Exclusive Interview with Colin Stough

Hey guys, it's Gail with Everything Nash here with Colin Stout who was just on American

Idol and we're so happy to be talking to him and we have a lot to talk about

Just first of all, good to see you Colin. Thanks for talking to us. Hey, thanks for having me here man

I'm blessed. So talk about your journey because you were working HVAC when you were a teenager

That's a great career to have right out of high school. That's awesome

And then your mom signed up for American Idol. Talk about that

So I have recently in the past, probably like seven years, I had done metal fabrication

So like welding and powder coating and stuff like that. And so I got out of high school and I was like, man, I really need to look for something

new because everybody's going to need heating and cooling. And so I went and started doing it and probably about eight months into it, I was like, I'm

just not really having fun. You know what I mean? Like I've always been kind of a hard worker and stuff like that

But, you know, trying to balance what we had going on at home and, you know, as far as

like horses and, you know, stuff like that and doing that too

I was like, man, I was like, I got to figure something else out

So I was fixing to quit and just go full time horse

And my mom told me, she's like, yeah, I'm going to sign you up for American Idol

I was like, no, you know, you know, I was like, don't do that. You know, I just, you know, really didn't think I was good enough, you know, to be out

there doing that with all of them. And she called me up, I was leaving work, she was like, hey, you need to go buy so-and-so's

house and, you know, sit down and do these interviews with these folks. She's like, take your guitar

And I was like, mama, I was like, I just I don't think that you, you know, kind of did

the right thing. You know, the whole time, you know, I tell everybody this, and it's honestly got truth. I thought she was getting scammed the whole time

So I went, man, I'm talking to all these people, I mean, I had like, man, this shit

lasted for like three hours, me sitting there talking to these people. And they'd send me somewhere else and I'd wait, and I'd sit there and I'd wait

And so finally, well, they told me that I was like, well, congratulations, you're going

to get to go perform for the judges on American Idol. And I was like, all right, yeah, you know, still actually excited because I still

thought it was a scam. And while I left and I got back home and mama found out about it, I told her, I just I

think it's a scam. You know, I just I think it's a scam. You know, I just you know, I mean, you know how this world is

You know, I get probably four or five scam calls a day. And one way, so we sit there and about two days later, our information for our hotel

come in in New Orleans, Louisiana. And I was like, I mean, I've been in Louisiana before

I was like, I don't know about this. I'll be honest with you

And so I told my mom, I said, well, you won't go with me. I said, is they going to get me

They don't want to get you to. And so we went and still I didn't think it was real the whole time

There's about 200 of us there. And then and I knew everybody was acting serious about it, but I just didn't know

what, you know, they were acting serious about. Unless I'm still there the whole time, you know, putting on a face and a man, I'll walk

in there and show up as them sitting in there, the judges. I'm like right then

That's like a holy shit moment. You know, it's just went from. All right, I'm fine, you know, and then sure enough, my I don't really know big

words, but my scale from one to 10 on shit in my pants was a 10 at that moment

And so we go in there and I play, I don't know how I made it through

I don't remember nothing, actually, all this thing because I was just a nervous wreck

Because, I mean, you think for two weeks you go on thinking this is fake and then you get

to the last moment that ain't, you know, we made it through and they told me I was

going to the Hollywood and it just kind of went from there

I talked to a lot of American Idol contestants. I think that might be my favorite story

That's crazy. So I watched your audition. I just watched it a couple of weeks ago and it was so good

Was there a point in the show then when you were like, huh, I might actually make it

Yeah. So that whole entire time. Uh, I was sitting there and you kind of give like a little background story and I

don't know how much time we got, but I'm a big talker. I love to talk. So I come back home

We had done pre-filming in Hollywood and I was so nervous to go back because I was

like, man, I just think I'm pushing my luck right here. Well, I was, we were at home in Amory and we were hanging out at the bar and, um, a

tornado came through right after one of my really close people in my life passed away

And so the night after that, I told him my truck and then the next time, which this

woman, she loved watching me on the show. She was one of my biggest fans. She was, she was like the last place she was before she passed was one of my

hometown shows in Amory. So the next episode that comes on is me singing her favorite song

So I'm like, man, there's something to that. You know, there's something to that in which I'm a big Christian

I, you know, you know, God's my best friend. And, um, so anyways, we, I'll anyway, to narrate your story of what I went through

living one day at a time and I didn't plan anything. I didn't, you know, they were stressing to when we got off, you know, rest and get

make sure you get plenty of sleep to renew your vocals and do this and do that

And I, I didn't do none of that. I just sat there and everybody not to do it

I just sat there and I was like, look, I was like, no matter what I do, if God

wants me to go through and do this, he's going to put me through it. And we got up there at that top three

And I heard a lot of people say this, but a lot of contestants

can feel when they're going home. And I got up there and I just, I just felt like I was going home

And which it was fine for me because I'd been in California way, way longer than my stay

You know, I'm not a Cali guy, you know what I mean? And, uh, so we got up there and we did that

