It’s humbling. I’m very, very grateful for
that, but I’ve also been able to tour with
some amazing people that have been very
helpful outside of how to deal with this
stuff. I’ve been out on two tours with Kip
Moore, and and I’ve learned so much from
Kip. Me and Kip started out the same way.
Kip’s first two singles went number one,
and we’re kind in that same spot. And he
was the perfect guy to go to and be like
“Hey man, how’d you handle this? and “Did
it change your writing?” And you know Kip
was up for awards and stuff and Kip’s like
“Man you don’t get into music for awards;
you get into music because you love music
and you love writing songs. If you never
forget that you’ll never have a problem.”
And I just kinda try to stay in that kind of
vein. It’s amazing to get seen for something
you’ve created. I love that. Don’t get me
wrong, like I’m very, very honored to be
nominated for an ACM and win the iHeart
New Country Artist of the Year, but I think
for me it’s just kind of like man, just stay in
your lane, stay doing this while you got it
and write songs the way that you’ve always
written songs and just keep making music
the way you make music and kind of let
the chips fall where they may so i mean it’s
awesome but I’m very grateful that I have
some really level headed guys that have
been in my past that have kind of helped
me where I’m at.
What would you like to say to your fans
who will be at Knox?
I can say right now that we’re going to be
fired up. We’re coming off a Nashville show
so we’re getting to play a hometown show
and sleep in our own bed and just wake
up the next day and take the short drive
down so we’re going to be well rested
and we’re going to bring it. This is the first
time I’ve really played in Alabama since
playing those first couple shows so a lot has
happened and I would
love to see a few of those
fans that made it to that
first pelham’s show show
up and I think that would
be pretty cool. It’s going
to be a fun show and
I’m looking forward to
seeing them.
The lineup looks great. I
toured with Chase Rice,
so it will be good to see
him again and I haven’t
really seen him too much
other than like a few
award shows since we
were touring so I think it
will be a fun show. ✽
12
May 2019
INSIGHT