Country singer Justin Moore was feeling homesick and missing his momma's cooking when he wrote the song that recently rose to the top of country single charts.
The Arkansas native knew Small Town USA meant a lot to him, but he never expected the lyrics would have such broad appeal"
A lot of people called it prison when I was growin' up / But these are my roots and this is what I love.
"I've played it in big cities and small cities and we get the same reaction,'' he said. "Everybody is proud of where they're from regardless of if they want to admit it and regardless of the size.''
The song, from his self-titled debut album, boosted him to the top of the country charts in September, making him the only new country artist to reach No. 1 this year. He returns to Tampa Friday to perform at the Round Up.
From Nashville, Moore, 25, spoke with tbt* about growing up in Poyen, Ark. (pop. 300) and going on tour with Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert.
Your success must be the talk of your town.
When you grow up in a town like that, there ain't a whole lot of things that matter and ain't a whole lot of things that go on. Everybody is extremely happy. We actually shot the video for Small Town USA in Poyen. A lot of the folks from there helped out and got to be in it.
I see you and your wife are expecting a baby girl in February. Congrats.
We're excited. I really don't know how it happened seeing I've only been home for three days this year.
Are you going to be able to get home for the birth?
She's due the 22nd, and I'm out with Paisley in Reno on the 21st. So it'll be touch and go. I might have to get on a jet and fly home, which I do not like to do. I guess if it's for my little girl, I'll have to do it.
You don't like to fly?
Absolutely hate to fly. My manager makes fun of me and says, "Justin, it's just a bumpy road.'' And I'm like, "When we're going 450 mph, 38,000 feet in the air, it's beyond a bumpy road.''
Does your wife travel with you?
She's actually got a real job, an office job. She's kind of past the point of this being so cool. She's like, "Whatever. I'll see you when you get home." I go home and tell her I played to 20,000 people and killed it. And she goes, "Okay, take out the garbage.''
You mentioned you enjoy hunting and fishing.
I fish quite a bit when I'm home. I've got a bass boat. I enjoy deer hunting probably the most. Arkansas is world famous for duck hunting, so I've done a lot of that, too. Squirrel hunting and turkey hunting, just about anything you can go out and hunt, I've done it or do it.
Squirrel hunting, that's kind of ...?
Awesome, right?
You can't eat the meat?!
Oh, yeah you can.
You've eaten squirrel meat?
I always do. Squirrel dumplings — ain't nothing better. It's just like chicken and dumplings except you put squirrel in it. I'll come and cook you some, some time.
Justin Moore
The country singer performs Friday night at the Round Up, 13918 W Hillsborough Ave., Tampa. $10 cover. Call (813) 855-1229 or go to theroundup.com.
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