EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Ty Herndon Chats Backstage at CMA Fest

CMA Fest is always a whirlwind of incredible performances and small snatches of time with incredible artists and backstage in the media room here at Music and Tour News we were lucky to grab a few minutes with country artist Ty Herndon to discuss his music, charitable work and more;

So, first off we saw that you recently hosted the Concert for Love and Acceptance which looked really cool, what was that like for you?

Yes, really cool. We’re moving to a little bit of a bigger venue next year and I think Luke Combs is taking over The Wild Horse – Hey Luke, we’ll do a Christmas show for you haha.

You’re doing a lot of really good work with the shows, how did all that come about for you?

Well, I let the world know a little more about me in 2014 and I came out. It’s so weird because I tell the kids that I counsel that you don’t need a big announcement but for me, I had a whole career at this point so it was important for me for my blood and bones to move forward in a more authentic way and I’m sober but I’m fun haha. I’ve done a great journey with my own mental health and this brand was created to bring allies and LGBTQ+ community together and to be a shining example of normal. You know, what is normal? I have met some eccentric people and they’re beautifully normal for themselves. For me, being normal is being 100% yourself, being loved and accepted but that starts with you. It starts with self-image and confidence and a lot of people in the LGBTQ+ community have been kind of beaten down. So it’s really important to see there are allies and you can have your own tribe of people who think you’re the cat’s meow. There are a lot of opinions in this world but the strongest opinion that I have ever developed in my life is because I’m a confident, strong, smart individual and I know where I’m going, I know who I am and that took burning down a lot of houses for me to get there. What somebody thinks of me is none of my business because I know my path. I’m just a country boy just the write the music and I never asked for this platform but it became natural to me because I stay true to who I am as a country artist. I write songs about my experience and I just turned 61 years old, and I am 25 when I sit down to write a song, I am a 9-year-old when I go to speak as a keynote speaker. I am many things and those hats are authentic and true and I’m getting married in August to an incredible person and I didn’t know if I could ever be this healthy and feel that way. I am looking forward to our foundation growing and growing; we’ve raised over $1.7M so far and there’s a need for it to make music and art the centre of it all; how fun is that?

Would you ever look at bringing this foundation and these events to the UK?

Of course, we’re looking at partnering up with a lot of people to tour this. We’d be able to bring in some of your amazing artists in the UK and just make it fun. If you’re coming to this house, you’re welcome, you’re safe and you’re loved. That is the message/

You can definitely hear that in the music too. that message of unity too

Country music has always been about real-life situations, real-life stories and to bring that to my music now is cool and we’re having a lot of fun.

And with the new album ‘ Jacob’. do you have a favourite song off that? Is there one that sticks out for you?

Oh my gosh, It’s such a tapestry of emotions. I started out with just fun and I wouldn’t have known any of this stuff if I hadn’t gne through some things and ‘Dents on a Chevy’ with Terri Clark that’s just a fun friends song. These are the happy things and then I get into some mental health stuff and then later on I get into you know “I’ve never had my Alanis Morissette moment” a you know, a kinda screw you song and dig a little bit so we did a Latin feel on ‘Say It For You’ with Wendy Moten who just came in a d destroyed it in a great way, it was so beautiful. It’s super fun, and I don’t know what I’ll do next.

And on the back of that record, are you currently writing for the next album?

Not even thinking about it. I’m trying to give my brain a break from all that. If I have a great song idea I just write them down cos you will forget it no matter how good you are and then I just put it in that pocket and then I go back to it when it’s time.

How has this record been translating live with CMA Fest and all of that?

This is my 27th CMA Fest, it’s fun you know just seeing friends and I’ve got some signings too.

What’s been your personal highlight from CMA Fest over the years?

That’s a hard question, wow. I think having a number 1 record and going out singing it on a huge stage has happened twice for me and hearing the crowd singing louder than you and the sound system that’s what it’s all about. It’s super fun.

So, speaking about playing live do you have any tour dates lined up?

We do for the summer and the fall and in the fall we’re taking for Love and Acceptance on the road and the podcast is going to TV production.

One last question for you; Do you have a message for your UK fans?

You know I’ve only done music in the UK a couple of times so my message is “by demand bring me back haha”.

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