You recently released your new single, ‘Christmas in the Car” that you also co-wrote. Tell us about the writing process and where the idea came from. I’ve always wanted to do a Christmas album and I figured I needed to write my own original song for it. It’s a very personal song for me that tells the story of my childhood Christmas experience. We would get up every Christmas, open presents, and then drive 7 hours to Kansas to visit my grandparents and cousins.
What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician? Keep being you, don’t try to be anyone else.
What song that you have recorded means the most to you and why? My song “Promise To Love Her” because I wrote it for my wife as a wedding gift. It wasn’t supposed to be anything more than that, but since then it’s been streamed over 130 Million times, and the music video debuted on CMT and made the #1 Spot on the CMT Music 12-Pack Countdown.
At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people take away from your songs? I hope people can relate to it in some way or another. I want them to know that there’s a lot of other people out there that feel like they do and go through the same ups and downs in life that they do. And I want my music to comfort them or be an escape for them. Did you always want to be a musician or was there a specific moment that something happened that made you think "this is what I want to do with my life." If so, what was it? Yes I have, but when I was 16 I came I from football practice one day and told my mom “I think I want to sing as a career.” Through what I’m sure was shock and dread in her mind, she said “OK, let’s figure out how that’s going to work.” My parents have supported me my whole career and my mom is a member of my team and books most of my shows.
What is your favorite dish to cook? I love to grill steaks, but if we are talking in the kitchen, homemade meatloaf with mashed potatoes, green beans, and carrots. What is your favorite sandwich? Best sandwich ever is leftover smoked turkey from Thanksgiving/Christmas, spread a little cranberry sauce on the bread, throw in a slice of cheese, then spread a little bit of leftover gravy in the middle and enjoy! What is the one place you have always dreamed of dining? Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy. Massimo Bottura may be the best chef in the world, and that restaurant has consistently been ranked as the Top Restaurant in the world. Or near the top.
What’s your favorite food on the road? The band and I love to try different BBQ places. We just see what’s nearby when lunch time comes and try out the local spot!