Playing more than 150 shows a year, San Antonio native Mike Ryan has developed a passionate fan base in the Lone Star State and beyond by headlining revered venues like Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth and Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa. His 2014 album, Bad Reputation, yielded three No. 1 singles on the Texas Music chart and helped him cop the 2015 New Male Vocalist of the Year at the Texas Regional Radio Awards. Last week, Mike released the first single, “New Hometown,” from his upcoming third studio album, which he hopes to drop in the early 2017.
Family Band-ing
“Music was always a big part of my family. My parents were in church choir every Sunday, so I got plenty of experience singing. I was in choirs in middle school and high school. My grandfather was a band director and he put the first instruments in my hands and taught me a few things. He really lit the fire in me and showed me the way music can affect people—it can put a smile on your face. You can speak to people through music. My father was in a lot of off-Broadway musicals, so I remember watching my dad onstage when I was little and it was inspiring. Music has always been in my blood.”
Crocodile Rockin’
“I was a child of the 1990s so that era of country music really resonated with me. Every night before going to sleep, I was listening to county radio. I liked rock, too, but I was able to identify more with country music. When I started writing and playing, country music was the natural fit. I feel most comfortable in that genre. But I still love classic rock. In fact, I saw Elton John perform in Vegas a couple of weeks ago. It was amazing. The best concert I’ve ever been to. He’s almost 70 and has more energy than any show you’ve seen. It was inspiring.”
Open Mic “I went to college at the University of North Texas [Benton, Texas] and had just started playing guitar and went around town playing open mics. Within 30 miles of where I lived, there were literally hundreds of open mics. I just went out and started playing. After a couple years of acoustics shows I put a band together and hit the road. I decided in college that I wasn’t better at anything than music—and nothing was more fun that music. I finished up school in 2009 and hit the road and have been doing music full-time since. It’s been a good ride so far—we’ve already had three No. 1s on the Texas Music chart and I’m working on my third studio album now.”
Big Gigs
“We’ve played several headlining shows at Billy Bob’s, so that’s always a bucket-list item and Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa was another one—it was so cool to play on Bob Wills’ home turf. We’ve definitely seen the crowds at my shows growing over the last few years, but I try to put on the best show possible, whether it’s for 10 people or 10,000. I think I heard it from Jack Ingram first, ‘10 or 10,000, give them hell.’ That’s what we try to do. Find someone to connect with, that’s what it’s all about.”
Album Outlook
“We’ve got five or six songs recorded already for the new album, and we’ll probably have about five or six more that we’ll cut and record for the rest of the album. We’re looking at releasing the full-length album in early 2017. I’m hoping the new album is the next step in an upward trajectory.”
New Hometown
“We just put the new single, ‘New Hometown,’ out last week and it’s had a great response online. We’ve been playing the song live for several months now, and it’s the same story there. It’s really cool to put it in people’s hands and get their reactions. I wrote it with Chris DuBois and Brent Anderson, and it just kind of tells the story of a guy who’s trying to figure out how to get by after a breakup and how those small towns feel even smaller after a breakup. I think it’s a song that most folks can probably relate to in some way.”
Jim Casey talks with new artist Tucker Beathard about discovering a desire to express himself through music, learning about putting on a good tour by observing Dierks Bentley and his other tourmates, the massive success of his single “Rock On” and more.
Speaker 1: “It’s the Nash Country Daily’s Writer’s room where we talk about all things country. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @nashcountrydaily. Now, here’s today’s host, Jim Casey.”
Jim Casey: “Welcome to another episode of the Writer’s Room podcast. I’m your host Jim Casey. Our guest today is Tucker Beathard, who’s debut single Rock On is currently top five and climbing on country radio.”
Tucker Beathard: “(singing)”
Jim Casey: “I was at one of your shows about a month ago here in town. You mentioned that you’re kind of an introvert. Is it hard for you to talk about yourself and do these kind of media rounds?”
Tucker Beathard: “Not really. If the questions are asked, I can explain. If someone’s like, “Tell me about yourself,” it’s like, Tucker, I don’t really know what you want. I don’t know. I just, I don’t know.”
Jim Casey: “Tucker, tell me about yourself. No, I’m just kidding. I’ve got some questions for you. You’re twenty-one, right?”
Tucker Beathard: “Yep.”
Jim Casey: “Your brother’s twenty-two. He plays quarterback for Iowa, CJ. Growing up, did you guys get into any playground fights about your last name?”
