Every artist has their own journey to success, but we must admit, Cole Swindell seems to have the most unique.
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After starting his career selling merchandise on the road with Luke Bryan, Swindell has flourished into an artist all his own. Celebrating his 10th #1 song as an artist this week, Swindell has clearly come a long way.
“I just wanted to have fun, but I was stuck selling t-shirts,” Swindell told Audacy’s Katie Neal while reminiscing of his early days of selling merch on the road with Luke. “I was straight out of college [and] used to being on stage, not selling t-shirts.”
“Having said that, I always give credit to that job and that situation [because] when everything happened for me, I felt like I had been there, I had seen it,” he shared. “I didn’t realize what I was learning at the time. From the merch, to dealing with fans and just seeing Luke with radio... It was something I always hoped I’d get a chance to do because I think I got to watch one of the best.”
Aside from the success Cole has experienced as an artist, he is also one of the most well-known songwriters in Nashville. Recognized for penning numerous #1s for some of Country music’s biggest artists, like Luke Bryan and Thomas Rhett, Swindell is no stranger to working alongside some of Nashville’s biggest stars.
While artists like Luke and Thomas speak friendship more than fame to the 38-year-old, he admits he isn’t immune to being starstruck by other celebs.
“I got to play golf with Jordan Spieth, that was pretty cool,” Cole shared when asked about the last time he was starstruck. “Justin Thomas, Spieth and [Rickie] Fowler. Getting to play around with them, as a golf fan, that’s one of the coolest things that I’ve ever got to do.”
Although a fun experience, it doesn’t sound like Country music will be losing Swindell to golf any time soon as he cringed when Neal asked how he played that day.
“I don’t get paid to play golf, thank God!” Cole laughed.
Check out Cole’s entire interview with Katie about and be sure to catch the Superstar Power Hour every week from 2PM to 3PM with Katie Neal.
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