As Justin Moore nears what would be the 12th #1 song of his career with “You, Me and Whiskey,” featuring Priscilla Block, the Country music veteran is reflecting on one of the songs that got away.
LISTEN NOW: Justin Moore join Katie Neal for the Superstar Power Hour
The Nashville music scene is its own chaotic world as songwriters attempt to get their songs picked up by artists that will take it to its highest potential. On the other side, artists are always on the hunt for their next big hit, and with everyone pulling from the same pool, things are bound to get competitive.
During a recent interview with Katie Neal, Justin shared he’s experienced the many different emotions of securing a song, from “stealing” a hit from another artist, to losing one.
“As artists we all have stories of being on the right end and the wrong end of that whole deal so it’s kinda funny to remember that and kinda pick at each other of that.”
He continued to reflect on one of the biggest hits he’s lost to another artist after having the song on hold for nearly a year. “I had ‘Drinkin’ Class’ on hold for a long time,” Justin recalled. “I had it on hold for like, a year… it was between that song and another song and I thought they were really similar and I picked the other song."
“Not even an hour after we take it off hold, I hear that Lee [Brice] is cuttin’ it and I’m like, ‘that’s not a good sign’ I’m like, ‘Daggumit,’” Justin laughed.
Moore was also quick to share he’s been on the other side of a ‘daggumit’ moment with a song he experienced tremendous success with titled, “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away.”
Sharing the song was previously recorded by Rhett Akins a couple years earlier, but never released, Moore hopped on the opportunity to make it the big hit he knew it could be. “I heard it and was like, ‘I can’t believe nobody’s put this song out. It’s so obvious to me.’ At the time, the song was 10 years old — how has no one cut this? What in the world? Am I just crazy?’”
Turns out he was just crazy good at recognizing the songs potential — something his fellow artists admitted they were jealous of after they passed on the song. “I’ll never forget, I saw Luke Bryan… he goes, ‘I’m not happy with you right now.’ and I’m like, ‘Oh God, what did I do?’”
“He goes, ‘Dallas [Davidson]’ — one of the songwriters, a mutual friend of ours — ‘has been telling me to cut this song for years!’ And I’m like, ‘Well, yeah, you dumba**! What are you doin’? How did you miss that?’ It had become a big hit at that point and he’s like ‘I don’t know.’”
Justin is hoping to celebrate another win with his song, “You, Me and Whiskey,” featuring Country newcomer Priscilla Block. While the song would be a 12th #1 for Moore, it would be a first for Block. “Fingers crossed. I’m really excited about it,” Justin said of the song's approach the top spot. “I’m glad the song’s done so well, especially getting to know Priscilla over the last couple of years… and becoming friends with her.”
He continued, “when you ask somebody to be a part of something, you hope it succeeds… hopefully it’ll be #12 for me, and her first. I want it more for her than I want it for myself.”
Hear more from Justin as he talks his biggest hits, family life and the craziest thing that’s ever happened while he was on stage during his interview with Katie Neal above.
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