And, you know, I knew, you know, I just, I could feel it

And I was like, and which I prayed for, I went on and I was like, Lord, this is it

Thank you for the run. I appreciate it. And so we went up and then we played with Lou and I come off, you know

everybody's, you know, hugging you and stuff like that. And I was fine, you know, like everybody else, you know, which I hate to say this

because I don't know how everybody was kind of, you know, upset and crying and

stuff, but when I got kicked off, I was too happy in a June bug in a field

You know, I was ecstatic. I was like, I'm fine with it. I'm fine with it

Y'all do y'all's thing. Y'all carry on, you know, these bow ties ain't for me, you know what I mean

And, uh, but so we got off and right when I got off, it's straight back

And, uh, that's the first time I met Jethro and that's the first time I met Lani Wilson

And, uh, so that was a really cool moment, you know, and, uh, man

talk about Lani, dude, she's amazing. Jethro is too. Both of them were like, man, if you, if you moved to the town, you never need

anything, here's my number, feel free to shout, you know? And that was, you know, that was amazing

And, uh, then from there, we, uh, went back home for two weeks and

then moved back, moved to Nashville. And hit the ground running with I still talk to Jesus. Okay

I love that song by the way. And I love talking to Jesus. So look at that, but the immediate fan reaction to that was so strong and so

instant and I mean, on my site, it exploded. Talk about that song

Give me the story behind that. So we were in California and we had, which I don't know if you know what it is

today, but in Nashville where it was called a pitch meeting where they pitch

you songs and stuff like that. And I just honestly hadn't had time while I was out there to sit down and actually

write anything that was quality or, you know, it wasn't made, it wasn't made for

the show or, you know, anything like that, you know? Um, so they're trying to find me a song

Well, my manager now kept pitching me, which I love her to death, but kept

pitching me these pop country songs. And I told her, I was like, look, I'm not a pop country singer

I'm barely a country singer. I'm Southern rock, you know, praise Dell and eat cornbread

You know what I mean? That's how I am, you know? And, and so she calls me at like seven o'clock in the morning, which I was always

the type where I just, it had been embedded in me, embedded in me for so long

that I would wake up at 4 AM. Drink a cup of coffee, sit on the edge of the bed and look out the window

until it was time to go. And I'm allowed to sit there until 7 AM, or I'm allowed to sit there until 7 PM

You can't never tell. So she calls me at 7 AM and first thing she said, Oh wow, you're awake

And I said, yeah, I wake up pretty early every morning. And she said, well, I've got this song

I really want you to take a look at it. I said, okay. She said, can I come to y'all's hotel

Me and you meet in the lobby and I'll play you a song. Can I come to y'all's hotel

Me and you meet in the lobby and let me show it to you. I said, yeah, come on. So she showed up and we're sitting there and she was like, all right

I want to play it for you. And before you say anything, just listen to the lyrics. Right off the bat, it's a pop song

And I took my, I took the headphone out. I did. I don't, I can't remember what it is, but I told her, I was like, I was like, man

in my head, you know, I'm thinking like, man, we're just going straight to pop. You know, we're not even doing country now, you know, what's going on here

And, uh, so she told me, just keep listening to it, keep listening to it

So I kept listening to it. And by the second verse, I was crying my eyes out. And I said, damn, I said, that's a good song right there

And I told her, I was like, well, I just, I just don't know if I can cut that

I don't know if I can share, you know, cause Hank and Francisca good job on their

songwriting abilities on that song. Cause as a songwriter, I feel like you need to write songs that relate to

everybody and that one right there punched me right in my stomach. Okay

And, uh, so I told her, I was like, I don't know if I can cut it. I don't know if I can cut it

We went back and forth. Well, I said, I'll cut it. Cause I was just so scared to share that piece of, I was so scared to share my

soft side with everybody, you know, with the whole America, you know what I mean? So we're in a studio, we're in the studio and we're cutting a song

And, uh, when I walked in here, I told him, I saw, look, I just

I really don't have a voice. I was like, I just can't help it. I don't have a voice. And well, they're like, Oh, drink water, drink water

So the whole time while we was recording that song, I didn't drink no water. I drank a Coke. We made it through

And man, I remember there's one big note, um, in the last like pre-chorus chorus

And it says, see ya, see ya note. And, uh, man I just hit the ground

I hit my knees. And, uh, man, I felt like I was, I was kind of saved that night

And then we go on and shoot the music video later. So it's 2 30 at this point in the morning in Los Angeles, California

And they're like, open to a random page in your Bible and close it

And I was like, okay, so I opened it up and guess what? There was a piece of glass stuck in my Bible from my truck rack

And, uh, the two verses it was sitting beside was, uh, it was all crap

I forgot him, but it was like, it says something about horses and

it says something about idols and they cherish the work that their own hands is made and I was like, where I am used to work with horses and now I'm on American

Idol and I play the guitar. So, I mean, that's cherishing the work that your own hands made

