Chasing the Dream: Drew Baldridge’s Country Music Journey

Country music fans are in for a treat this week as Drew Baldridge steps in as the guest co-host on Backstage Country, joining Elaina Smith to share with listeners a glimpse of his friendship with Lainey Wilson and how “crazy” yet “humbling” his life is now. 

Smith asked Baldridge about his friendship with fellow country music star Lainey Wilson. He shared, “I've been in town for 13 years, and I created some long-time lifelong friends. Lainey being one of them. I remember me and Lainey going to watch Luke Combs, and me meeting Luke for the first time. He has one of those voices you don't forget about the first time you hear it.”

Baldridge continued, “Lainey had a song with him called 'Sheriff You Want To' on his first project, and she's like, ‘You got to hear him.’ I was like, ‘All right, let’s go down.’ So, we went to watch, and I remember walking down the sidewalk and hearing his voice from outside. I thought, ‘Man, this guy's got a crazy voice, crazy big voice.’” 

He shared that they went in, and it was just the two of them along with four people watching Luke Combs and hanging out afterward. He also mentioned that now, artists reach out to him asking for advice on what they should do. While it’s easier than ever to build a social media presence anywhere in the world, he pointed out, “but you can’t build relationships [online].” 

He emphasized, “It's so important for you to have relationships in your life, no matter what business you're in, no matter what you're going through. But when you come to Nashville, the friends that you start with are the friends that you'll have for eternity when it comes to music.” 

Smith asked Baldridge if he ever has moments where he stops and reflects on just how crazy everything is. Baldridge chuckled, “Yeah, it's so crazy, and I think it's also so humbling. I know Lainey feels that way, too. You've been here for so long and grind and all of a sudden it just works, and you remember the times that it didn't.”  

He added, “So I think it's a great way to stay grounded when it takes a long time to get somewhere, and Lainey is one of the most grounded people ever, and Jelly [Roll], too. You know, we were in his bar just this past week, and it was his grand opening. I was sitting next to him, and I was like, 'Dude, how crazy is it you own a bar?' He was like, ‘I was in prison for ten years. How crazy is it that I was in prison for ten years? Now the people that are in prison can see that this is attainable.’ And I think that is the coolest thing ever.” 

Backstage Country is your source for all the latest happenings in country music, and with Drew Baldridge as co-host, this week’s episodes are not to be missed.