July 31, 2025 • 41 mins
Today, we embark on a profound exploration of the remarkable ascent of William Maddox Batson, an artist whose trajectory boldly challenges conventional paradigms within the music industry. His journey epitomizes the intersection of passion, resilience, and the serendipitous nature of modern fame, as he navigates the complexities of stardom at an extraordinarily young age. We delve into the intricacies of his background, from his unexpected entry into music following a significant athletic setback to his rapid rise fueled by viral moments on platforms like TikTok. Throughout our discussion, we aim to uncover the essential elements that contribute to his burgeoning success, including the authenticity that resonates with audiences and the strategic collaborations that have propelled his career. As we dissect Maddox's story, we invite our listeners to reflect on the evolving landscape of the music industry and the implications of authenticity in forging meaningful connections with fans.
Who is
At just 15 years old, Maddox Batson is already making history. From battling a rare disease to gracing the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, his journey is anything but ordinary.
Signed to Warner Music before he even had a driver’s license, Maddox has written with industry heavyweights and built a loyal fanbase with raw, heartfelt songs that carry the weight of someone far beyond his years.
In this episode, we trace the rise of a prodigy: how illness gave him purpose, how TikTok and Nashville embraced him, and why Maddox Batson is more than just a viral name—he’s a powerful new voice in country and pop.
Get ready to meet the kid who’s rewriting the rules of what it means to grow up in music.
The podcast embarks on an extensive exploration of the extraordinary ascent of William Maddox Batson, a prodigious talent whose career trajectory defies conventional paradigms within the music industry. With a mere 15 years of life experience, Maddox's journey from a promising athlete to a blossoming musician is painted vividly throughout the discussion. The hosts delve deep into the serendipitous nature of his rise to prominence, attributing it to a combination of personal resilience, unyielding passion, and a fortunate dash of viral success. The narrative unfolds to reveal the formative experiences that shaped his artistic identity, particularly the transformative health challenges that redirected his ambitions from sports to music. The episode meticulously details Maddox's unique musical influences, ranging from traditional country roots to contemporary pop sensibilities, underscoring his ability to connect with a diverse audience through genre-blending artistry. As the podcast progresses, it becomes evident that the core of Maddox's appeal lies in his authenticity and relatability, qualities that resonate deeply with listeners in today's digital era.
Takeaways:
- The podcast explores the meteoric rise of the artist William Maddox Batson, highlighting his unconventional journey into the music industry.
- Maddox's story emphasizes the importance of passion and resilience, showcasing how unexpected challenges can lead to new opportunities.
- The episode discusses the significant impact of social media, particularly TikTok, in modern talent discovery and artist development.
- Listeners gain insights into the evolving nature of the music industry, where authenticity and relatability play a crucial role in an artist's success.
- The podcast illustrates how Maddox navigates the complexities of fame, with a focus on maintaining a genuine sense of self amid rapid success.
- It reveals the vital role of family support in Maddox's life, underscoring the importance of having a strong foundation during challenging times.
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Warner Records
- Prosper
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hey there, learners.
Welcome back to the deep dive.
This is where we take yourcuriosity, dig into some incredible
sources and really unpack themost important bits of knowledge
and insight for you.
Think of us as your shortcutto being genuinely well informed.
Yeah, exactly.
With plenty of aha moments andhopefully some surprising facts along
the way.
That's the goal.
(00:21):
Today we're doing a deep diveinto the fascinating and honestly
meteoric rise of an artist whois, well, he's kind of shattering
expectations.
We're definitely defying thetraditional path in the music industry.
You might know his name fromviral social media clips, maybe chart
topping songs, or even somerecent pretty history making performances.
Right.
And this is a story that trulyunderscores how passion, resilience,
(00:44):
and, yeah, maybe a dash ofviral luck.
A big dash, maybe.
Ha.
Yeah, maybe a big dash.
How that can just propelsomeone into the global spotlight
and at such an incrediblyyoung age.
Seriously young indeed.
So our mission for this deepdive is really to explore the journey
of William Maddox Matson.
He's a young guy whosetrajectory, well, challenges a lot
(01:05):
of conventional ideas aboutmusic industry success.
We're going to uncover hissurprising roots, his unique, almost
accidental entry into music.
Right, Very much so.
And the significant milestoneshe's already hit before he's even
old enough to, like, get afull driver's license on his own.
It's wild.
And we'll look at what trulydrives him, what keeps him grounded
amidst this, you know,whirlwind of sudden fame.
(01:28):
So what does this all mean for you?
Listening.
Well, as we unpack Maddox'sstory, you'll get some real insight
into how modern.
Artists are actually breakingthrough, often bypassing those traditional
gatekeepers, you know, Totally.
You'll see the immense powerof just being authentic, how that
builds a connection.
With an audience and howunexpected twists and turns.
I mean, even really profoundadversity can end up defining a career
(01:51):
in ways nobody could possibly foresee.
Yeah, we'll explore the veryreal challenges and the triumphs
too, of someone so youngnavigating all the complexities of
fame while, you know, tryingto maintain a genuine sense of self.
It's a lot to handle.
Okay, let's unpack this.
Let's start with thefundamental question that anchors
our whole deep dive.
(02:11):
Who exactly is William Maddox Batson?
Right.
The basics.
Okay, so born December 13, 2009.
That means he's set to turn 16at the end of this year, 2025.
Which is already prettyremarkable given everything he's
done.
It really is.
He entered the World inHermitage, Tennessee, which, you
know, is just a stone's throwfrom Nashville's country music heartland.
(02:34):
Close to the action.
Exactly.
His family later moved toBirmingham, Alabama, but then made
a really significant return.
To Nashville, placing himfirmly back in the epicenter of the
music industry.
Right when things startedtaking off.
Precisely.
That geographic journey itselfkind of tells a story, doesn't it?
Puts him right where the musicscene thrives.
It does.
And his musical identity isjust as intriguing.
(02:57):
Absolutely.
Maddox doesn't fit neatly intojust one box.
While his primary genres are,you know, country, rock and pop.
A bit of everything.
Yeah.
He really showcases this genrebending appeal that connects with
an incredibly broad audience.
And this isn't just about,like, style preference.
No, no.
It feels like a prettystrategic but also authentic reflection
(03:18):
of all his diverse influences.
It lets him bridge g differenttypes of listeners.
And he's not just a singer, right?
Not at all.
He's a multi instrumentalist.
Proficient on vocals,obviously, but also guitar, piano,
and even the mandolin.
Mandolin.
That's interesting.
Maybe a nod to some early influences.
Could be.
Maybe that family bluegrassband connection.
We'll talk about.
(03:38):
His journey into the public eye.
Feels incredibly recent.
I mean, really just startingproperly in 2023.
So active from 2023 to now.
Yeah.
And the speed of his ascent isreally underscored by his label affiliations.
He signed with Prosper andWarner Records, major labels.
And getting those deals at anage when most kids are just focused
on high school, that'ssomething else.
(04:00):
It's exceedingly rare.
It really speaks volumes aboutthe industry's belief in his potential.
Getting behind a minor likethat so strongly.
Okay, so now that we have akind of foundational understanding
of who he is, let's dive intothat origin story.
Yeah, the fascinating part,because it's really.
Not your typical path tostardom if it.
It highlights how these lifedetours can sometimes lead you to
(04:23):
the most incredible.
Places, often by completelyunforeseen routes.
Totally unexpected.
And what's so interesting hereis how often we see these pivotal
life changes emerge, not fromsome grand plan, but from, you know,
unexpected adversity.
Which makes you think, how dida pretty significant health setback
become not just a creativeoutlet, but the actual catalyst for
(04:45):
a professional music career?
For Maddox, it's a great question.
Well, his musical journey, itactually started quite early, even
before that big pivot point.
Right.
He didn't just pick up aguitar after the injury.
No.
He began with piano lessonsaround seven years old, and he kept
that up for about six years.
That's serious commitment fora young kid.
It is, Especially when youconsider his other passions at the
(05:06):
time.
And music was definitely inhis blood.
His father had a strongmusical background.
Played in church and a familybluegrass band.
Right.
Yeah.
So that upbringing undeniablyinstilled a deep respect for music
in Maddox, even if bluegrasswasn't exactly, you know, his thing
initially.
Yeah.
There's this great anecdotehis dad would encourage him to keep
(05:28):
practicing guitar, sayingsomething like, trust me, Maddox,
just keep practicing.
The girls will love it.
Classic dad advice.
Totally.
And Mannix's initial thought?
Very teenage.
He'd apparently say, nah, bro,they're going to love basketball
even more.
Which tells you a lot aboutwhere his head was at back then.
Sports were everything.
Exactly.
It's crucial to remember thateven with that early exposure and
(05:50):
his family's influence, musicwasn't the main dream.
Not at all.
So the shift, when it came,was really dramatic and completely
unpredicted.
His athletic career was reallytaking off.
But then the summer of 2022,this unforeseen obstacle just hit
him hard.
The Osgood Schlatter diagnosis.
Yeah.
And his right knee.
(06:11):
And this wasn't just someminor thing.
The specialist they sawapparently commented it was the worst
case he's ever seen.
Wow.
Imagine hearing that as ayoung athlete.
Devastating.
Absolutely.
And it had this profoundimpact on his dreams because basketball
and baseball were, in his ownwords, his life.
That's what he wanted to do overall.
(06:31):
And he was good, right?
Not just playing for fun.
Oh, yeah.
He said he was very decent atbasketball, averaging around 35 points
a game for, like, two years straight.
35 points a game.
Okay.
So that really puts the shiftinto perspective from being this
elite young athlete.
To suddenly being sidelined.
His athletic dreams justseemed shattered overnight.
(06:51):
It wasn't just physical.
It must have been a hugeidentity crisis for him.
Definitely.
And when we connect this tothe bigger picture, know, human resilience,
it powerfully underscores howpassion, when one path is just slammed
shut, finds another way out.
Exactly.
It gets redirected and findsnew, maybe even equally powerful
outlets.
That abrupt end to his sportspursuits left a huge void.
(07:14):
But critically, it alsocreated this blank canvas, Right.
This unexpected period ofdowntime, which allowed.
A new form of expression tokind of emerge and fill that space.
It really begs the question,how does someone so young navigate
such a profound loss and thenfind a completely new direction?
(07:34):
And that's where the TikTokcatalyst comes in.