Tucker Beathard: “No, not really. It’s more now.”
Jim Casey: “Oh, it’s happening now. You have to explain yourself.”
Tucker Beathard: “Yeah, nowadays more people are like mispronouncing or give you crap for it. Every sports team we played on, if they called our name on the loudspeaker, majority of them would get it wrong every time.”
Jim Casey: “Every time?”
Tucker Beathard: “Yeah.”
Jim Casey: “You played a lot of sports growing up right?”
Tucker Beathard: “I did.”
Jim Casey: “What were you? Baseball player, basketball, football?”
Tucker Beathard: “Yeah, football and baseball mainly. Yeah, good up until high school.”
Jim Casey: “Now, I know the guys listening can’t hear us, but behind us we got a picture of you up there just rocking out on stage. It looks like you got the biceps working there. You still hitting the gym or is that all from guitar work?”
Tucker Beathard: “Nah, that’s PhotoShop right there.”
Jim Casey: “That’s it?”
Tucker Beathard: “Nah, I try to. My schedule’s pretty crazy. We’re closing on like close like two hundred shows like this year or whatever. Every little down time you have, working out is really not what comes to mind or how you want to spend it. I do every now and then.”
Jim Casey: “How do you like to spend your off days? I know that you’re one of the few people who was actually born and raised in Nashville. You’ve seen the inner workings of the city. Most people who are trying to attain this dream are transfers from other places. You were born and raised here.”
Tucker Beathard: “Yeah, born and raised. I don’t know, now since doing so much touring and what not, really I just got my own place with like four other buddies. We just kind of decompress or I do. Most of them, still on the road with, but I know me personally, I just kind of like to lock myself away in my room and just decompress.”
Jim Casey: “You got a little hangout around town where you like to go grab a bite or maybe a beer or something like that?”
Tucker Beathard: “Yeah, I like the Red Door down there and Losers and Winners or Winners. Whatever one’s right across from them.”
Jim Casey: “Pretty crazy. Still gets wild down there on Fridays and Saturdays.”
Tucker Beathard: “Yeah, it is. It’s a cool place.”
Jim Casey: “Your dad, Casey Beathard, who’s penned number one songs for everybody from Kenny Chesney to Darius Rucker, Tracy Lawrence. At what point did you decide that you wanted to make music your livelihood?”
Tucker Beathard: “I always did music my whole life, played in bands and played the drums, mainly. I think when I started playing guitar and writing songs, just to let out personal feelings just on my own, just never really thought of it as like, “This is what I want to do.” It just kind of felt so good and so right to the point where I couldn’t do anything else. I didn’t want to do anything else, you know what I mean? You get bitten by a music bug, they say. Good luck trying to get out of that.”
Jim Casey: “You having more fun doing this then let’s say going to college right now?”
Tucker Beathard: “That’s for sure. I’d rather sit here and talk to you than sit in math class, for sure.”
Jim Casey: “I understand that. Now, growing up, with your dad, you were exposed to all sorts of great music I imagine. Who were some of your influences?”
Tucker Beathard: “I listened to different stuff than my dad. My dad, I always like classic rock, like seventies rock. I remember riding around in the car and a song would be playing. He’d be like, “That’s Pink Floyd.” Or, “That’s Joe Walsh.” Or whatever. I was like, “Wow, that’s really cool. I want to be able to know every person on this station.” That’s all I listen to. Actually a lot of different things. I just listen, I just like, I’m a fan of music and songs.”
Jim Casey: “It translates when you see your live show on stage. You can hear that rock aspect of your influences.”
Tucker Beathard: “Yeah, no doubt. It definitely is probably the strongest influence genre on me.”
Jim Casey: “Get up there and rock your guitar.”
Tucker Beathard: “Yeah, it’s fun. It’s fun.”
Jim Casey: “You ever hop back there on the drums?”
Tucker Beathard: “Every now and then I used to. I still am trying to incorporate it again. Yeah, I like to rock out on drums sometimes.”
Jim Casey: “Your debut single, Rock On is top five and still climbing. You might get to that number one spot. You going to be able to tell your dad, “Hey, this song writing thing’s not so hard. Debut single. Top five already.” I know he co-wrote the song with you, but is it ever a little in your face or are you all congratulating each other?”
