This Week’s Backstage Country Host: Drew Baldridge
Representing his home state of Illinois, Drew Baldridge is the guest host on Backstage Country! Joining Elaina Smith, Baldridge will be playing the latest country music hits, reminiscing about his early days, and sharing the story of how he reclaimed his song that Luke Combs had recorded.
Drew Baldridge’s Memories from the Early Days
Smith and Baldridge took a trip down memory lane as they discussed his early career, particularly his hit song “She’s Somebody’s Daughter,” which was originally released in 2019. Baldridge explained, “It was on my old label. It was a different version. It was real upbeat, up tempo.” He then shared how he created a special wedding version of the song in 2021 for his wife to dance to with her father.
“I didn’t really think much about it. It was just her favorite song, and I wanted to do it for her and her father. I got this awesome video that I took a couple days before where they were dancing to it in the kitchen, which is just a really special moment that I’ll always have forever. I posted this song on social media on our honeymoon and one night I got almost 10 million views.”
Baldridge recalled how, with the song going viral, that he’s “going to get a record deal now.” He said he’s finally got to the point to take the chance and just go after it. Baldridge added, “Because what do I have to lose at this point? I always dreamed of being on the radio, always wanted to have a song on the radio, but this is my favorite song that I believe in the most, especially my wife’s favorite.” Chuckling, he said, “And my wife was just like, ‘I believe in you. Just don’t tell me what you’re spending.’ I said, ‘Okay, that works. That sounds like you going to Target. Don’t tell me what you’re spending.’”
Taking “Tough People” Back from Luke Combs
Baldridge shared that he received a text from Luke Combs expressing interest in recording “Tough People.” He recalled that it felt like “the best thing in the world,” but also “one of the hardest decisions ever.” At the time, Baldridge had “She’s Somebody’s Daughter,” so he let Combs go ahead and record “Tough People.” Fast forward, and while Baldridge’s song was climbing the charts, Combs still hadn’t released his version of “Tough People.”
He said, “[Combs] has a Father’s Day album come out. I’m like, ‘Where’s ‘Tough People?’ It’s not a Father’s Day song.’ Then, I started getting texts from everyone asking ‘Hey, what are you doing? What’s your next single?’” Eventually, Baldridge decided to reach out to Combs. “I called him and asked him if I could have it back. He said, ‘Dude, it’s your song’ and gave it back to me. “I hung up the phone and thought, ‘That was the stupidest decision I ever made in my life.’ But I believe in this song. And since then, now it’s crazy to think we’re top 20.”
For more on Drew Baldridge, including his music, official email list sign-up, original merchandise, and tour dates, visit his website here.
