Tim McGraw is kicking off his Pawn Shop Guitar Tour on Thursday, July 9. The tour is named after his forthcoming new album. McGraw recently released the title track of his next project, a song that is autobiographical to him.
“It just felt like the right time to go back and name a tour after how it all started,” McGraw says, in a video shared on social media. “A lot of people tell you, just go out and have a few lights, and just play music.’ And that’s fine, and we can do that. And we may do that at some point. But for me as an artist, I enjoy all of that stuff. And not only enjoy performing with it, but I enjoy putting it together. I enjoy the process of it, the process of creating a light show and creating a video show, and creating a setlist.
“There’s just no way that you can get to everybody’s favorite songs,” he adds. “So you have to pick the songs that take you on a ride.”
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The Story Behind “Pawn Shop Guitar” by Tim McGraw
Although McGraw doesn’t write a lot of his own songs, he did write “Pawn Shop Guitar” with Tom Douglas.
“My new song, ‘Pawn Shop Guitar,’ is really based pretty loosely on me, pawning my high school ring for a guitar, long before I came to Nashville,” McGraw explains. “It captures the spirit of being an artist, and believing that music is hope.”
“Pawn Shop Guitar” says in part, “I came to Music City with some songs / Burning a hole in my pocket / They slammed the door in my face. But I kept on a-knocking / Another cowboy on Broadway / Sleepin’ in my car With the whisper / In my pawn shop guitar.”
When McGraw released “Pawn Shop Guitar,” he said the message is very true to his own life.
“This one means a lot to me,” McGraw shares. “It goes back to where the dream started and ended up feeling like the perfect name for the tour.”
McGraw’s last album, Standing Room Only, came out in 2023.
“This is the first new music I’ve put out in over a year. It’s no secret that over the last few years, I got sidelined with back and knee issues,” McGraw explains. “That time was challenging on so many levels, but one of the positive things that came out of it, aside from physically being back to 100 percent, was that it gave me time to reflect on my life and to write songs. I was able to really dig into some personal stories in those songs for the first time.”
Tim McGraw To Be Inducted Into the Country Music Hall of Fame
2026 is shaping up to be a big year for McGraw. In addition to touring and releasing new music, McGraw will become an official member of the Country Music Hall of Fame later this year. He will be inducted along with Paul Overstreet and The Stanley Brothers.
“It’s the highest honor you can get,” McGraw tells Country Now. “I think other than marrying my wife and having our three daughters, nothing beats this. I mean, this is something that I don’t even think you dare to dream about. And you certainly don’t think it’s going to … Even ten years ago, I never thought that this would happen, certainly not in my lifetime.”
McGraw’s Pawn Shop Guitar Tour kicks off on July 9 in Bethel, New York, and runs through September 26. The Chicks and Lady A will join McGraw for his three stadium dates. Find more information at TimMcGraw.com.
Photo Credit: CMA / Natasha Moustache