Really feels like a mother'sintuition kind of moment.
How so?
Well, after the diagnosis,Maddox found himself, maybe for the
first time ever, with nothingto do for an entire summer.
A huge contrast to his usualpacked travel sports schedule, I
bet.
Yeah.
So during this period offorced idleness, he and his dad started
(07:57):
going live on TikTok, almostjust for something to do.
And here's the crucial part.
He gives all the credit forthis idea to his mom.
Ah, interesting.
Yeah, she was the one whoinitiated it, apparently saying something
like, guys, just go live on TikTok.
See what happens.
And boy, did something happen, huh?
Yeah, what happened next wastruly explosive.
Just a testament to theunpredictable nature of modern virality.
(08:19):
So what was the spark, the viral.
Moment that changed everythingwas this spontaneous cover of Dancing
in the sky by Sam Barber.
Okay, I know that song.
He posted it in September2023, and it just blew up over a
million views almost overnight.
Wow.
Turning a casual pastime intothis unexpected sensation.
(08:39):
Exactly.
You know, this moment reallyhighlights the huge role of serendipity
in modern talent discovery.
What stands out to me is howquickly this went from just messing
around to a serious opportunity.
It was lightning fast.
Yeah.
And it's thanks to platformslike tikt.
Unlike the traditionalgatekeepers, you know, A and R execs,
radio programmers who might.
(08:59):
Take years to notice someone, right.
TikTok's algorithm, itprioritizes genuine engagement, relatability.
It means an artist likeMaddox, kind of raw, authentic, with
a compelling story and obvioustalent, could just bypass all.
That traditional development stuff.
Pretty much.
The key insight for youlistening is that today's breakout
stars often succeed bycultivating that relatable Persona,
(09:21):
concealer, consistent, unvarnished.
Content, rather than justrelying on, like, big budget productions.
It's a fundamental shift, really.
Artist development moving frombeing purely label driven to more
audience driven discovery.
Absolutely.
And from that one viral clip,it just quickly morphed into actual
professional discovery.
The industry noticed big time.
(09:43):
The TikTok virality leddirectly to him being noticed by
record execs and managers,specifically Eddie Franzoni and Nick
Barr, who are still hismanagers today.
Okay, so they saw thepotential early.
Get this, they saw him performat one of his very first concerts
in Texas for an audience ofonly eight people.
Eight people?
Seriously?
Eight people?
Yeah, but they saw his raw potential.
(10:04):
They just thought, this kid's cool.
Wow.
It wasn't about the crowd size then.
Not at all.
It was about that innatespark, you know, and from that tiny,
intimate show, his career justtook off like a.
Rocket, leading to big lifechanges, I imagine.
Huge starting, homeschoolingjust to accommodate his demanding
new schedule.
It just shows how rapid andall encompassing that acceleration
(10:26):
was, completely reshaping hisdaily life.
It's clear, though, that whileTikTok was the catalyst, the foundation,
his voice, his performingability, that was already there.
Oh, for sure.
He says he has been singinghis entire life, growing up in church
with his family.
So it wasn't like he suddenlylearned to sing.
Not at all.
(10:46):
And there's this charming anecdote.
Apparently there's a video ofhim at age 2, standing on a coffee
table, just belting out JustinBieber's baby.
Huh.
Okay, so maybe destined forthe stage even back then.
Seems like it.
He also talks about thediverse musical influences he got
growing up.
His sister, who's 12 yearsolder, exposed him to pop like Baber
(11:06):
in one direction.
Right.
While his parents brought inthe old country.
He says he took bits andpieces from everything, creating
this kind of eclectic.
Internal musical library,which definitely informs his unique
sound now, for sure.
But he pinpoints the exactmoment he started taking singing
really seriously.
When was that?
After his cover of ZackBrian's dawn on TikTok also hit a
million views.
(11:27):
Ah, another viral moment.
Yeah, that provided theinstant feedback and reaction that
truly motivated him.
He even compares it to theinstant gratification he used to
feel playing sports.
Interesting parallel, thatdirect, immediate connection with
an audience.
Exactly.
It solidified his path andturned this talent he always had
(11:47):
into a real career focus.
Okay, so it's one thing to goviral, Right?
But it's another thingentirely to translate that fleeting
online attention into alegitimate, sustainable music career.
Definitely.
And Maddox wasted absolutelyno time building a significant discography
and really making his mark ina remarkably short period.
Yeah, this part of his storyreally illustrates the rapid maturation
(12:10):
of an artist.
It shows not, just, you know,creative output, but also smart strategic
collaborations and a clearunderstanding of his unique position.
You hit the running, hisability to.
Capitalize on that earlymomentum, it says a lot about his
drive and probably the visionof his team too.
No doubt.
His debut single, Tears in theriver, came out in early 2024, and
it.
Made waves immediately, didn't it?
(12:32):
Big time.
Entered the top 20 onSpotify's US viral 50 chart.
And by the end of 2024, it hadracked up about 12 million global
streams.
12 million streams for a debutsingle from a teenager?
That's huge.
So what does this mean?
How did a song written by a 14year old connect so widely, so fast
(12:53):
without all that traditional groundwork?
Well, that relatability factorseems absolutely Key here.
And it's a profound lesson forany aspiring artist.
Really?
How so?
Maddox mentions tears in theriver came from one of his very first
studio Sessions back inOctober 2023.
The producers just asked himabout a girl situation.
Yeah, the universal teenage theme.
(13:14):
Exactly.
A wellspring of emotion acrossall age groups.
Right.
He believes that success camedirectly from that raw relatability.
He emphasizes, I'm just anormal kid writing about common experiences.
And that Spotify Viral 50chart, that's significant, isn't
it?
It's not just about total streams.
Right.
It's a dynamic indicator oforganic, rapid listener engagement.
It tracks things like shares,new follows, additions to playlists.
(13:37):
So it shows people areactively connecting and sharing.
Precisely.
For an emerging artist,especially one without massive radio
play or a long established fanbase, making it onto the viral 50
signifies that his music isgenuinely resonating.
It's spreading virally, wordof mouth, social.
Media, basically bypassing alot of the.
Old gatekeepers and provinghis immediate authentic appeal.
(13:59):
And he didn't stop there.
He kept the momentum going,quickly expanding his discography
with a steady stream of releases.
What came next?
I want to know dropped inApril 2024.
That quickly hit number 19 on YouTube's.
Trending page showing crossplatform appeal.
Good sign, definitely.
Then came X's, released inSeptember 2024.
That one now boasts over 16million global streams.
(14:22):
16 million, okay.
And that song even has a coolorigin story just born from like
a casual everyday observation.
Oh yeah, yeah.
Apparently inspired by seeingthe X they put on his hand at a concert
and noticing the residue thenext day in the studio, that sparked
the whole idea.
Huh?
It speaks to his observationalsongwriting style.
Finding ideas anywhere.
Totally.
And most recently, I don'tlike you anymore came out in February
(14:45):
2025.
That one involved a big co writer.
Yeah.
The result of a brisk like twohour songwriting session with the
legendary Ashley Gorley.
Ashley Goerley, wow.
He's a titan in Nashville.
Over 60 number one hits.
Exactly.
So for a young artist likeMaddox to be in a room with him,
let alone co write asignificant song so quickly, that's
(15:06):
a massive testament to his talent.
No kidding.
And wasn't there a twist withthat song's title?
Yeah.
Despite the title, I don'tlike you anymore, it's actually a
love song.
Okay, how does that work?
The sentiment is basically, Idon't like you anymore, I love you.
Ah, clever.
A play on words shows somegrowing sophistication in his lyrics.
Glacely, this rapid output,the diverse lyrical Inspiration.
(15:29):
It just demonstrates a deepwell of creativity.
And working with heavyweightslike Goerli so early really underscores
his natural songwritingability and that collaborative spirit.
But wait, there's another songwith just an incredible backstory.
Perfectly captures that modernintersection of, like, fan engagement
and songwriting.
Oh, yeah, which one we'retalking about?
The true story behind Girl in Green.
(15:50):
Released with a music video inspring 2025.
Okay, what happened?
It sounds like something outof a movie or a classic country song.
Pretty much, yeah.
Picture this.
Maddox is opening for GabbyBarrett in Ohio during the meet and
greet line.
Total whirlwind.
Always chaotic, those things.
Odley.
He spots this girl in adistinctive green outfit.
He's captivated, finds hervery decent to look at his words.
(16:15):
Ah, but in the rush, heforgets to ask her name.
Just a missed connection moment.
Happens all the time, right?
You'd think that's the end ofthe story.
Normally, yes, but in the ageof digital connection and, you know,
dedicated fandom.
Her mom.
Get out.
The mom.
The mom.
A true champion for herdaughter, apparently.
Email.
His team recounted the story.
(16:36):
No way.
Yeah.
And basically gave him theinspiration he needed.
That led directly to the song.
That is an almost cinematicorigin story.
Proves that even in the chaosof fame, genuine human connection
can still spark creativity.
Isn't it great?
And if that wasn't coolenough, Girl in Green was co written
with Sam Norman.
Sam Norman, who wrote LouisCapaldi's mega hit Someone youe Loved.
(17:00):
The very same.
A 3 billion stream song, asMaddox proudly points out.
Wow, that's serioussongwriting pedigree to be working
with.
And he even mentions this cooldetail about playing the Eagles guitar
during that writing session.
The Eagles guitar?
Like an actual one?
Apparently.
An iconic instrument.
(17:21):
He said he was sitting on astable chair because he was kind
of scared to play it.
Huh.
That humanizes it, doesn't it?
Shows his genuine reverencefor music history.
Totally.
And besides those, he's alsoreleased other singles like God Talkin',
I Need a Truck, Southbound.
Just a steady stream ofmaterial keeping.
His audience engaged andbuilding that momentum.
(17:41):
He's clearly not just asingles artist, though.
No, he's quickly moved intolonger formats too, which indicates,
you know, a maturing artistryand a strategic approach to his career.
EPS, right?
Yeah.
Introduced his first episode,First Dance, released March 21, 2025.
First Dance.
Interesting title.
Any story behind that?
Actually, yeah.
And it's kind of surprising.
It was suggested by the studioand then he realized it's serendipitously
(18:05):
connected to his Most viralvideo ever.
Which one was that?
Oh, get ready with me for adance that you never did.
