Now the country singer is about to headline their home turf.
For a seasoned superstar who has 17 country airplay No.
Right now, however, theres a third career-defining show thats not so celebratory.
Credit: BBR Music Group
At times that made you a polarizing figure in the genre.
Do you feel more understood now?I think so.
We were just doing what we wanted to do: If it was a hip-hop song, okay.
If it was a rock & roll song, okay.
There were no rules.
Now you hear guys talking fast and trying these little raps on songs.
Its cool if people like what youre doing enough to want to emulate it.
When you get into the music business, everyone asks you: What makes you different?
Why should I sign you?
I like keeping people guessing.
How did you fix that with this record?It wasnt so much about trying to change the sound.
Some of the biggest songs weve had in my career were songs that werent really in my comfort zone.
They were hit songs, but they werent mega songs.
I was more conscious of that on this record.
Songs I probably would have cut on the last couple of records I didnt cut for this record.
Whats one of the new songs youre proudest of?Rearview Town.
Its a dark, haunting song that just sounds badass.
Do you consider Vegas a part of that?To an extent.
I dont know if you’re free to lump that in with everything else.
I dont know if we were ready to do that.
And to those people, I say, F- you.
Did you feel an obligation to say something?Yeah.
You couldve heard a damn pin drop in that arena, which is not normal.
Usually people are yelling and screaming.
It was quiet as a damn church.
I decided to address it right off the bat.
I wanted to let people know that by playing, we werent trying to be disrespectful.
I felt like it wasnt appropriate for me to have my face on every news channel.
Its not something I choose to keep reliving over and over.
Im not trying to push my own agenda.
I have my opinions, but what the hell do I know?
It must be hard to navigate what to do with your platform.
Its not my place.
I have my theories on what I think could help, but Im not a pro.
They sit down for hours and hours, and that starts to become actual reality.
Get out and throw a ball, you know what Im saying?
I think thats part of the problem, but I dont know.
I hadnt lived enough to know what the hell I was singing about.
Maybe Ill still be rapping at 50.
I aint much of a damn rapper anyway.
I just play one on the record here and there.
A lot of times you mold yourself into being something that you think somebody else wants to hey them.
Youre never going to be happy doing that.
Theres nothing special about that song, theres no bells and whistles on it.
Just a great lyric, a great melody honest and to the point.
