Tim McGraw isn’t immune to the struggles of being stuck at home. The father of three planned on being on his Here on Earth Tour this year, but instead finds himself at home, like much of the rest of the world. Still, Tim has learned the best way to maintain a good mindset, even when life is hard: by helping others.
“My nephew [Jeffrey], who’s a pharmacist, and he’s at work every day,” Tim recalled (via CMT). “He said, ‘You know, I’m starting to think that disasters bring out the best in people but recessions and pandemics bring out the worst in people.’”
Tim was quick to remind his nephew –– and others –– that the worst of times can also bring out the best of times.
“’Well, Jeffrey, I understand what you’re saying,” the singer responded. “When a disaster happens, something happens, then it’s over and everybody moves in to try to help. Everybody wants to help. But when something like this happens, there’s a part of us that wants to put your arms around your immediate family and shutter the doors and not let the world in.’”
“That’s the safe thing to do, for sure,” he continued. “Now, in a bigger way, it’s the best time to reach out. And I think that’s what keeps us sane during this time. It’s what keeps us comfortable, what keeps us grounded, keeps our humanity about us and keeps us from not turning cold, bitter and scared.”
The 53-year-old released “I Called Mama” just as people were being forced to self-isolate, and the message couldn’t be more timely.
“I was recording this song earlier in the year, before all of this happened,” Tim shared on the Today Show. “It was a great song. It’s a song I love. I love my mom, like everybody loves their mom, and I really wanted to record it. After I recorded it and we got it mixed, then the virus came along, and everybody was talking about it, and everybody went into isolation. It really took on a bigger meaning and a deeper meaning to us. That’s why we released it.
“It just happened to be around Mother’s Day,” he continued. “But the main reason was because it just felt like what I’ve been doing and everybody’s been doing, just sitting at home and having comfort food all the time. This song felt like comfort food for your soul, in a lot of ways.”