Oh, I think I remember seeing that.
It went huge, didn't it?
Close to 100 million viewsacross all platforms.
He said, wow.
That kind of organicconnection between his social media
presence and his actualrecorded music, that's a masterclass
in modern artist branding.
(18:27):
Totally.
And he quickly followed thatup with First Dance, the after party,
released May 2, 2025.
Continuing the theme, givingfans more smart.
Okay.
But shifting gears a bit.
One aspect that trulyhighlights his early impact as a
songwriter beyond just his own stuff.
Yeah.
Is the story behind that songTough, the one he co wrote that got
(18:49):
cut by Lana Del Rey and Quavo.
Oh, right.
That's huge.
Global superstars.
It's not just a feather in his cap.
It's a massive industryvalidation, especially for someone
so young and tough.
Has such a deeply personal inspiration.
Right.
Which makes its journey to popand hip hop even more remarkable.
Absolutely.
Tell us about that.
It was written about his dad'sdad, his grandfather, and his whole
(19:12):
family unit, really.
They're farmers.
Okay.
Specifically farming dark firetobacco, which is apparently a very
specific, challenging, kind ofculturally rich form of agriculture.
So it's a raw, authentictribute to his roots, his family's
resilience.
Exactly.
And the fascinating part ishow this very personal, kind of specific,
(19:34):
country rooted song made itsway to Lana Del Rey in Quavo.
Yeah.
How did that happen?
Well, basically, one of thewriters he was collaborating with
knew Lana, saw the potentialin the track and just passed it along
to her team.
Just like that.
Serendipity again?
Seems like it.
And his reaction to the news?
Pure exhilaration, as you'd expect.
I bet.
He said he was ecstatic.
(19:55):
Literally ran around his housea few times when he heard Lana Mike
cut it.
Ah, I love that.
And then he went crazy.
When Guava was also mentionedjust shows the unexpected cross genre
appeal they saw in it.
And the song became a massive success.
Huge.
Charted within the top 40 ofthe US Billboard Hot 100.
That's the big one across all genres.
And the streaming numbers hementioned, 250 million streams on
(20:19):
Spotify.
That's firmly in the categoryof major global hit.
Incredible.
But what's truly remarkable tome about Tuff is his attitude about
it.
His selflessness in lettingthe song go.
Yeah, that stood out to me too.
He said he had not a secondthought about letting them cut it.
Why most artists would want tokeep a potential hit.
(20:41):
He genuinely believed hewouldn't have done Anything with
it himself, and that they didit so much better than I could have
ever done it.
Wow.
That shows maturity way beyondhis years, prioritizing the song's
ultimate reach over his ownperformance of it.
It's pretty rare, especiallyfor a young artist, to see that kind
of clear understanding ofwhere a song can best flourish.
Does he perform it himself?
(21:01):
He does.
Yeah.
He performs tough on tour andshares the story, the Lana cut, with
his fans so they still connectwith that piece of his journey, even
though he.
Hasn'T actually met Lana orQuavo yet.
Right.
But it doesn't diminish his appreciation.
And that collaboration reallyspeaks to the increasing fluidity
of genre boundaries today,doesn't it?
Definitely.
(21:21):
How authentic storytelling canjust transcend traditional musical
categories.
Okay, so being this globalmusic sensation At 15, it must come
with some unique challenges,some unique insights, especially
in an industry that can be so demanding.
Oh, absolutely.
How does Maddox stay true to himself?
How does he maintainperspective, keep learning amidst
(21:44):
this absolute whirlwind?
It's a huge question.
It really raises importantpoints about identity, about growth,
especially under the intenseglare of the public eye.
What stands out to you abouthow Maddox is navigating these really
formative years?
Well, it's clear he's veryintentional about maintaining his
normal kid identity.
That seems core to his Personaand probably his sanity.
(22:06):
How does he do that?
He strongly emphasizes being100% normal when he's not working,
doing things like playinggolf, going to church, playing music
with his dad, playingbasketball with friends.
This regular teenage stuff.
Exactly.
It feels like a deliberateeffort to keep himself centered,
providing these vital anchorsof normalcy amidst the chaos of fame.
And his inspirations forlyrics reflect that too, right?
(22:26):
Totally.
He says his primaryinspirations are girls, obviously.
Personal experiences andlifestyle songs.
It highlights that authentic,youthful perspective that connects
so widely.
And his own musical tastes arepretty broad, too.
Incredibly eclectic, which isfascinating for someone so connected
to country.
He cites influences likeMorgan Wallen, George Strait, Garth
(22:49):
Brooks, country legends.
Okay, makes sense.
But also Michael Buble,Playboi Carti, and Frank Sinatra.
Wow.
Okay, that is a huge rangefrom straight to Sinatra.
De Carti.
Right.
It showcases this really widemusical palette that informs his
genre blending sound and keepshis music fresh, appealing to diverse
(23:09):
listeners.
His approach to social mediaalso seems quite strategic for someone
his age.
She has a real intuitiveunderstanding of modern fan engagement.
Yeah.
He explained that hisphilosophy is basically mixing the
artistry with a good littlebit of personality.
Makes sense.
Don't just be the music.
Right.
He gives the Example of hisGet Ready with me with dad videos.
Those became incredibly popular.
(23:29):
One had like 8 million views, even.
Though his dad was skepticalat first.
Yeah, his dad was apparentlylike, I don't think so, man.
Stick to music.
Ah, dad was wrong on that one.
Totally.
Yeah.
Maddox believed thatpersonality adds depth and it helps
people stay around.
It fosters this genuineconnection where he views his fans
almost like, in the room with me.
(23:51):
Yeah.
Like, they're really just likemy friends.
That's an intimate connection,like a peer to peer relationship,
almost.
Yeah.
He even cites Alex Warren, thebig TikTok influencer who's also
an artist, as an influence forblending those roles effectively.
Smart.
It makes the whole thing feelless transactional, more communal,
built on shared experiences, authentic.
(24:12):
And that strategy clearlyhelps him build this loyal, engaged
fan base that feels personallyconnected to him.
Not just the music, but given his.
Age and how fast everythinghappened, navigating the industry
must present uniquechallenges, things seasoned artists
might not face till much later.
Oh, for sure.
He speaks pretty candidlyabout the struggle of being so young,
feeling naive sometimes,learning the hard way about needing
(24:34):
to get the right people around you.
That trust issue must be huge.
Definitely.
He really emphasizes thedifficulty of staying true to his
same morals that he had beforefame hit.
Says it's a constant,conscious effort to.
Keep that grounding,especially when you're suddenly surrounded
by new people, new expectations.
And he touches on the issue ofnot always being taken seriously
(24:56):
by some older folks in theindustry because of his age, even
when he knows what he'stalking about.
That must be frustrating.
Yeah.
He confidently states, we'resmarter than you think.
Especially us kids now whogrow up, like, on social media.
Interesting point.
He sees that daily engagementwith platforms as a form of, like,
education, pretty.
Much giving him deep,intuitive insights into how people
(25:19):
navigate content, buildconnections online.
Maybe more so than oldergenerations who didn't grow up with
it.
It really does highlight agenerational shift in how knowledge
and influence are perceived.
Within the industry and thatstruggle for economy.
It also translates intofinding his voice in creative and
business decisions.
Right?
Yeah.
That seems crucial.
Exactly.
He talks about his evolutionfrom being a people pleaser, which
(25:43):
is pretty common for youngpeople in new situations.
Totally.
You don't want to rock the boat.
Right.
To becoming more vocal increative decisions.
Apparently his team actuallyencouraged him to embrace his role
as the boss, quote, unquote.
That sounds like a huge butnecessary shift for a teenager in
that position.
For sure.
He's learning to assert hisvision, which is absolutely crucial
(26:05):
if you Want a long term,authentic career, not just being,
you know, a product of theindustry machine.
And the role of his familyseems paramount in all this.
A crucial anchor, absolutely critical.
He underscores the importanceof his close family unit, particularly
his dad.
He trusts his dad implicitlybecause he says, his dad won't shoot
you straight, meaning he'llalways be honest, even if it's tough
(26:28):
to hear.
That's invaluable protectionand unconditional love.
Yeah.
His dad acts as a bufferagainst the potential pitfalls of
fame.
Maddox sees his family as theonly people in the world who don't
expect.
Anything from him, just lovehim for who he is.
Exactly.
Highlighting their essentialrole as this unwavering foundation
amidst all the externalpressures, the expectations, the
(26:50):
often transactional nature ofthe music business.
For a young artist, that kindof support system is just priceless.
But one of the most uniquechallenges he faces, especially right
now at this critical age, isthe ongoing struggle of his voice
changing.
Ah, puberty.
Right in the middle ofbecoming a star.
Yeah.
He says it changes quiteliterally every week.
(27:13):
Imagine your main instrumentjust transforming rapidly, almost
unpredictably, while you'retrying to perform on global stages
and record music.
That must be incredibly difficult.
How does he manage?
He explains the very practicalimpact needing to change the key
to every song again duringtour rehearsals, sometimes daily,
because his range or tonemight have just shifted overnight.
Wow.
(27:33):
Does he have any idea whereit's heading?
Well, he does mention his dadhas a really, really deep voice,
so maybe that's a genetic cluewhere his might eventually settle.
But the journey to get thereis clearly demanding.
It really raises a profound question.
How does an artist keepperforming and evolving when their
primary instrument isliterally transforming under them?
Right.
(27:54):
It's not just a small shift.
No.
It requires significant adaptation.
Vocal agility, a strongunderstanding of his evolving range,
which must mean continuous,rigorous vocal training.
He works with Mama John, right?
Yeah.
Whom he describes as one ofthe best vocal coaches in the world.
She's worked with giants likeBieber, Usher, Drake.
(28:16):
Artists who navigated theirown vocal changes.
Exactly.
It's about buildingfoundational technique that can transcend
these temporary biologicalchanges, ensuring his performances
stay consistent and strong,even as his voice finds its mature
register.
That adaptability, thatdedication to his craft, despite
this fundamental physicaltransformation, it's a real testament
(28:37):
to his commitment.
Definitely.
Moving beyond the physical, heseems to have this strong sense of
confidence.
Where does that come from?
He attributes it directly tohis dad, and the Batson side of his
family sees it as kind ofgenetic thing, but also built from
learning, from finding outhe's decent at something.