Tucker Beathard: “Nah, we like to mess around sometimes and rip each other. When it comes down to it, it’s a pretty, we both recognize a special thing to have my first debut single and be able to share this experience with one that you wrote with your dad, which is pretty cool.”
Jim Casey: “When did you guys start writing together? Do you remember? I know you’re only twenty-one, but as a younger kid, just sitting in a room with your dad and trying to pen songs?”
Tucker Beathard: “Yeah, it was kind of always, there was fifteen, when I was fifteen, when I was really started digging in to songwriting. It was kind of just really informal way of writing. I’d just be up in my room working on something and he’d be like, “What is that?” That’s something I was working on. Then he would gradually chip away at it just from being around, living together. Nowadays, you’ve got to actually book a certain time to, “Hey, Dad, when can I fit you in my schedule?” Like that, which is a little different. That’s how it works now. Either way, it’s fun to write.”
Jim Casey: “Yeah. Your new EP, Fight Like Hell, drops October 7. You wrote all six songs on it. Everyone’s probably heard Rock On. I’ve got a chance to listen to the EP. Another song that jumped out at me was Momma and Jesus.”
Tucker Beathard: “Oh, yeah.”
Jim Casey: “Yeah. It just sounds like a great collection of work from you.”
Tucker Beathard: “Thank you.”
Jim Casey: “Just really early on, what do you want your fans to take away from the EP?”
Tucker Beathard: “Maybe, overall kind of to just have a better understanding of who I am as an artist. It’s kind of tough to be represented by one song no matter who you are. Being able to hear different, getting more of a better picture of who I am as an artist, should show through pretty clear after they hear these songs.”
Jim Casey: “The new EP comes out October 7. I imagine that you’re either thinking about going into the studio and working on your debut album. You’ve probably been in a little bit. You’ve got some more coming up. You working on that?”
Tucker Beathard: “Yeah, trying to find the time. Yeah. We’re going to, instead I’ve been writing for so long, we’ve got a lot of songs narrowed down and figure out which ones we want to weed through and which ones make it and which ones don’t. It’s just a work in progress. Hopefully be done as soon as possible.”
Jim Casey: “You co-wrote every song on the EP. How important was it for you to write those songs and have every one of them be a cut of yours?”
Tucker Beathard: “Really, it kind of just, the whole reason I got into songwriting was just because it was my therapy and it felt good to me. Singing a song that you didn’t write. I don’t know what emotion this person felt when he wrote it. How am I supposed to do that too? It doesn’t feel write to me. Songwriting is not just a job for me. It’s my identity and my only way to speak. It’d just feel like acting any other way.”
Jim Casey: “When you’re up on stage, I’ve heard people tell me that when they sing one of their songs, some people see it play out like a short movie in their head. When you’re singing one of your songs, what does your mind do?”
Tucker Beathard: “It kind of just let that emotion that you had when you wrote it. You know when you’re playing a certain song where it came from within. It kind of just triggers that emotion again. Can’t help it but express that when you play it.”
Jim Casey: “You wrapped the Somewhere on a Beach tour with Dierks Bentley recently. You’re kicking off your own headlining tour, Rock On College Tour on October 13, hitting a lot of venues in the heartland, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana. What’d you learn from Dierks on his tour that you’re going to bring with you on yours?”
Tucker Beathard: “Just kind of being around that professionalism and how he treats his crew and everything and just when you surround yourself with great people you naturally, that rubs off on you. Not only him but Randy Houser was out there and Cam was out there. We just got to soak up and just see how everything at that level was.”
Jim Casey: “That’s an eclectic group of country stars because you’ve got Dierks who’s from Arizona, Cam from California, Randy from Mississippi. You’re a Tennessee boy. You’ve got all those different sounds coming together on one tour.”
Tucker Beathard: “Yeah, it was a fun, lot of fun. They’re great, great guys. Cam’s the nicest and coolest girl you’ll meet. Randy and Dierks are the nicest guys you’ll meet. I’m not just saying that. That’s the truth. It’s awesome.”
Jim Casey: “Dierks is a bit of a prankster. Did he welcome you to the tour in any hilarious way?”
Tucker Beathard: “He didn’t. I actually talked to him after we did our last show that tour. I was waiting for him to pull something on me when I was playing. I was scared. He didn’t. He was saying, “Dude, shush, I don’t want to mess with what you’re doing.” Randy Houser’s drummer pulled one on our drummer for sure. He cut up his drums and put a bunch of flowers, pots and big huge plants surrounded by him in the middle of our last song. He’s like playing in the rainforest. It was pretty funny.”
