Back on the Road with Joe Nichols
Nine years is a long time to be away from something you love. For me, that something was touring and playing music. From 2016 to 2025, I stepped away from the road, unsure if I’d ever return.
Looking back, it was the right decision. I needed to get healthy — mentally, spiritually, and physically. I needed to be present for my wife, Lauren, and our son, Connor. I needed to rest, to reset, and to rediscover my love for music. The road can be both a gift and a burden: it can build you up or break you down. In my case, stepping away was what saved me.
Fast forward to late last year. Lauren and I were preparing for a big life shift. We had sold our home, were in the process of selling our swim school, and even considered moving back to Kansas City. But when every deal fell through, we found ourselves in limbo — renting a house, uncertain about the future.
Then came the unexpected. A call from a buddy. A question: “Do you want to come out of retirement and audition for Joe Nichols?” Without hesitation, I said yes. I auditioned. I got the gig. And just like that, a new chapter began.
Being back out on the road feels different this time. I’m not rushing through it, not letting the grind steal the joy. Instead, I’m embracing every second — the bus rides, the stage lights, the camaraderie, the music itself. After just a month and a half, I can already say: I feel whole again.
For years, there was a missing piece inside me. Playing music fills that space. And doing it alongside Joe — an incredible artist and a genuinely good guy — makes it all the more meaningful.
Lauren and I are empty nesters now, stepping into a season neither of us expected but both of us are grateful for. What I once thought was the end of a dream has become proof that God’s timing is always better than mine.
This journey isn’t something I take for granted. It’s a gift, and I’m thankful for the chance to play, to share, and to live it fully once again.