So earned confidence derivedfrom skill and practice.
Yeah, but he's very aware ofthe potential pitfalls of that self
(29:00):
assurance.
He emphasizes that he strivesfor humility.
Actively avoids being cocky.
Recognizes that fine line.
Yeah.
He says there's a verydistinct line between confident and
cocky.
Which is a remarkably matureperspective for someone experiencing
such rapid success.
Shows his awareness of publicperception and his own values.
And his palpable love for performing.
(29:21):
That seems like a deepwellspring of motivation for him
too.
A powerful counterbalance tothe challenges.
Oh, totally.
He describes the pure joy ofjust seeing fans enjoy his music.
He likens that instantgratification he feels on stage to
the satisfaction he used toget scoring points in basketball.
Ah, back to that comparison.
That direct, energeticfeedback loop is clearly vital for
(29:43):
him.
Yeah.
And he purposefully takes hisin ears out sometimes on stage just
to hear the thousands ofscreaming girls.
Really?
He wants to hear the scream?
Yeah.
He says he's never ever mad atit or at all.
He wants them to screambecause to him it means the world.
That they think so highly ofhim that they're connecting with
his art.
That's a great perspective.
(30:04):
And he doesn't get nervous?
Apparently not.
Sees it as not my vibe, whichis pretty exceptional for someone
so young on such big stages.
Indicates a real naturalcomfort with performing live.
He's also embraced thatcountry Justin Bieber comparison
quite positively, hasn't he?
He has notes it means theworld because he grew up listening
(30:25):
to Bieber.
Even watched his documentaryat least once a day for a long time.
Wow.
Dedicated fan.
Yeah.
He aims to take all the goodout of it from that comparison.
Clearly looking at Bieber'smassive global success and longevity
is kind of a blueprint.
Which brings us back to thatcrucial point about the evolution
of country music itself.
How does his specific genrebending approach impact the broader
(30:47):
landscape?
It suggests a very deliberateand I think innovative approach that's
becoming more common in modern country.
How does he describe it himself?
He sees himself on thisspectrum where George Strait is maybe
a to the epitome oftraditional country.
Okay.
And Justin Bieber is like anegative 2, pure pop.
He positions himself around 0or plus 0.5.
(31:09):
Interesting self awareness ofhis place.
Yeah.
His explicit goal is to makerelatable music for everyone, Taking
bits and pieces fromeverybody, incorporating all those
diverse influences withoutlosing his core identity.
So leaning country but notalienating pop fans.
Exactly.
Creating that crossoverappeal, broadening his audience Significantly.
(31:31):
And he firmly believes thisapproach is actually good for country
music.
How so?
He thinks it brings a newwave, new interest, and will maybe
light a fire under all theartists in the genre.
Pushing boundaries, bringingin a younger, more diverse fan base.
It's a vision that embracesinclusivity and expansion for the
genre, ensuring it stays relevant.
Definitely.
The homeschooling shift isanother major piece of his story
(31:53):
too.
Illustrates the profoundpersonal adjustments needed for this
kind of early success.
Right.
Why did that happen exactly?
Just the schedule, primarily.
Yeah, he explains.
His schedule became overwhelming.
Missing Thursdays, Fridays,Mondays of school, feeling like he
was missing the week.
It just became unsustainableto keep up with public school alongside
(32:13):
his exploding music career.
Makes sense.
But wasn't there another sideto it too?
Yeah, there was also a darkerside that contributed.
He notes that some peoplestarted coming out of the woodwork
like, hey Maddox, you make money.
Oof.
Early difficult encounterswith the financial pressures, the
ulterior motives that fame brings.
Exactly.
(32:34):
Forcing him to navigate reallycomplex social dynamics way too early.
So homeschooling offersflexibility, which is obviously a
benefit.
Huge benefit.
He praises it, says it's sonice letting him do schoolwork whenever
I want.
But there are downsides,surely, especially socially for a
teenager.
He openly acknowledges them,misses the social aspect of public
school, doesn't talk to hisold friends as much.
(32:55):
That's a significant lossduring crucial developmental years.
It really raises thatimportant question again, what's
the long term trade off forsuch early explosive success?
He says the biggest challengeoverall has been loneliness and the
difficulty in figuring out whoare true friends versus those with
ulterior motives.
That must be incredibly hardat his age.
(33:16):
Yeah.
He acknowledges that you'regoing to let in terrible people from
time to time, but emphasizesit's crucial to learn from that and
pick it up.
The first second like hintsstart dropping.
Wow.
That speaks to a rapid maturation.
Developing a cautious butnecessary approach to new relationships
in the public eye for sure.
So he's already achieved somuch, right?
(33:38):
Milestones many artists chasefor decades.
But what does the future holdfor Maddox Batson?
And maybe more importantly,what does success truly mean to someone
on this unique journey,Especially being so young.
Yeah.
What's the end game?
Well, this part provides acrucial perspective on his long term
vision, his values.
It seems his focus extends farbeyond just immediate gratification
(34:00):
or, you know, fleeting viral moments.
He's already racked up sometruly incredible major industry endorsements
and achievements that reallyunderscore his trajectory.
Like the record deal you know, signed.
That deal, notably becomingone of the youngest artists to sign
with Warner Records.
Partnered with Prosper Entertainment.
That dual label approach is interesting.
(34:20):
What's the thinking there?
Well, Prosper likely acts asmore of a development partner, you
know, nurturing his.
Artistry and career path,while Warner provides the muscle.
Exactly.
The colossal distribution,marketing, radio, promotion machinery.
And right after that deal, hequickly embarked on a sold out headlining
tour across the United States.
Sold out as a newly signed 15year old.
(34:42):
That's astonishing.
It really is.
And in 2024, he also performedat major country events like CMA
Fest, the.
Heart of the country music calendar.
Right.
And became the youngest artistto perform Whiskey Jam.
Famously filling the venue,which is known as like an industry
proving ground for.
New talent, huge steps, butperhaps one of the most significant,
most symbolic milestones forany country artist.
(35:05):
The grand Ollie Opry debut.
Oh, yeah, he made his debutthere on March 26, 2025.
And this isn't just anothergig, is it?
It's like an induction intothis revered institution.
So for anyone listening whomight not be deep into country music,
why is the Opry such a massive deal?
It's absolutely immense.
Maddox explains it perfectly.
(35:25):
The Opry is a staple.
It's the sacred stage whereany country music star you can think
of at all has played there.
So playing it means you'repart of that history.
Yeah, you become a part of thegenre, you become a part of the ecosystem,
you become a part of the community.
He explicitly says you have toplay the Opry.
It emphasizes its nonnegotiable status.
(35:48):
If you want legitimacy,lasting impact in.
Country, it's not just avenue, it's an institution that validates
your place totally.
And the personal impact wasprofound too.
He shared that his nana wassobbing when he told her she equated
the experience to going to church.
Wow.
That highlights the deepspiritual cultural significance it
holds for families connectedto country music.
(36:09):
Absolutely.
And just to underscore his ageagain, he was just 15 years old when.
He made that debut, suggestinghe's likely one of the youngest ever
to make an Opry debut as anactual performing artist, not just
like a guest.
Seems very likely.
It's a moment that justpowerfully bridges his personal journey
with the rich, storied historyof the genre.
Cements his place.
(36:30):
And looking ahead, his touringschedule is already packed.
Right shows, the continueddemand definitely robust.
He had that headlining Tour inspring 2025, and now he has this
upcoming role, opening forLainey Wilson on her whirlwind world
tour.
Opening For Lainey Wilson,that's a huge opportunity.
Massive.
His dates start in September 2025.
It'll expose him to evenlarger audiences, solidify his presence
(36:54):
on major tours.
And what's fascinating here isthat embrace of community and collaboration
you see in country music.
It seems different from othergenres sometimes.
He seems to have integratedreally quickly.
He definitely has.
He mentions genuineconnections with other artists like
Bailey Zimmerman, calls himhis best buddy.
And he highlights WarrenZyders, who's also on Warner, his
(37:14):
label, and shares thatremarkably similar backstory.
Zyders was also an injuredathlete, a lacrosse player turned
musician.
Ah.
That shared understanding ofpassion redirected must create a
bond.
Yeah.
That sense of sharedexperience, camaraderie, mutual support.
Yeah.
It seems like a really genuineand powerful part of the country
(37:34):
music community, fostering amore collaborative environment for
artists like Maddox.
Okay, so with all theseaccomplishments, this seemingly limitless
future, what does it all meanfor how Maddox himself defines success?
That's the crucial insight, right?
His motivations beyond the spotlight.
Yeah.
And it's clearly not aboutfleeting fame for him, which is incredibly
wise for his age.
(37:55):
So what is it, then?
He articulates his definitionvery clearly, making relatable music
that my fans enjoy and justhaving a good core fan base.
And longevity.
Longevity.
That's a key word.
His biggest goal, heemphasizes, is longevity.
It's not about being thebiggest star tomorrow.
It's about enduring.
Who does he look up to for that?
He names artists like theJonas Brothers, George Strait, and
(38:18):
Dolly Parton, all artists withtimeless records that will stand
the test of time and live onfar beyond any of us.
That's a powerful ambition.
It is.
He contrasts that goal withfleeting fame, saying he'd rather
be a chill dude, not asfamous, and make good money.
And, you know, for mygrandparents, my grandkids.
Grandkids.
Grandkids don't got to worryabout anything then be famous and
(38:40):
not be that successful.
Wow.
He's thinking aboutgenerational wealth, a lasting legacy,
not just ephemeral celebrity.
Exactly.
Which again, raises thatquestion about the wisdom, the maturity
he demonstrates at such ayoung age.
Where does that come from?
Many teenagers are focused onthe here and now.
He attributes this wisdomdirectly and very clearly to his
(39:00):
father.
Ah, Back to his dad's influence.
Yeah.
He says, I give that all to my dad.
He talks to me.
I get a lot of lectures.
Huh.
Sounds like good parenting.
It's clear.
That strong family foundation,his dad's candid guidance.
It's been absolutely pivotalin shaping his values and his Incredibly
grounded approach to whatcould easily be a dizzying, overwhelming
(39:21):
career.
A testament to strongmentorship and having that clear
moral compass from a young age.
So what an incredible deepdive this has been into the world
of Maddox Batson.
I mean, from a career altering sports.