Jim Casey: “Yeah, that’s good stuff. I know you’re going out with Aubrie Sellers on your tour. She was in here a couple of weeks ago. She’s really excited about it. She also mentioned that she was a bit of an introvert. We’ve got these two up and coming stars, both have famous parents, both introverted. You’re both out there on stage trying to make a name for yourself. It should be a really entertaining tour for us.”
Tucker Beathard: “It’ll be awesome. Couldn’t think of or couldn’t want anybody else to be out on tour with. We’ll have a good time. I’m a huge fan of Aubrie’s. I think we’re a lot alike in a lot of ways. It’ll be fun to spend time with their people and everything.”
Jim Casey: “Then in December you’re headed over to Europe to do a string of dates over there. You’ve been over once before, right?”
Tucker Beathard: “Mm-hmm (affirmative).”
Jim Casey: “I’ve been told that those crowds are really receptive, especially to singer songwriters. What was your first take on your tour over there?”
Tucker Beathard: “It was like the coolest experience. It was just really wild. Right when I got back, I was like, “Wait, I got to go back over there soon, as soon as possible.” Luckily I get to. We worked out to where I get to go back so much early, or this soon since last time. I’m just looking forward to that. It’s always a cool experience.”
Jim Casey: “You’ve got a busy fall and winter coming up. Get some rest. We know your EP drops on October 7th. Make sure you pick up a copy of that. Check out tuckerbeathard.com for his tour dates. Tucker, thakns for stopping by.”
Tucker Beathard: “Yeah, thank you. Thanks for having me.”
It was a dream come true for Eric Paslay when he was personally invited by Garth Brooks to open up his World Tour with Trisha Yearwood in Charleston, W. Va., this past weekend (Oct. 23), followed by a performance of his new single, “Angels in This Town,” on the Today Show’s Citi concert series Wednesday morning (Oct. 26).
“This past weekend was one for the books,” said Eric in a statement. “I got to hang with and open for a musical hero of mine. I can’t thank Garth Brooks enough for the incredible experience. No one does it better than him and it was a real honor.”
Following his epic Garth moment, Eric—who is currently headlining his own Angels in This Town Tour with special guests Adam Sanders and Courtney Cole—headed over to New York for his Today Show appearance.
“I believe—with my faith and stories I’ve heard—I believe in miracles happening but it’s also great to go out and thank everyday angels for doing miracles in each others lives,” Eric told hosts Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee about the song.
Watch the clip of Eric performing “Angels in This Town” on the Today Show.
A photo posted by Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) on Oct 25, 2016 at 8:35pm PDT
In an Instagram video—posted shortly after the end of the show—Carrie said, “You guys were beyond anything I could’ve imagined tonight would be. So amazing. Thank you.”
Following the CMA Awards show, Carrie will be finishing up her Storyteller Tour in November and is then headed down under to tour with Keith Urban in Australia and New Zealand. Check out the show dates listed below.
Remaining Storyteller Tour Shows
Oct. 28
Uncasville, CT
Mohegan Sun Arena
Nov. 6
Hamilton, ON
FirstOntario Centre
Nov. 9
Rockford, IL
BMO Harris Bank Center
Nov. 11
Evansville, IN
Ford Center
Nov. 13
Memphis, TN
FedExForum
Nov. 14
Birmingham, AL
Legacy Arena at The BJCC
Nov. 16
Tampa, FL
Amalie Arena
Nov. 17
Sunrise, FL
BB&T Center
Nov. 22
Wichita, KS
INTRUST Bank Arena
Nov. 23
Oklahoma City, OK
Chesapeake Energy Arena
Nov. 26
Las Vegas, NV
T-Mobile Arena
Nov. 28
West Valley City, UT
Maverik Center
Keith Urban’s Ripcord World Tour dates in New Zealand and Australia featuring Carrie Underwood
Dierks Bentley and his “Different for Girls” duet partner, Elle King, became part of CBS This Morning’s Something in Common video series Wednesday morning (Oct. 26).
The series brings together two people, who share a bond, for an intimate conversation. In the series, Dierks and the “Ex’s & Oh’s” singer take CBS This Morning along as they prepare for their appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, which marked Elle’s first time on the Opry circle. The cross-genre friends also sat down in an interview setting to learn more about each other.
