During an interview on Sirius XM Satellite Radio, aired on April 13, 2019 Nelson announced the release of the album. The material consists mostly of original writings by producer Buddy Cannon and Nelson. Meanwhile, the title track was written by Sonny Throckmorton.[4] Nelson decided to record "Ride Me Back Home" for his own advocacy for horses. On Cannon's suggestion, a revisited version of "Stay Away from Lonely Places" from 1972's The Words Don't Fit the Picture was included.[5]
The first single, its title track, was released on April 26, 2019. Ride Me Back Home completed the "Mortality Trilogy" of Nelson, complementing God's Problem Child and Last Man Standing.[6]
Ride Me Back Home debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's Top Country Albums with 19,000 album equivalent units.[7] The album has sold 58,900 copies in the United States as of March 2020.[8]