Injury to TikTok stardom,signing with major.
Labels, hitting chart toppingsongs, making his grand Oly Opry
debut all before he can evendrive without supervision.
(39:44):
His story is just amasterclass in modern artist development,
personal resilience, andnavigating it all.
His journey truly exemplifieshow authenticity, that deep resilience
in the face of adversity andhaving a clear vision for longevity,
how that can define anartist's trajectory, even starting
soon.
So incredibly young.
Yeah, he navigates thecomplexities of fame by staying grounded,
(40:07):
relying on his family, andjust focusing intently on creating
music that truly connects withpeople on a personal level.
You know what really standsout to me is that unwavering commitment
to making music that'srelatable, as he says, for everyone.
Finding that sweet spot rightbetween classic country storytelling
and modern pop appeal, and.
Not being afraid to tell hisown unique, authentic story.
(40:28):
It's clear his definition ofsuccess isn't about fleeting fame
or chasing trends.
No, it's about building thattimeline list legacy, ensuring his
art touches lives and as hesaid, provides for generations to
come.
His story leaves us with areally compelling thought.
I think in a world justsaturated with fleeting trends, with
instant gratification, whattruly makes an artist's impact endure
(40:53):
and.
What will ultimately defineMaddox Batson's place in music history
decades from now?
Only time will tell.
But it's going to befascinating to watch.
Absolutely.
And that's a wrap on this deep dive.
Thank you so much for joiningus on this journey of discovery.
Until next time, keep digging,keep learning, and stay curious.
Hey there, learners.
Welcome back to the deep dive.
This is where we take yourcuriosity, dig into some incredible
sources and really unpack themost important bits of knowledge
and insight for you.
Think of us as your shortcutto being genuinely well informed.
Yeah, exactly.
With plenty of aha moments andhopefully some surprising facts along
the way.
That's the goal.
(00:21):
Today we're doing a deep diveinto the fascinating and honestly
meteoric rise of an artist whois, well, he's kind of shattering
expectations.
We're definitely defying thetraditional path in the music industry.
You might know his name fromviral social media clips, maybe chart
topping songs, or even somerecent pretty history making performances.
Right.
And this is a story that trulyunderscores how passion, resilience,
(00:44):
and, yeah, maybe a dash ofviral luck.
A big dash, maybe.
Ha.
Yeah, maybe a big dash.
How that can just propelsomeone into the global spotlight
and at such an incrediblyyoung age.
Seriously young indeed.
So our mission for this deepdive is really to explore the journey
of William Maddox Matson.
He's a young guy whosetrajectory, well, challenges a lot
(01:05):
of conventional ideas aboutmusic industry success.
We're going to uncover hissurprising roots, his unique, almost
accidental entry into music.
Right, Very much so.
And the significant milestoneshe's already hit before he's even
old enough to, like, get afull driver's license on his own.
It's wild.
And we'll look at what trulydrives him, what keeps him grounded
amidst this, you know,whirlwind of sudden fame.
(01:28):
So what does this all mean for you?
Listening.
Well, as we unpack Maddox'sstory, you'll get some real insight
into how modern.
Artists are actually breakingthrough, often bypassing those traditional
gatekeepers, you know, Totally.
You'll see the immense powerof just being authentic, how that
builds a connection.
With an audience and howunexpected twists and turns.
I mean, even really profoundadversity can end up defining a career
(01:51):
in ways nobody could possibly foresee.
Yeah, we'll explore the veryreal challenges and the triumphs
too, of someone so youngnavigating all the complexities of
fame while, you know, tryingto maintain a genuine sense of self.
It's a lot to handle.
Okay, let's unpack this.
Let's start with thefundamental question that anchors
our whole deep dive.
(02:11):
Who exactly is William Maddox Batson?
Right.
The basics.
Okay, so born December 13, 2009.
That means he's set to turn 16at the end of this year, 2025.
Which is already prettyremarkable given everything he's
done.
It really is.
He entered the World inHermitage, Tennessee, which, you
know, is just a stone's throwfrom Nashville's country music heartland.
(02:34):
Close to the action.
Exactly.
His family later moved toBirmingham, Alabama, but then made
a really significant return.
To Nashville, placing himfirmly back in the epicenter of the
music industry.
Right when things startedtaking off.
Precisely.
That geographic journey itselfkind of tells a story, doesn't it?
Puts him right where the musicscene thrives.
It does.
And his musical identity isjust as intriguing.
(02:57):
Absolutely.
Maddox doesn't fit neatly intojust one box.
While his primary genres are,you know, country, rock and pop.
A bit of everything.
Yeah.
He really showcases this genrebending appeal that connects with
an incredibly broad audience.
And this isn't just about,like, style preference.
No, no.
It feels like a prettystrategic but also authentic reflection
(03:18):
of all his diverse influences.
It lets him bridge g differenttypes of listeners.
And he's not just a singer, right?
Not at all.
He's a multi instrumentalist.
Proficient on vocals,obviously, but also guitar, piano,
and even the mandolin.
Mandolin.
That's interesting.
Maybe a nod to some early influences.
Could be.
Maybe that family bluegrassband connection.
We'll talk about.
(03:38):
His journey into the public eye.
Feels incredibly recent.
I mean, really just startingproperly in 2023.
So active from 2023 to now.
Yeah.
And the speed of his ascent isreally underscored by his label affiliations.
He signed with Prosper andWarner Records, major labels.
And getting those deals at anage when most kids are just focused
on high school, that'ssomething else.
(04:00):
It's exceedingly rare.
It really speaks volumes aboutthe industry's belief in his potential.
Getting behind a minor likethat so strongly.
Okay, so now that we have akind of foundational understanding
of who he is, let's dive intothat origin story.
Yeah, the fascinating part,because it's really.
Not your typical path tostardom if it.
It highlights how these lifedetours can sometimes lead you to
(04:23):
the most incredible.
Places, often by completelyunforeseen routes.
Totally unexpected.
And what's so interesting hereis how often we see these pivotal
life changes emerge, not fromsome grand plan, but from, you know,
unexpected adversity.
Which makes you think, how dida pretty significant health setback
become not just a creativeoutlet, but the actual catalyst for
(04:45):
a professional music career?
For Maddox, it's a great question.
Well, his musical journey, itactually started quite early, even
before that big pivot point.
Right.
He didn't just pick up aguitar after the injury.
No.
He began with piano lessonsaround seven years old, and he kept
that up for about six years.
That's serious commitment fora young kid.
It is, Especially when youconsider his other passions at the
(05:06):
time.
And music was definitely inhis blood.
His father had a strongmusical background.
Played in church and a familybluegrass band.
Right.
Yeah.
So that upbringing undeniablyinstilled a deep respect for music
in Maddox, even if bluegrasswasn't exactly, you know, his thing
initially.
Yeah.
There's this great anecdotehis dad would encourage him to keep
(05:28):
practicing guitar, sayingsomething like, trust me, Maddox,
just keep practicing.
The girls will love it.
Classic dad advice.
Totally.
And Mannix's initial thought?
Very teenage.
He'd apparently say, nah, bro,they're going to love basketball
even more.
Which tells you a lot aboutwhere his head was at back then.
Sports were everything.
Exactly.
It's crucial to remember thateven with that early exposure and
(05:50):
his family's influence, musicwasn't the main dream.
Not at all.
So the shift, when it came,was really dramatic and completely
unpredicted.
His athletic career was reallytaking off.
But then the summer of 2022,this unforeseen obstacle just hit
him hard.
The Osgood Schlatter diagnosis.
Yeah.
And his right knee.
(06:11):
And this wasn't just someminor thing.
The specialist they sawapparently commented it was the worst
case he's ever seen.
Wow.
Imagine hearing that as ayoung athlete.
Devastating.
Absolutely.
And it had this profoundimpact on his dreams because basketball
and baseball were, in his ownwords, his life.
That's what he wanted to do overall.
(06:31):
And he was good, right?
Not just playing for fun.
Oh, yeah.
He said he was very decent atbasketball, averaging around 35 points
a game for, like, two years straight.
35 points a game.
Okay.
So that really puts the shiftinto perspective from being this
elite young athlete.
To suddenly being sidelined.
His athletic dreams justseemed shattered overnight.
(06:51):
It wasn't just physical.
It must have been a hugeidentity crisis for him.
Definitely.
And when we connect this tothe bigger picture, know, human resilience,
it powerfully underscores howpassion, when one path is just slammed
shut, finds another way out.
Exactly.
It gets redirected and findsnew, maybe even equally powerful
outlets.
That abrupt end to his sportspursuits left a huge void.
(07:14):
But critically, it alsocreated this blank canvas, Right.
This unexpected period ofdowntime, which allowed.
A new form of expression tokind of emerge and fill that space.
It really begs the question,how does someone so young navigate
such a profound loss and thenfind a completely new direction?
(07:34):
And that's where the TikTokcatalyst comes in.
Really feels like a mother'sintuition kind of moment.
How so?
Well, after the diagnosis,Maddox found himself, maybe for the
first time ever, with nothingto do for an entire summer.
A huge contrast to his usualpacked travel sports schedule, I
bet.
Yeah.
So during this period offorced idleness, he and his dad started
(07:57):
going live on TikTok, almostjust for something to do.
And here's the crucial part.
He gives all the credit forthis idea to his mom.
Ah, interesting.
Yeah, she was the one whoinitiated it, apparently saying something
like, guys, just go live on TikTok.
See what happens.
And boy, did something happen, huh?
Yeah, what happened next wastruly explosive.
Just a testament to theunpredictable nature of modern virality.
(08:19):
So what was the spark, the viral.
Moment that changed everythingwas this spontaneous cover of Dancing
in the sky by Sam Barber.
Okay, I know that song.
He posted it in September2023, and it just blew up over a
million views almost overnight.
Wow.
Turning a casual pastime intothis unexpected sensation.
(08:39):
Exactly.
You know, this moment reallyhighlights the huge role of serendipity
in modern talent discovery.
What stands out to me is howquickly this went from just messing
around to a serious opportunity.
It was lightning fast.
Yeah.
And it's thanks to platformslike tikt.
Unlike the traditionalgatekeepers, you know, A and R execs,
radio programmers who might.
(08:59):
Take years to notice someone, right.
TikTok's algorithm, itprioritizes genuine engagement, relatability.
