How Joe Nichols Achieved Longevity in the Country Music Industry
Joe Nichols’s first hit, “Brokenheartsville” came out in 2003. Now that he’s gearing up for his eleventh album, Kelly Ford of Backstage Country asked him about having that kind of longevity in the country music industry.
Joe Nichols’s Secret to a Long Career
Nichols recalled the first few interviews he did when promoting “The Impossible” and “Brokenheartsville.” “I remember the question always coming up. ‘Where do you see yourself in five years?’ ‘What kind of trajectory do you see yourself on?’ and ‘What do you hope to accomplish?’ That kind of thing.” He admitted that he remembers that question a lot. “My answer was always, ‘I want to be doing this in 20 years and still getting paid for it,’ that was my honest answer. I love artists like George Strait, and Alan Jackson. I just wanted a career that meant something, and I wanted to do it for a long time.”
He also told Ford that having a long career meant you made an impact. “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t doing at least a little bit of what I was meant to be doing. So, I wouldn’t suggest this path to anybody because I’ve burnt it down and built it up so many times that it’s almost incredible to think about.”
Ford asked him what he thought accounted for his success since people have tried to do what he did but didn’t achieve the same results. Nichols said, “My honest answer is people around me that were willing to bet on me again and again. That’s when you surround yourself with great people and talented people. Things are going to rub off on you.”
Joe Nichols’s Secret to a Long Marriage
It seems Nichols doesn’t only have a knack on making his career last longer, he’s also enjoying a long marriage to his wife, Heather Singleton. He told Ford his song “Doin’ Life With You” reminds him of her. He admitted, “We’ve had a lot of really great times and a lot of difficult times over 17 years. Been married for 17 years. Can you believe that? I can’t believe it.”
He also shared that people were making bets during their wedding. “I can say with absolute certainty that 100% of the people that were at my wedding with her, that 100% of the people said, ‘This one will last a year.’” He added, “We’ve been up and down the highways. We’ve had really brutal, broken dreams and we’ve had the highs of highs and lows.”
And all of it, as Nichols believes, made for a great love story of 17 years and counting.
Stay updated with all of Joe Nichols’s activities by visiting his website at joenichols.com where you can also pre-save his latest album, Honky Tonks and Country Songs is available on October 25, 2024.
