'Fallout 76' Country Roads Cover Artist: Who Sings That Catchy Tune?

Many of the mysteries laid out in the original ‘Fallout 76’ teaser trailer have already been explained. We know where the game takes place, when it fits into Fallout lore, and how the new online gameplay will work. But there’s still one thing we don’t know: Who sings that catchy cover of John Denver’s “Country Roads” in the trailer?

Thankfully, we may get an official answer in a few short weeks.

On July 4, the cover of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” heard in the Fallout 76 trailer will be sold on iTunes. All the proceeds will go towards Habitat for Humanity, the international non-profit that builds affordable housing for millions of people. There is no word on how much the song will cost to download.

But in the meantime, I decided to do a little internet sleuthing and see what I could come up with. A quick internet search reveals that no one seems to know. That’s a shame, because it’s catchy as hell, and it’s been stuck in my head for the past week.

The only real clue we have is the answer Bethesda gave to Polygon, describing the song as an “Inkspots-inspired cover”. That’s probably referring to The Ink Spots, the 1940s pop group whose tracks are prominently featured in Fallout and Fallout 3.

Nukapedia, a wiki dedicated to the Fallout franchise, cites Bill Danoff as the artist behind the Fallout 76 version of “Country Roads.” At first glance, that makes sense since Danoff was one of the co-writers behind the original Denver classic.

However, that’s also doubtful, considering that the singer in the Fallout 76 trailer doesn’t sound at all like Bill Danoff. Denver played “Country Roads” as a folk tune with airy supporting vocals and a layered medley of sometimes competing instruments. Danoff’s take is much more like a traditional country song, with strong, clear voices and heavier bass.

The Fallout 76 cover, on the other hand, sounds almost like a gospel song with its unified harmony between all the singers and instruments, and its steady beat. You know, like an Ink Spots song.

Hopefully we’ll find out who these mystery musicians are on July 4. Inverse also reached out to Bethesda for comment, and we’ll update this article if they give us an answer.

Fallout 76 launches on November 14, 2018.