It means an artist likeMaddox, kind of raw, authentic, with
a compelling story and obvioustalent, could just bypass all.
That traditional development stuff.
Pretty much.
The key insight for youlistening is that today's breakout
stars often succeed bycultivating that relatable Persona,
(09:21):
concealer, consistent, unvarnished.
Content, rather than justrelying on, like, big budget productions.
It's a fundamental shift, really.
Artist development moving frombeing purely label driven to more
audience driven discovery.
Absolutely.
And from that one viral clip,it just quickly morphed into actual
professional discovery.
The industry noticed big time.
(09:43):
The TikTok virality leddirectly to him being noticed by
record execs and managers,specifically Eddie Franzoni and Nick
Barr, who are still hismanagers today.
Okay, so they saw thepotential early.
Get this, they saw him performat one of his very first concerts
in Texas for an audience ofonly eight people.
Eight people?
Seriously?
Eight people?
Yeah, but they saw his raw potential.
(10:04):
They just thought, this kid's cool.
Wow.
It wasn't about the crowd size then.
Not at all.
It was about that innatespark, you know, and from that tiny,
intimate show, his career justtook off like a.
Rocket, leading to big lifechanges, I imagine.
Huge starting, homeschoolingjust to accommodate his demanding
new schedule.
It just shows how rapid andall encompassing that acceleration
(10:26):
was, completely reshaping hisdaily life.
It's clear, though, that whileTikTok was the catalyst, the foundation,
his voice, his performingability, that was already there.
Oh, for sure.
He says he has been singinghis entire life, growing up in church
with his family.
So it wasn't like he suddenlylearned to sing.
Not at all.
(10:46):
And there's this charming anecdote.
Apparently there's a video ofhim at age 2, standing on a coffee
table, just belting out JustinBieber's baby.
Huh.
Okay, so maybe destined forthe stage even back then.
Seems like it.
He also talks about thediverse musical influences he got
growing up.
His sister, who's 12 yearsolder, exposed him to pop like Baber
(11:06):
in one direction.
Right.
While his parents brought inthe old country.
He says he took bits andpieces from everything, creating
this kind of eclectic.
Internal musical library,which definitely informs his unique
sound now, for sure.
But he pinpoints the exactmoment he started taking singing
really seriously.
When was that?
After his cover of ZackBrian's dawn on TikTok also hit a
million views.
(11:27):
Ah, another viral moment.
Yeah, that provided theinstant feedback and reaction that
truly motivated him.
He even compares it to theinstant gratification he used to
feel playing sports.
Interesting parallel, thatdirect, immediate connection with
an audience.
Exactly.
It solidified his path andturned this talent he always had
(11:47):
into a real career focus.
Okay, so it's one thing to goviral, Right?
But it's another thingentirely to translate that fleeting
online attention into alegitimate, sustainable music career.
Definitely.
And Maddox wasted absolutelyno time building a significant discography
and really making his mark ina remarkably short period.
Yeah, this part of his storyreally illustrates the rapid maturation
(12:10):
of an artist.
It shows not, just, you know,creative output, but also smart strategic
collaborations and a clearunderstanding of his unique position.
You hit the running, hisability to.
Capitalize on that earlymomentum, it says a lot about his
drive and probably the visionof his team too.
No doubt.
His debut single, Tears in theriver, came out in early 2024, and
it.
Made waves immediately, didn't it?
(12:32):
Big time.
Entered the top 20 onSpotify's US viral 50 chart.
And by the end of 2024, it hadracked up about 12 million global
streams.
12 million streams for a debutsingle from a teenager?
That's huge.
So what does this mean?
How did a song written by a 14year old connect so widely, so fast
(12:53):
without all that traditional groundwork?
Well, that relatability factorseems absolutely Key here.
And it's a profound lesson forany aspiring artist.
Really?
How so?
Maddox mentions tears in theriver came from one of his very first
studio Sessions back inOctober 2023.
The producers just asked himabout a girl situation.
Yeah, the universal teenage theme.
(13:14):
Exactly.
A wellspring of emotion acrossall age groups.
Right.
He believes that success camedirectly from that raw relatability.
He emphasizes, I'm just anormal kid writing about common experiences.
And that Spotify Viral 50chart, that's significant, isn't
it?
It's not just about total streams.
Right.
It's a dynamic indicator oforganic, rapid listener engagement.
It tracks things like shares,new follows, additions to playlists.
(13:37):
So it shows people areactively connecting and sharing.
Precisely.
For an emerging artist,especially one without massive radio
play or a long established fanbase, making it onto the viral 50
signifies that his music isgenuinely resonating.
It's spreading virally, wordof mouth, social.
Media, basically bypassing alot of the.
Old gatekeepers and provinghis immediate authentic appeal.
(13:59):
And he didn't stop there.
He kept the momentum going,quickly expanding his discography
with a steady stream of releases.
What came next?
I want to know dropped inApril 2024.
That quickly hit number 19 on YouTube's.
Trending page showing crossplatform appeal.
Good sign, definitely.
Then came X's, released inSeptember 2024.
That one now boasts over 16million global streams.
(14:22):
16 million, okay.
And that song even has a coolorigin story just born from like
a casual everyday observation.
Oh yeah, yeah.
Apparently inspired by seeingthe X they put on his hand at a concert
and noticing the residue thenext day in the studio, that sparked
the whole idea.
Huh?
It speaks to his observationalsongwriting style.
Finding ideas anywhere.
Totally.
And most recently, I don'tlike you anymore came out in February
(14:45):
2025.
That one involved a big co writer.
Yeah.
The result of a brisk like twohour songwriting session with the
legendary Ashley Gorley.
Ashley Goerley, wow.
He's a titan in Nashville.
Over 60 number one hits.
Exactly.
So for a young artist likeMaddox to be in a room with him,
let alone co write asignificant song so quickly, that's
(15:06):
a massive testament to his talent.
No kidding.
And wasn't there a twist withthat song's title?
Yeah.
Despite the title, I don'tlike you anymore, it's actually a
love song.
Okay, how does that work?
The sentiment is basically, Idon't like you anymore, I love you.
Ah, clever.
A play on words shows somegrowing sophistication in his lyrics.
Glacely, this rapid output,the diverse lyrical Inspiration.
(15:29):
It just demonstrates a deepwell of creativity.
And working with heavyweightslike Goerli so early really underscores
his natural songwritingability and that collaborative spirit.
But wait, there's another songwith just an incredible backstory.
Perfectly captures that modernintersection of, like, fan engagement
and songwriting.
Oh, yeah, which one we'retalking about?
The true story behind Girl in Green.
(15:50):
Released with a music video inspring 2025.
Okay, what happened?
It sounds like something outof a movie or a classic country song.
Pretty much, yeah.
Picture this.
Maddox is opening for GabbyBarrett in Ohio during the meet and
greet line.
Total whirlwind.
Always chaotic, those things.
Odley.
He spots this girl in adistinctive green outfit.
He's captivated, finds hervery decent to look at his words.
(16:15):
Ah, but in the rush, heforgets to ask her name.
Just a missed connection moment.
Happens all the time, right?
You'd think that's the end ofthe story.
Normally, yes, but in the ageof digital connection and, you know,
dedicated fandom.
Her mom.
Get out.
The mom.
The mom.
A true champion for herdaughter, apparently.
Email.
His team recounted the story.
(16:36):
No way.
Yeah.
And basically gave him theinspiration he needed.
That led directly to the song.
That is an almost cinematicorigin story.
Proves that even in the chaosof fame, genuine human connection
can still spark creativity.
Isn't it great?
And if that wasn't coolenough, Girl in Green was co written
with Sam Norman.
Sam Norman, who wrote LouisCapaldi's mega hit Someone youe Loved.
(17:00):
The very same.
A 3 billion stream song, asMaddox proudly points out.
Wow, that's serioussongwriting pedigree to be working
with.
And he even mentions this cooldetail about playing the Eagles guitar
during that writing session.
The Eagles guitar?
Like an actual one?
Apparently.
An iconic instrument.
(17:21):
He said he was sitting on astable chair because he was kind
of scared to play it.
Huh.
That humanizes it, doesn't it?
Shows his genuine reverencefor music history.
Totally.
And besides those, he's alsoreleased other singles like God Talkin',
I Need a Truck, Southbound.
Just a steady stream ofmaterial keeping.
His audience engaged andbuilding that momentum.
(17:41):
He's clearly not just asingles artist, though.
No, he's quickly moved intolonger formats too, which indicates,
you know, a maturing artistryand a strategic approach to his career.
EPS, right?
Yeah.
Introduced his first episode,First Dance, released March 21, 2025.
First Dance.
Interesting title.
Any story behind that?
Actually, yeah.
And it's kind of surprising.
It was suggested by the studioand then he realized it's serendipitously
(18:05):
connected to his Most viralvideo ever.
Which one was that?
Oh, get ready with me for adance that you never did.
Oh, I think I remember seeing that.
It went huge, didn't it?
Close to 100 million viewsacross all platforms.
He said, wow.
That kind of organicconnection between his social media
presence and his actualrecorded music, that's a masterclass
in modern artist branding.
(18:27):
Totally.
And he quickly followed thatup with First Dance, the after party,
released May 2, 2025.
Continuing the theme, givingfans more smart.
Okay.
But shifting gears a bit.
One aspect that trulyhighlights his early impact as a
songwriter beyond just his own stuff.
Yeah.
Is the story behind that songTough, the one he co wrote that got
(18:49):
cut by Lana Del Rey and Quavo.
Oh, right.
That's huge.
Global superstars.
It's not just a feather in his cap.
It's a massive industryvalidation, especially for someone
so young and tough.
Has such a deeply personal inspiration.
Right.
Which makes its journey to popand hip hop even more remarkable.
Absolutely.
Tell us about that.
It was written about his dad'sdad, his grandfather, and his whole
(19:12):
family unit, really.
They're farmers.
Okay.
Specifically farming dark firetobacco, which is apparently a very
specific, challenging, kind ofculturally rich form of agriculture.
So it's a raw, authentictribute to his roots, his family's
resilience.
Exactly.
And the fascinating part ishow this very personal, kind of specific,
(19:34):
country rooted song made itsway to Lana Del Rey in Quavo.
Yeah.
How did that happen?
Well, basically, one of thewriters he was collaborating with
knew Lana, saw the potentialin the track and just passed it along
to her team.
