Although Nashville was considered the heart of country music, Kentucky produced more than a few big names. Just to name a few – Loretta Lynn, Patty Loveless, Dwight Yoakam, Keith Whitley, and The Judds all considered Kentucky home. And adding his name to the growing list of Kentucky royalty, Tyler Childers continued to expand his legacy within country music. Having been nominated for several Grammy Awards throughout his career, Childers recently released his newest album, Snipe Hunter. With the album featuring songs like “Bitin’ List”, the songwriter crossed a new milestone on the Billboard 200.
Since Morgan Wallen released I’m the Problem, the country star dominated the charts, holding the No. 1 spot for several weeks. When looking at the Billboard 200 chart, dated August 9th, Wallen remained at No. 1. But just a few spots below, Childers’ Snipe Hunter snagged the No. 7 spot. Although knocking Wallen from the No. 1 spot would be monumental, Snipe Hunter was the singer’s highest debut to date.
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Tyler Childers Asked The Question – “What Are You Looking For”
Shining a light on the folk, bluegrass, and the unique style of Appalachian storytelling, Snipe Hunter received a great deal of praise from fans. On Spotify, the album’s song, “Oneida”, struck a chord with listeners, receiving over 11 million streams.
Discussing his new album with GQ, Childers found inspiration from the world around him. Using the “signs” of life to create his lyric, he said, “It’s all about knowing whether you should continue down a path or turn around and change things up. There’s just so many ways this album has been about following signs.”
Besides letting the lyrics tell the story, Snipe Hunter was more about asking questions. “It’s observations from a traveling hillbilly. Huntin’ our sounds and trying new things to find it, and hunting our path. It asks, in so many different ways, what are you looking for?”
With Childers taking country music back to its roots, the singer appeared to grow his career with each new release. And with the future bright for the singer, it’s only a matter of time before he finds his way to No.1.
(Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Boston Calling)