking after the Newcastle, but Nashville-based, country music star decided to ring in the holiday season with his own cover of the classic track.
Originally written and performed by 17-time ARIA Award winner Kelly, How to Make Gravy became an instant Christmas masterpiece.
Told from the perspective of an inmate named Joe calling home to his brother Dan ahead of the holidays, it’s a moving story about family that is especially poignant for those absent from their hometowns during the festive period.
“Recording How To Make Gravy came with a weight and responsibility,” Evans said.
“It’s one of the greatest songs ever written.
“It’s not your typical Christmas song.
“But, it always hits me right in the guts.
“Anyone who’s ever spent Christmas away from home knows that feeling.
“I wanted to make a version in 2025 that honours Paul Kelly’s original, however brings a little country soul, texture and the emotion that comes with that.”
How to Make Gravy follows the success of Evans’ first new single in more than two years, Beer Back Home – from his forthcoming sophomore album Steel Town, due out on 20 March.
Currently, he’s continuing his globe-trekking pop-up shows, started last month in Newcastle.
He’ll also return to his hometown to headline Howlin Country on 14 February, before taking part in Meatstock 2026 at Toowoomba (10-11 April) and Gippsland (17-18 April).
His 2018 debut, Things That We Drink To, catapulted Evans into international acclaim, delivering his first-ever country radio No. 1 with the Platinum-certified Kiss Somebody and the Gold-certified fan favourite Day Drunk, while drawing praise from Rolling Stone, Billboard, PEOPLE and more.
In 2022, he headlined Australia’s biggest country music festival, CMC Rocks, and toured extensively across North America and Europe.
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