Just like that.
Serendipity again?
Seems like it.
And his reaction to the news?
Pure exhilaration, as you'd expect.
I bet.
He said he was ecstatic.
(19:55):
Literally ran around his housea few times when he heard Lana Mike
cut it.
Ah, I love that.
And then he went crazy.
When Guava was also mentionedjust shows the unexpected cross genre
appeal they saw in it.
And the song became a massive success.
Huge.
Charted within the top 40 ofthe US Billboard Hot 100.
That's the big one across all genres.
And the streaming numbers hementioned, 250 million streams on
(20:19):
Spotify.
That's firmly in the categoryof major global hit.
Incredible.
But what's truly remarkable tome about Tuff is his attitude about
it.
His selflessness in lettingthe song go.
Yeah, that stood out to me too.
He said he had not a secondthought about letting them cut it.
Why most artists would want tokeep a potential hit.
(20:41):
He genuinely believed hewouldn't have done Anything with
it himself, and that they didit so much better than I could have
ever done it.
Wow.
That shows maturity way beyondhis years, prioritizing the song's
ultimate reach over his ownperformance of it.
It's pretty rare, especiallyfor a young artist, to see that kind
of clear understanding ofwhere a song can best flourish.
Does he perform it himself?
(21:01):
He does.
Yeah.
He performs tough on tour andshares the story, the Lana cut, with
his fans so they still connectwith that piece of his journey, even
though he.
Hasn'T actually met Lana orQuavo yet.
Right.
But it doesn't diminish his appreciation.
And that collaboration reallyspeaks to the increasing fluidity
of genre boundaries today,doesn't it?
Definitely.
(21:21):
How authentic storytelling canjust transcend traditional musical
categories.
Okay, so being this globalmusic sensation At 15, it must come
with some unique challenges,some unique insights, especially
in an industry that can be so demanding.
Oh, absolutely.
How does Maddox stay true to himself?
How does he maintainperspective, keep learning amidst
(21:44):
this absolute whirlwind?
It's a huge question.
It really raises importantpoints about identity, about growth,
especially under the intenseglare of the public eye.
What stands out to you abouthow Maddox is navigating these really
formative years?
Well, it's clear he's veryintentional about maintaining his
normal kid identity.
That seems core to his Personaand probably his sanity.
(22:06):
How does he do that?
He strongly emphasizes being100% normal when he's not working,
doing things like playinggolf, going to church, playing music
with his dad, playingbasketball with friends.
This regular teenage stuff.
Exactly.
It feels like a deliberateeffort to keep himself centered,
providing these vital anchorsof normalcy amidst the chaos of fame.
And his inspirations forlyrics reflect that too, right?
(22:26):
Totally.
He says his primaryinspirations are girls, obviously.
Personal experiences andlifestyle songs.
It highlights that authentic,youthful perspective that connects
so widely.
And his own musical tastes arepretty broad, too.
Incredibly eclectic, which isfascinating for someone so connected
to country.
He cites influences likeMorgan Wallen, George Strait, Garth
(22:49):
Brooks, country legends.
Okay, makes sense.
But also Michael Buble,Playboi Carti, and Frank Sinatra.
Wow.
Okay, that is a huge rangefrom straight to Sinatra.
De Carti.
Right.
It showcases this really widemusical palette that informs his
genre blending sound and keepshis music fresh, appealing to diverse
(23:09):
listeners.
His approach to social mediaalso seems quite strategic for someone
his age.
She has a real intuitiveunderstanding of modern fan engagement.
Yeah.
He explained that hisphilosophy is basically mixing the
artistry with a good littlebit of personality.
Makes sense.
Don't just be the music.
Right.
He gives the Example of hisGet Ready with me with dad videos.
Those became incredibly popular.
(23:29):
One had like 8 million views, even.
Though his dad was skepticalat first.
Yeah, his dad was apparentlylike, I don't think so, man.
Stick to music.
Ah, dad was wrong on that one.
Totally.
Yeah.
Maddox believed thatpersonality adds depth and it helps
people stay around.
It fosters this genuineconnection where he views his fans
almost like, in the room with me.
(23:51):
Yeah.
Like, they're really just likemy friends.
That's an intimate connection,like a peer to peer relationship,
almost.
Yeah.
He even cites Alex Warren, thebig TikTok influencer who's also
an artist, as an influence forblending those roles effectively.
Smart.
It makes the whole thing feelless transactional, more communal,
built on shared experiences, authentic.
(24:12):
And that strategy clearlyhelps him build this loyal, engaged
fan base that feels personallyconnected to him.
Not just the music, but given his.
Age and how fast everythinghappened, navigating the industry
must present uniquechallenges, things seasoned artists
might not face till much later.
Oh, for sure.
He speaks pretty candidlyabout the struggle of being so young,
feeling naive sometimes,learning the hard way about needing
(24:34):
to get the right people around you.
That trust issue must be huge.
Definitely.
He really emphasizes thedifficulty of staying true to his
same morals that he had beforefame hit.
Says it's a constant,conscious effort to.
Keep that grounding,especially when you're suddenly surrounded
by new people, new expectations.
And he touches on the issue ofnot always being taken seriously
(24:56):
by some older folks in theindustry because of his age, even
when he knows what he'stalking about.
That must be frustrating.
Yeah.
He confidently states, we'resmarter than you think.
Especially us kids now whogrow up, like, on social media.
Interesting point.
He sees that daily engagementwith platforms as a form of, like,
education, pretty.
Much giving him deep,intuitive insights into how people
(25:19):
navigate content, buildconnections online.
Maybe more so than oldergenerations who didn't grow up with
it.
It really does highlight agenerational shift in how knowledge
and influence are perceived.
Within the industry and thatstruggle for economy.
It also translates intofinding his voice in creative and
business decisions.
Right?
Yeah.
That seems crucial.
Exactly.
He talks about his evolutionfrom being a people pleaser, which
(25:43):
is pretty common for youngpeople in new situations.
Totally.
You don't want to rock the boat.
Right.
To becoming more vocal increative decisions.
Apparently his team actuallyencouraged him to embrace his role
as the boss, quote, unquote.
That sounds like a huge butnecessary shift for a teenager in
that position.
For sure.
He's learning to assert hisvision, which is absolutely crucial
(26:05):
if you Want a long term,authentic career, not just being,
you know, a product of theindustry machine.
And the role of his familyseems paramount in all this.
A crucial anchor, absolutely critical.
He underscores the importanceof his close family unit, particularly
his dad.
He trusts his dad implicitlybecause he says, his dad won't shoot
you straight, meaning he'llalways be honest, even if it's tough
(26:28):
to hear.
That's invaluable protectionand unconditional love.
Yeah.
His dad acts as a bufferagainst the potential pitfalls of
fame.
Maddox sees his family as theonly people in the world who don't
expect.
Anything from him, just lovehim for who he is.
Exactly.
Highlighting their essentialrole as this unwavering foundation
amidst all the externalpressures, the expectations, the
(26:50):
often transactional nature ofthe music business.
For a young artist, that kindof support system is just priceless.
But one of the most uniquechallenges he faces, especially right
now at this critical age, isthe ongoing struggle of his voice
changing.
Ah, puberty.
Right in the middle ofbecoming a star.
Yeah.
He says it changes quiteliterally every week.
(27:13):
Imagine your main instrumentjust transforming rapidly, almost
unpredictably, while you'retrying to perform on global stages
and record music.
That must be incredibly difficult.
How does he manage?
He explains the very practicalimpact needing to change the key
to every song again duringtour rehearsals, sometimes daily,
because his range or tonemight have just shifted overnight.
Wow.
(27:33):
Does he have any idea whereit's heading?
Well, he does mention his dadhas a really, really deep voice,
so maybe that's a genetic cluewhere his might eventually settle.
But the journey to get thereis clearly demanding.
It really raises a profound question.
How does an artist keepperforming and evolving when their
primary instrument isliterally transforming under them?
Right.
(27:54):
It's not just a small shift.
No.
It requires significant adaptation.
Vocal agility, a strongunderstanding of his evolving range,
which must mean continuous,rigorous vocal training.
He works with Mama John, right?
Yeah.
Whom he describes as one ofthe best vocal coaches in the world.
She's worked with giants likeBieber, Usher, Drake.
(28:16):
Artists who navigated theirown vocal changes.
Exactly.
It's about buildingfoundational technique that can transcend
these temporary biologicalchanges, ensuring his performances
stay consistent and strong,even as his voice finds its mature
register.
That adaptability, thatdedication to his craft, despite
this fundamental physicaltransformation, it's a real testament
(28:37):
to his commitment.
Definitely.
Moving beyond the physical, heseems to have this strong sense of
confidence.
Where does that come from?
He attributes it directly tohis dad, and the Batson side of his
family sees it as kind ofgenetic thing, but also built from
learning, from finding outhe's decent at something.
So earned confidence derivedfrom skill and practice.
Yeah, but he's very aware ofthe potential pitfalls of that self
(29:00):
assurance.
He emphasizes that he strivesfor humility.
Actively avoids being cocky.
Recognizes that fine line.
Yeah.
He says there's a verydistinct line between confident and
cocky.
Which is a remarkably matureperspective for someone experiencing
such rapid success.
Shows his awareness of publicperception and his own values.
And his palpable love for performing.
(29:21):
That seems like a deepwellspring of motivation for him
too.
A powerful counterbalance tothe challenges.
Oh, totally.
He describes the pure joy ofjust seeing fans enjoy his music.
He likens that instantgratification he feels on stage to
the satisfaction he used toget scoring points in basketball.
Ah, back to that comparison.
That direct, energeticfeedback loop is clearly vital for
(29:43):
him.
Yeah.
And he purposefully takes hisin ears out sometimes on stage just
to hear the thousands ofscreaming girls.
Really?
He wants to hear the scream?
Yeah.
He says he's never ever mad atit or at all.
He wants them to screambecause to him it means the world.
That they think so highly ofhim that they're connecting with
his art.
That's a great perspective.
(30:04):
And he doesn't get nervous?
Apparently not.
Sees it as not my vibe, whichis pretty exceptional for someone
so young on such big stages.
Indicates a real naturalcomfort with performing live.
He's also embraced thatcountry Justin Bieber comparison
quite positively, hasn't he?