Elle: As the pop princess that you are.
Dierks: Yes?
Elle: How does it feel to be branching out with someone as cool and rock-n-roll as me?
Dierks: Yeah, I’m definitely not pop.
Elle: Do you want to be pop?
Dierks: Not really, No. I’ve never wanted to crossover. I like this genre.
Elle: Do you want to do a duet with me on my next album?
Dierks: I would. You’re about the only person that I want to do anything with.
Elle: Really?
Dierks: Yeah, for real [high five].
That’s one album we’ll be waiting on. We’ll have to stay tuned for another Dierks and Elle collaboration.
For now, check out their conversation on Something in Common:
I gotta take a little time A little time to think things over I better read between the lines In case I need it when I’m older
He may be a little older at 48 years old, but that hasn’t stopped Kenny Chesney from getting creative with a hidden track on his 17th studio album, Cosmic Hallelujah, which drops tomorrow (Oct. 28).
On track No. 12—which isn’t referenced on the album’s track listing or liner notes—Kenny covers “I Want to Know What Love Is,” a single from Foreigner’s 1984 album, Agent Provocateur. Written and composed by Foreigner’s Mick Jones, the tune was the band’s biggest hit, reaching No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart in February 1985.
Nash Country Daily got a sneak listen to the hidden track, and while it won’t ever be mistaken for Foreigner’s original, Kenny’s laid-back vocals and the frolicking guitars more than hold their own, providing a treat-worthy capper to the album that Kenny fans will surely dig.
The boys from LOCASH, Chris Lucas and Preston Brust, were in Cleveland last night (Oct. 26) to perform the national anthem before Game 2 of the World Series between the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs.
Chris Lucas goes yard during the Celebrity Softball Game
Both Chris and Preston are longtime baseball fans who grew up playing the sport. Earlier this summer during a sit-down with Nash Country Daily, the boys discussed their love of the game before playing in the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game that raised $200,000 for cancer research.
The duo recently topped Billboard’s Country Airplay chart with “I Know Somebody.”
Check out their performance of the national anthem below with a snippet of their rehearsal.
Breakout sibling duo High Valley is steaming up the country charts with their bluegrass-infused debut single, “Make You Mine,” which is currently sitting in the Top 25 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
The Canadian-born brothers, Brad and Curtis Rempel, headlined their Make You Mine Tour over the summer and are currently on the road with Martina McBride as part of her Love Unleashed Tour as they gear up for the release of their major-label debut album, Dear Life, on Nov. 18.
Before you pick up the highly anticipated new album, Nash Country Daily has an exclusive first listen of the album’s title track.
“The idea for this song and ultimately the name of this album came from my wife,” says Brad. “She was talking about our boys, and how quickly they are growing up and how sometimes it feels like we are just hanging on for dear life. I immediately grabbed onto the idea and am really proud of how the song turned out and I love that she was part of the process.”
“I really love the tempo and drive in this song and feel like it truly speaks to everyone,” adds Curtis. “We all have that letter to life floating around in our heads and we want to leave our mark.”
Dear Life drops on Nov. 18, but you can check out the song with the same name right here on Nash Country Daily.
The CMA Awards on Nov. 2 will be the biggest in the show’s 50-year history, with more performers than ever before, including 12 additional acts announced today (Oct. 26): Dwight Yoakam, Jason Aldean, Chris Stapleton, Charlie Daniels, Clint Black, Ricky Skaggs, Roy Clark, Jennifer Nettles, Martina McBride, Thomas Rhett, Elle King and Pentatonix. In addition, Randy Travis will be part of the celebration.
The artists announced today join previously announced performers Alabama, Kelsea Ballerini, Bentley, Garth Brooks with Trisha Yearwood, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Paisley, Charley Pride, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban.
The 50th annual CMA Awards will be hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood and broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
After besting hundreds of other contestants in a four-month-long competition, Todd O’Neill was named the Nash Next 2016 Challenge champion last night (Oct. 25) at Nashville’s Mercy Lounge.
With judges Kix Brooks, Jay DeMarcus, Scott Borchetta and Danielle Bradbery on hand to crown the champion, the 10 Nash Next finalists were tasked with one final challenge: a live performance in front of the capacity crowd.
