[1] It marked the debut release from Local Hay Records, a joint venture between Big Loud, Dallas Smith, and their partners.

[1] Jenna Weishar of Front Porch Music stated the song had a "rock-country flare", noting Austin's "smooth vocals" and adding that Chris Lane was a "perfect match for the duet" as their voices "elevate each other".

[4] Will Chernoff of Rhythm Changes said "Tailgate to Heaven" was "more interesting" than Austin's previous radio singles.

[5] "Tailgate to Heaven" reached a peak of number five on the Billboard Canada Country chart, surpassing Austin's previous career high of seven set by "What Do I Know" in 2019.

[11] The official music video for "Tailgate to Heaven" features both Austin and Lane and premiered on November 4, 2021.