Easton Corbin: an honor and a tradition to play the Opry
With his laid-back attitude and bright smile, Easton Corbin is a mix of boy-next-door and and an unapologetic tip of the hat to rural roots. You hear him all over the country on any one of the 200 country music stations across the U.S. Part of the next generation of country artists who are redefining the genre, he’s one of the stand-outs who doesn’t mind throwing in a little honky tonk with the newer elements of his peers, who’ve brought in some rock, pop and even hip hop (if you need a list of names, google Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood and… of course, Taylor Swift.) Corbin hit the country music scene with a bang in 2010 when he signed his first deal with Mercury Music. No surprise that his debut single, which jumped to number one on the country charts, is a nod to his rural roots and is entitled: “A Little More Country Than That.” Another Corbin single from that first record, “Roll With It,” also made it to the top of the country chart. The singles and albums he’s released since then have received all kinds of critical acclaim – including his latest single, (December 2014) “Baby Be My Love Song,” which peaked at 53 on the US Billboard Country Airplay chart, becoming his highest debut to date. However you label Corbin, traditionalist, neo-traditionalist, or simply country, one thing is clear, he remains true to the music he grew up on:
“The music does change overtime, but, you know, I think we still have the traditional roots out there, and that’s what I love about country music.”
Corbin’s deep love for country music comes straight from his childhood, when he lived on his grandparents’ farm and got familiar with the genre, watching country music radio and television programs like Hee Haw and the Grand Ole Opry. He quickly picked up a guitar, took some lessons and joined a band. With a legacy of iconic musicians like Johnny Cash, George Strait or Hank Williams, anyone can imagine the burden it might be for the next generation, trying to carry the torch…. When asked about his perception of today’s country music, Easton Corbin’s optimistic:
“The country music genre right now is as big as it’s ever been so there are a lot of different types of country music, so that brings a lot of folks into the genre who may not ordinarily be introduced to the genre. Country music is a part of the roots of America and where we come from, and I think it does give a good platform to introduce people to that and what we are about.”
It’s natural that Corbin has an undeniable affection for the tradition of playing the Grand Ole Opry. In our interview, filmed in March 2015 in Nashville, the capital of country music, he tells us there’s nothing quite like playing at the Opry – whose halls and green-rooms have played host to all his country heroes. It’s a special vibe every time, he says, both on-stage and backstage.