He has notes it means theworld because he grew up listening
(30:25):
to Bieber.
Even watched his documentaryat least once a day for a long time.
Wow.
Dedicated fan.
Yeah.
He aims to take all the goodout of it from that comparison.
Clearly looking at Bieber'smassive global success and longevity
is kind of a blueprint.
Which brings us back to thatcrucial point about the evolution
of country music itself.
How does his specific genrebending approach impact the broader
(30:47):
landscape?
It suggests a very deliberateand I think innovative approach that's
becoming more common in modern country.
How does he describe it himself?
He sees himself on thisspectrum where George Strait is maybe
a to the epitome oftraditional country.
Okay.
And Justin Bieber is like anegative 2, pure pop.
He positions himself around 0or plus 0.5.
(31:09):
Interesting self awareness ofhis place.
Yeah.
His explicit goal is to makerelatable music for everyone, Taking
bits and pieces fromeverybody, incorporating all those
diverse influences withoutlosing his core identity.
So leaning country but notalienating pop fans.
Exactly.
Creating that crossoverappeal, broadening his audience Significantly.
(31:31):
And he firmly believes thisapproach is actually good for country
music.
How so?
He thinks it brings a newwave, new interest, and will maybe
light a fire under all theartists in the genre.
Pushing boundaries, bringingin a younger, more diverse fan base.
It's a vision that embracesinclusivity and expansion for the
genre, ensuring it stays relevant.
Definitely.
The homeschooling shift isanother major piece of his story
(31:53):
too.
Illustrates the profoundpersonal adjustments needed for this
kind of early success.
Right.
Why did that happen exactly?
Just the schedule, primarily.
Yeah, he explains.
His schedule became overwhelming.
Missing Thursdays, Fridays,Mondays of school, feeling like he
was missing the week.
It just became unsustainableto keep up with public school alongside
(32:13):
his exploding music career.
Makes sense.
But wasn't there another sideto it too?
Yeah, there was also a darkerside that contributed.
He notes that some peoplestarted coming out of the woodwork
like, hey Maddox, you make money.
Oof.
Early difficult encounterswith the financial pressures, the
ulterior motives that fame brings.
Exactly.
(32:34):
Forcing him to navigate reallycomplex social dynamics way too early.
So homeschooling offersflexibility, which is obviously a
benefit.
Huge benefit.
He praises it, says it's sonice letting him do schoolwork whenever
I want.
But there are downsides,surely, especially socially for a
teenager.
He openly acknowledges them,misses the social aspect of public
school, doesn't talk to hisold friends as much.
(32:55):
That's a significant lossduring crucial developmental years.
It really raises thatimportant question again, what's
the long term trade off forsuch early explosive success?
He says the biggest challengeoverall has been loneliness and the
difficulty in figuring out whoare true friends versus those with
ulterior motives.
That must be incredibly hardat his age.
(33:16):
Yeah.
He acknowledges that you'regoing to let in terrible people from
time to time, but emphasizesit's crucial to learn from that and
pick it up.
The first second like hintsstart dropping.
Wow.
That speaks to a rapid maturation.
Developing a cautious butnecessary approach to new relationships
in the public eye for sure.
So he's already achieved somuch, right?
(33:38):
Milestones many artists chasefor decades.
But what does the future holdfor Maddox Batson?
And maybe more importantly,what does success truly mean to someone
on this unique journey,Especially being so young.
Yeah.
What's the end game?
Well, this part provides acrucial perspective on his long term
vision, his values.
It seems his focus extends farbeyond just immediate gratification
(34:00):
or, you know, fleeting viral moments.
He's already racked up sometruly incredible major industry endorsements
and achievements that reallyunderscore his trajectory.
Like the record deal you know, signed.
That deal, notably becomingone of the youngest artists to sign
with Warner Records.
Partnered with Prosper Entertainment.
That dual label approach is interesting.
(34:20):
What's the thinking there?
Well, Prosper likely acts asmore of a development partner, you
know, nurturing his.
Artistry and career path,while Warner provides the muscle.
Exactly.
The colossal distribution,marketing, radio, promotion machinery.
And right after that deal, hequickly embarked on a sold out headlining
tour across the United States.
Sold out as a newly signed 15year old.
(34:42):
That's astonishing.
It really is.
And in 2024, he also performedat major country events like CMA
Fest, the.
Heart of the country music calendar.
Right.
And became the youngest artistto perform Whiskey Jam.
Famously filling the venue,which is known as like an industry
proving ground for.
New talent, huge steps, butperhaps one of the most significant,
most symbolic milestones forany country artist.
(35:05):
The grand Ollie Opry debut.
Oh, yeah, he made his debutthere on March 26, 2025.
And this isn't just anothergig, is it?
It's like an induction intothis revered institution.
So for anyone listening whomight not be deep into country music,
why is the Opry such a massive deal?
It's absolutely immense.
Maddox explains it perfectly.
(35:25):
The Opry is a staple.
It's the sacred stage whereany country music star you can think
of at all has played there.
So playing it means you'repart of that history.
Yeah, you become a part of thegenre, you become a part of the ecosystem,
you become a part of the community.
He explicitly says you have toplay the Opry.
It emphasizes its nonnegotiable status.
(35:48):
If you want legitimacy,lasting impact in.
Country, it's not just avenue, it's an institution that validates
your place totally.
And the personal impact wasprofound too.
He shared that his nana wassobbing when he told her she equated
the experience to going to church.
Wow.
That highlights the deepspiritual cultural significance it
holds for families connectedto country music.
(36:09):
Absolutely.
And just to underscore his ageagain, he was just 15 years old when.
He made that debut, suggestinghe's likely one of the youngest ever
to make an Opry debut as anactual performing artist, not just
like a guest.
Seems very likely.
It's a moment that justpowerfully bridges his personal journey
with the rich, storied historyof the genre.
Cements his place.
(36:30):
And looking ahead, his touringschedule is already packed.
Right shows, the continueddemand definitely robust.
He had that headlining Tour inspring 2025, and now he has this
upcoming role, opening forLainey Wilson on her whirlwind world
tour.
Opening For Lainey Wilson,that's a huge opportunity.
Massive.
His dates start in September 2025.
It'll expose him to evenlarger audiences, solidify his presence
(36:54):
on major tours.
And what's fascinating here isthat embrace of community and collaboration
you see in country music.
It seems different from othergenres sometimes.
He seems to have integratedreally quickly.
He definitely has.
He mentions genuineconnections with other artists like
Bailey Zimmerman, calls himhis best buddy.
And he highlights WarrenZyders, who's also on Warner, his
(37:14):
label, and shares thatremarkably similar backstory.
Zyders was also an injuredathlete, a lacrosse player turned
musician.
Ah.
That shared understanding ofpassion redirected must create a
bond.
Yeah.
That sense of sharedexperience, camaraderie, mutual support.
Yeah.
It seems like a really genuineand powerful part of the country
(37:34):
music community, fostering amore collaborative environment for
artists like Maddox.
Okay, so with all theseaccomplishments, this seemingly limitless
future, what does it all meanfor how Maddox himself defines success?
That's the crucial insight, right?
His motivations beyond the spotlight.
Yeah.
And it's clearly not aboutfleeting fame for him, which is incredibly
wise for his age.
(37:55):
So what is it, then?
He articulates his definitionvery clearly, making relatable music
that my fans enjoy and justhaving a good core fan base.
And longevity.
Longevity.
That's a key word.
His biggest goal, heemphasizes, is longevity.
It's not about being thebiggest star tomorrow.
It's about enduring.
Who does he look up to for that?
He names artists like theJonas Brothers, George Strait, and
(38:18):
Dolly Parton, all artists withtimeless records that will stand
the test of time and live onfar beyond any of us.
That's a powerful ambition.
It is.
He contrasts that goal withfleeting fame, saying he'd rather
be a chill dude, not asfamous, and make good money.
And, you know, for mygrandparents, my grandkids.
Grandkids.
Grandkids don't got to worryabout anything then be famous and
(38:40):
not be that successful.
Wow.
He's thinking aboutgenerational wealth, a lasting legacy,
not just ephemeral celebrity.
Exactly.
Which again, raises thatquestion about the wisdom, the maturity
he demonstrates at such ayoung age.
Where does that come from?
Many teenagers are focused onthe here and now.
He attributes this wisdomdirectly and very clearly to his
(39:00):
father.
Ah, Back to his dad's influence.
Yeah.
He says, I give that all to my dad.
He talks to me.
I get a lot of lectures.
Huh.
Sounds like good parenting.
It's clear.
That strong family foundation,his dad's candid guidance.
It's been absolutely pivotalin shaping his values and his Incredibly
grounded approach to whatcould easily be a dizzying, overwhelming
(39:21):
career.
A testament to strongmentorship and having that clear
moral compass from a young age.
So what an incredible deepdive this has been into the world
of Maddox Batson.
I mean, from a career altering sports.
Injury to TikTok stardom,signing with major.
Labels, hitting chart toppingsongs, making his grand Oly Opry
debut all before he can evendrive without supervision.
(39:44):
His story is just amasterclass in modern artist development,
personal resilience, andnavigating it all.
His journey truly exemplifieshow authenticity, that deep resilience
in the face of adversity andhaving a clear vision for longevity,
how that can define anartist's trajectory, even starting
soon.
So incredibly young.
Yeah, he navigates thecomplexities of fame by staying grounded,
(40:07):
relying on his family, andjust focusing intently on creating
music that truly connects withpeople on a personal level.
You know what really standsout to me is that unwavering commitment
to making music that'srelatable, as he says, for everyone.
Finding that sweet spot rightbetween classic country storytelling
and modern pop appeal, and.
Not being afraid to tell hisown unique, authentic story.
(40:28):
It's clear his definition ofsuccess isn't about fleeting fame
or chasing trends.
No, it's about building thattimeline list legacy, ensuring his
art touches lives and as hesaid, provides for generations to
come.
His story leaves us with areally compelling thought.
I think in a world justsaturated with fleeting trends, with
instant gratification, whattruly makes an artist's impact endure
(40:53):
and.
What will ultimately defineMaddox Batson's place in music history
decades from now?
Only time will tell.
But it's going to befascinating to watch.
Absolutely.
And that's a wrap on this deep dive.
Thank you so much for joiningus on this journey of discovery.
Until next time, keep digging,keep learning, and stay curious.
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