Tyler Hubbard joins Today’s Country Radio with Kelleigh Bannen to chat about his seamless and effortless transition from Florida Georgia Line member to being a solo artist. They discuss the release of his self-titled debut album, writing his deeply personal song “Miss My Daddy,” and more.
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Tyler Hubbard Tells Apple Music About Making a Seamless Transition from Florida Georgia Line to a Solo Career.
I’ve felt that, and I’ve actually talked about it with some friends, but that, to me, is just confirmation that I’m doing the right thing. I’m moving in the right direction. I have to give most of that credit to my team. I started putting them together or, I should say, God was putting people in my life around the time that I decided to go solo. Maybe I could do this, maybe I’ll make an album, and maybe I’ll get a record deal, as a solo artist, and pursue this thing. But I felt really unsupported and unequipped, and I think that was one of my biggest fears was, “Well, I can’t do it by myself.”
Tyler Hubbard Tells Apple Music About Redefining Success as a Solo Artist
I have redefined what success means. If I’m having fun doing what I’m doing, which I am, and my music is bringing people healing and joy then I feel like, that’s success. So, I’d love to play stadiums and I’d love to do everything that we’ve done in the past, but at the same time, I’ve also got this really cool perspective right now because I’ve been here before. I feel like I’ve slowed down to enjoy the process and really lean in the gratitude of the journey. As opposed to always just trying to see how fast you can get to the top.
Tyler Hubbard Tells Apple Music About Being Categorized as “Suburban Dad Country”
KELLEIGH BANNEN: There was this article that came out in The Tennessean a couple weeks ago. It was Marcus Dowling, and he was sort of describing what he thinks is a category, a subcategory that’s called “suburban dad country.” I think Russell was like, “Zaddy country.” And so, obviously, you are one of the people who has had success making your real life, as a dad, as a spouse, part of the music that you’re making. But what do you think, how does that term hit you?
TYLER HUBBARD: Funny. I don’t know. I think it’s hilarious because everybody that used to be up and coming, whatever we were at the time, bro country or whatever they wanted to call us. Now, we’re suburban dad country. But I love it and it’s amazing. Honestly, I think that just goes to show that we really do take our influence and our inspiration from our life. It’s valid and it’s cool. It tells me that people are listening to our music and looking at our lives.
Tyler Hubbard Tells Apple Music About Writing “Miss My Daddy”
I wrote that song, sitting on a bus, by myself as a therapeutic experience for me. Just to express my emotions and what I was feeling and get it out on the guitar. I had a friend that lost her dad earlier that week. So, I was just really kind of hurting for her and then it was bringing back emotions for me of missing my dad and losing him when I was 20. I was having a heavy night. I was alone, which is pretty rare, and I was in quarantine with COVID, so I had spent some time alone. It was just me and my guitar. That’s where that song was born… I thought that song would never see the light of day.
