Cole Swindell On Getting Over Stage Fright
Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images
I got to speak with Cole Swindell backstage at TidalWave Music Festival 2023. We talked about stage fright, his relationship with Thomas Rhett, and golf.
Swindell took the main stage at TidalWave on Day 1, Friday, August 11. Cole Swindell doesn’t get stage fright about performing anymore, but when he first started singing in college, it was tough. He told me that the only things that shake him now are live-TV moments, like on award shows such as the ACMs. Speaking of, Cole won an ACM for his single, “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” this year.
Thomas Rhett and Cole Swindell came up the country ranks at about the same time. Now, they are touring together. Cole spoke highly of Thomas, calling him “the definition of an entertainer.” When the two of them are not on the road together, they are golfing together.
Back to “She Had Me At Heads Carolina,” Cole and Jo Dee Messina did a terrific job on the song. Jo Dee was also at TidalWave, so I had to ask if they’d perform it together.
Watch the full interview, where Cole discusses stage fright, backstage at TidalWave 2023 here:
Cole Swindell: His Five Best Number-One Songs
Cole Swindell has been scoring country music hits since 2013, when he charted his very first number-one song on country radio, “Chillin’ It.” Before that time, he was a Nashville songwriter that moved to town from his native Georgia in 2007 and penned songs like 2013’s “This Is How We Roll” for Florida Georgia Line and 2014’s “Roller Coaster” for Luke Bryan.
Swindell worked for Bryan as a t-shirt-selling guy before he moved to Nashville and began his songwriting journey.
Cole has had a big 2023, as at the ACM Awards in May, he won awards for Song and Single for his collaboration and chart-topper with Jo Dee Messina’s “She Had Me At Heads Carolina.” When he won Song of the Year, he said, “I moved to Nashville, Tennessee because I wanted to be a songwriter, and that’s what this award is. Jo Dee, I wouldn’t have this song without you making the original hit; thank you so much.”
He added, “There’s a kid out there watching this tonight that’s gonna get inspired by a song, and they’re gonna follow it up and chase the dream just like we all did. God bless country music.”
As Swindell celebrates his 40th birthday today (6/30), we ranked five of his number-one songs.
Razz On The Radio has been with 92.5 XTU for 18 years and is the Mid-Day host and Program Director of 92.5 XTU. His job off the radio is to bridge the gap between the Nashville music community and 92.5 XTU. Razz was nominated for ACM Major Market Personality of the year and the CMA in the same category. As a content creator for 92.5 XTU, he authors articles about country music and all things Philadelphia.
