Tyler Hubbard is opening up about one of the hardest times in his life. Hubbard was just 20 years old when his father, Roy Hubbard, passed away in a helicopter crash in the family’s backyard. The event changed everything for Hubbard.
“It was a helicopter crash, and it was super graphic,” Hubbard shares on The Upload. “I was just shook. I remember instantly almost just as I was walking away from that, standing there, talking to God, and being like, ‘All right. I know how this story plays out. I can get mad at you right now, and I can go down this road. Or I can lean on you.’ I feel like that was the moment that I was almost training for my whole childhood. Like, how strong is your faith? ‘Cause this didn’t seem fair.”
Hubbard’s father was just 43 when he passed away, right as Hubbard was becoming an adult.
“We were just getting to a cool spot in our relationship,” Hubbard says. “And so, to watch him pass away in front of me, in an instant, very unexpected, I was like, all right. I gotta make a choice. For me, the second I made that choice, I felt the embrace, and I felt the peace. I was like, ‘That makes no sense.’ I was like, ‘Whoa. This is Jesus.”
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What Happened When Tyler Hubbard’s Father Passed Away
Hubbard still vividly recalls the painful moment when his father passed away in the fatal accident.
“He had taken up flying helicopters, which was a cool hobby. It was fun watching him do something he loved,” Hubbard tells ABC News. “That weekend he had a helicopter crash in the backyard, and we were there, which was tough. But also, a blessing to be there when it happened. Just one of those freak accidents, very unexpected, and it kind of shaped who I was.”
Tragic as it was, losing his father is also the moment that Hubbard says defined his faith, and determined how he would live his life.
“I kind of made a promise to God in that moment like, ‘Look, I want to lean on you,” Hubbard remembers. “I want to trust you. I know you’re in control, and I have faith that as much as this is confusing and I don’t understand it, I really want to do this right. And I want to go through the process and the grieving and all that, but I want to trust you.'”
Tyler Hubbard Celebrates Fourth No. 1 Single With “Park”
Hubbard recently celebrated his fourth consecutive No. 1 single, with “Park.” The song is on Hubbard’s 2024 Strong album, his second release as a solo artist, after formerly performing as part of Florida Georgia Line. The song is written by Hubbard, along with Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, and Canaan Smith.
“It’s such an incredible feeling to have my fourth number one in a row — I’m truly blown away,” says Hubbard. “I never take these moments for granted, and I’m so thankful to country radio, my team, and the fans for the continued support. After by buddies Canaan, Ashley, Jesse and I wrote this song, we knew it felt special, and seeing fans sing it back every night on tour has been one of the biggest highlights of my year. I’m beyond grateful to everyone who made this possible. This one feels extra special. It takes a village, and I have the best.”
Photo Credit: Jimmy Fontaine