#13: John Morgan

John Morgan is the kind of country artist you root for the moment you hear his music—or shake his hand. A humble hitmaker with a knack for lyrics that hit home, John built his Nashville resume writing for stars like Jason Aldean (“The Trouble With A Heartbreak”). Now, he’s stepping into the spotlight with his debut album Carolina Rain (out April 25).We caught up with John backstage at The Intersection in Grand Rapids on March 27 while he was on tour with Chase Matthew. Over the course of 20 honest and insightful minutes, we talked about everything from the stories behind his singles “Kid Myself” and “Crickets,” to co-writing on Jason Aldean’s new record, to finding his tribe of songwriters—and how he balances it all with being a parent.We’ve said this before, but we really mean it this time: this might be the best episode we’ve ever recorded. John Morgan is our new favorite country artist, and after this, he just might be yours too.