After the three-hour showcase that included 10 stellar performances—as well as a set from American Idol winner Trent Harmon—the judges deliberated backstage before making their announcement: Todd O’Neill was the victor. And to the victor go the spoils, which includes receiving national radio airplay on Cumulus Media radio stations, a recording contract with Big Machine Label Group and having an original song produced by Jay DeMarcus. As a surprise addition to the grand prize package, Country Inns & Suites presented Todd with a cash prize of $5,000.
“The competition was so stiff last night,” says Todd to Nash Country Daily during an early morning sit-down the day after the show. “I feel so blessed to have won—it really hasn’t set in yet. It was surreal to be sitting on the panel with Scott Borchetta last night, signing my record contract. After the show, I turned my phone back on and it was just fired up with messages and calls from friends and family congratulating me. Everything was [streamed] live last night, so they could see it all on the web and Twitter. When they announced my name, I almost hit the floor.”
Get to Know Todd O’Neill, Nash Next 2016 Challenge Champion
NCD: How did you hear about the Nash Next 2016 Challenge?
Scott Borchetta, Todd O’Neill and Mike McVay, senior VP of Cumulus programming
Todd: It was a godsend. Within 24 hours of it being announced, three people had emailed me about the competition. One was a program director in Lafayette [Louisiana], one runs a venue where I play in New Orleans and one was an ex-girlfriend who is an attorney in Nashville. Within 24 hours they had all contacted me. I just felt like I had to do it because it was such an opportunity. After I won the regional in Lafayette, I still really didn’t think I had a chance, but then I got a call from a buddy of mine in Nashville and he had heard a snippet of my song on the radio and that I was one of the 10 finalists. Unbelievable.
Were you nervous yesterday during the finals?
I’m a pretty laid-back guy normally, but I was shaking in my boots yesterday. I don’t really get nervous—I used to be in an ’80s cover band and we dressed up, so I don’t get embarrassed or nervous—but yesterday was crazy. There was so much talent in the competition. Any of the other nine finalists could have won.
Are you ready for all the spoils that go along with winning this competition?
I’ve been working for something like this for 15 years. I dream big and I don’t want to sound greedy, but I want to keep going—tour the world, sell out arenas, make it happen. I know I’m a hard worker so winning this championship can be the start of all that. I’m so thankful to my band and everyone who’s supported me on this journey. I really am blessed and I’m ready to get to work.
How did you get started in music?
I grew up way out in the country in Louisiana, so we really didn’t have TV, but we had record players in every room in the house, so music was so influential to me. All genres. I have pictures of me playing by the fireplace as a kid using one of the fireplace tools as a guitar, but I really got started around 17 when I jumped in with bands and started to sing. And then I became a roadie to get to hang around more. From there, I started my own band called Big Cat Daddy.
At what age did you realize you wanted to make music your career?
At 17 when I started Big Cat Daddy, I knew I loved the stage and I always knew how much I loved music and singing, but it was probably at about age 20 when I knew I didn’t want to do anything else. I didn’t want a plan B. The stage was just home to me and I loved the people and making music.
Do you remember the first song you sang in front of a crowd?
“Here’s a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)” by Travis Tritt. Let me tell you, I love music, I love motorcycles, I love Travis Tritt. He was my favorite back in the day. He was a big influence of mine. After I sang that, it became an addiction to perform.
Who are some of your other musical influences?
I have so many. I guess if I have to narrow it down, I would say my older influences are Merle Haggard, George Jones and Otis Redding and the newer artists who have influenced me are Chris Stapelton and Marc Broussard.
How did you celebrate your big win last night?
We went out and had a celebratory drink at one of my favorite spots in Nashville, the DawgHouse Saloon. It’s so laid-back. But after I got back to Country Inns & Suites, I laid down for a minute, just to take it all in and reflect. And then we went back and watched the video of the performances last night. When they announced my name as the winner, I almost hit the floor, again.
“I went to college at the University of North Texas [Benton, Texas] and had just started playing guitar and went around town playing open mics. Within 30 miles of where I lived, there were literally hundreds of open mics. I just went out and started playing. After a couple years of acoustics shows I put a band together and hit the road. I decided in college that I wasn’t better at anything than music—and nothing was more fun that music. I finished up school in 2009 and hit the road and have been doing music full-time since. It’s been a good ride so far—we’ve already had three No. 1s on the Texas Music chart and I’m working on my third studio album now.”
“This past weekend was one for the books,” said 
The Canadian-born brothers, Brad and Curtis Rempel, 
