Quick Mcgraw Country Singer Took Fast Track To Popularity
Tim McGraw might not yet enjoy the superstar status of Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson or Vince Gill, but he’s become a major player in Music City.
The Louisiana-born country singer’s recently released third album, “All I Want,” just hit No. 1 on Billboard’s country albums chart (and No. 9 on the pop albums chart), propelled by the hit single “I Like It, I Love It.” His last album, “Not A Moment Too Soon,” sold more than 5 million copies and topped Billboard’s Country Album chart for 26 weeks. McGraw was also the recipient of the best new vocalist and album of the year awards at the 30th annual Academy of Country Music Awards last May.
“I expected a long ride when I first came to Nashville in 1989,” the 28-year-old singer says. “I jumped in, head over heels, right at the beginning, and I guess I just got lucky a lot quicker than I first thought I would.
“You know, I’d still be laughing if you told me back then that I’d sign a major record label deal and sell over 5 million copies of my second album. But I’ve never changed my attitude about the music. I just tried to get better. Now with success, you develop some confidence and it makes it a lot easier.”
The past year has been a whirlwind for McGraw. Constant touring as one of the top-drawing country performers on the concert trail, promotional appearances and studio work have kept his dance card full. The singer employs 40 people and recently started his own music publishing company.
“Life is different for me than it was a year ago, ” McGraw notes. “There’s a lot more people working for me, and when they work for you they treat you a little better.” He laughs.
“That’s probably the cool thing about all this. I’ve got good people working all around me. They’re people who I went to college with, my old college roommates and fraternity brothers. I’ve got old friends who were with me before I had a record deal. So I’m really fortunate to have some really great people.”
The theme of responsibility comes up whenever McGraw talks about the business he has staffed with so many close friends. Whatever the rewards of his burgeoning country career, McGraw’s Deep South upbringing has taught him to value the loyalty of those who helped put him on top.
“When you have 40 people who work for you, and those 40 people have wives and kids, then it becomes a whole support system,” he says. “So, yeah, there’s a certain amount of responsibility and that helps keep you even, that allows you to grow up. If you care about people and care about what you’re doing - especially if you care about friends who are working for you - then you have to take a certain responsibility and a professional attitude toward things.”
Even though he’s a one man corporation, McGraw insists he’s really just a regular Joe. He travels without a bodyguard and, for now, claims he can still maintain a private life.
“When I put a baseball cap on and go out someplace, it’s rare that I get recognized,” he says with a laugh. “Without the cowboy hat, it takes a little bit away from it.”
The full impact of his popularity has yet to take hold on the singer. When he passes by a newsstand, McGraw doesn’t find himself stopping to read the magazines that have his picture on the cover. “I see that stuff,” he says, “and I don’t think it sinks in. When I see myself on the cover of a magazine in a grocery store, I just think that’s another guy on the cover there. I’m not tuned into it, or I don’t tap into it.”
McGraw chooses to live a quiet life, residing in rural Williams County, Tenn., far away from the of the star-struck world of Nashville. When he has a few days off, he loves to ride one of his two Harleys on the mountain roads which criss-cross the local terrain. McGraw feels the seclusion helps keep his success in perspective.
“In this business”, he says, “it’s real easy to get Tim McGraw, or the perceived entity, or the can of beans you’re trying to sell, confused. And when that happens you kind of lose your way. I don’t intend for that ever to happen.”