So we went about that and man, that song is just very, very, very

close to me and very special to me. It's a good one. I love that story

You released your debut EP, Promised Land, and I always wonder what artists

like what you think, because your first EP, that's a big deal

That's like my introduction to the rest of the world. So what did it feel like for you to release that

You know, so when we released it, so I mean, I'll be 102% honest with you

I don't classify myself in one genre just because I'm liable to sit down

and play a little John Mayer. Then I'm liable to sit down and play some Steve Ray Vaughn or Jimi Hendrix

or, you know, something like that. So I really wanted to put some stuff out there that was like, this isn't just

how I sing or how I play, this is just what I feel, you know what I mean

I'm a very feeling kind of musician. You know, if I feel it, I'm going to play it

So therefore like Promised Land, that's my roots. Talking about my roots

So I went back to my roots and we did a whole Southern rock thing with it. You know, if not for me, it's just talking about, you know, really

just being mad at one girl, you know, not mad, but you have like an anger

inside of you, you know, then if it ain't me, then who is, you know? So we kind of amped it up with that a little bit

And then of course I still talk to Jesus was on there and sleep tonight. You know, that's a song

I think that song has a genre. I just think it's a song about mourning people, you know, about, about

discovering death and discovering, you know, your own fears that you face in

your life, you know what I mean? So very, you know, kind of all over the place, but I like it that way

You know, I don't want to be tied down to just one genre, you know what I mean? Like, and that's just what I love

And I feel like there's a lot of musicians out there that do that, such as like Chris Stapleton, you know, you can take some of his stuff as

country and take some of his stuff as Southern rock, blues, you know, all of it

And I just, I just love that. I love that. And you have another single out right now till the day one does

Is that your single right now? Yes, ma'am. Okay. So give me the story behind that one

That's a good song. So we, uh, we actually were sitting there and, uh, man, I want to say, uh, we've

sent an awesome Sean's, uh, studio. And I want to say like, we got off talking like about like love and just about being

like, wow, and just, you know, pretty much how I grew up and, you know, uh, Jeff, you

know, kind of hollered out, he was like, well, you know, I'll be, you know, I'll

be hard to love, you know, to the day one does. And I'm like, that's catchy

That's good right there. I like it. And so we kind of formed a song around that form the song around that

And, uh, you know, next thing you know, we had a song and we was back here

and I had to come and do like two or three vocal passes on it just to get it right

But it's a, it's a killer song. I enjoy it. It's a good one

So what's happening with you in 2024? I mean, 2023 was a pretty big year for you

What are your plans for moving forward this year? My plans, um, man, I want to, I want to grow, you know, I want to be not only

like a better person, but I want to be a better musician, you know, now that I've figured out kind of this, this music life and how, like, you know

being like, I guess a personal influencer kind of works. Uh, I want to connect more of my fans

I really want to give them a whole lot more opportunities. So that means we're going to play a whole lot more shows

And, uh, we've already, we've already got on a Chase Matthew tour, uh, this year

So that's great. Love him to death. He's my homie. I lived with him for five months when I moved to Nashville

So, uh, we got on that with him and we've got some stuff in the works

that I'm honestly not sure about. And, uh, we got another EP coming, got some singles coming

And, um, you know, it's crazy. Cause I get a lot of people ask me, you know, what's coming up and stuff like that

And I'm the kind of guy where like, I give you my best answer, but in reality

though, like I just live one day at a time, you know, and that's how I love to

live because, you know, if I'm sitting here today and I'm worried about what

what's going to happen Thursday, then I don't get my full potential out of the

day, you know, and I'm not going to be able to lower Wednesday, you know

So that's just kind of how I do it. You know, I keep my phone notifications on and somebody texts me something

I'll answer and I'll remember it, but you know, I don't really get real deep in the

conversations, you know, like what, um, what are we trying to do

What's happening? You know, I just kind of call my manager once a week or twice a week and say

Hey man, we good. What I need to keep doing, what I need to stop doing. And we'll talk about it and he'll tell me

And, uh, that's just kind of how we roll. All right. Well, it's good to talk to you

I hope we get to do this in person sometime and best of luck this year. Also your family

I do too. I see, I see all y'all's social stuff. Like we got to share my stuff and everything

I'm like, that's awesome. And then somebody had a meeting and I was like, Oh gosh, that's amazing

Right there. You have some really supportive fans. I'll say that your fans are amazing

I dude, they're incredible, man. They, um, they made me a sign back there and which I'll get in show it to you

But it's got like all my stuff on it. Like, I mean, from like day one stuff, like the EP drop and lonely hour, dancing

on my own, um, man shows everything. My spot, everything. And they're just, it's amazing

I'll probably honestly get a package about once or twice a week from one of my fans

And it just, man, it lights my soul up. Well, it says it speaks to the kind of person that you are

So I, I try to be the best I can be. I'm not really a great morning person

And so that's why we don't do morning shows. Great to see you, my friend

Hope I get to see you soon. Heck yeah. Thank you so much. I hope you have a blessed day

Thanks. You too, Colin. Bye sweetie