It was a family tragedy no one could prepare for, when Tucker Beathard’s younger brother, Clay Beathard, was killed just days before Christmas last year, outside of a Nashville bar, along with Clay’s good friend, Paul Trapani III. The death left the family, including Tucker’s father, songwriter Casey Beathard, his mother Susan, and older brother, NFL quarterback C.J. Beathard, along with Tucker, unimaginably devastated.

“You can never prepare for something like this happening in your life. To be honest, I was always terrified of having someone so close to me pass away because I knew I wouldn’t have the strength to get through it on my own,” Tucker told Rolling Stone. “This song was inspired by the relationship I developed with the Lord following my little brother passing away and realizing that I don’t have the strength to go through this alone, but also realizing more than ever before that I’m not alone, and I am strong enough, but I ain’t without him.”

Tucker wrote “I Ain’t Without You” with his father, determined to make the song more about his faith than his loss.

“I knew that my dad was the only one that I could take that idea to and write that,” Tucker explained. “He’s the only one that could truly relate to where I was coming from. I’ve always used songwriting as an outlet to express where I’m at in life internally, and that’s what happened in this song. It’s more about Jesus Christ than it is about my brother, because it was me realizing during that time where I’m getting my strength from… I’m not strong enough to do this, to get through anything like this by myself, but with the power of Him, I am. That’s something that I saw firsthand and just had to pour out in this song.”

“Faith is the only thing to fall back on in a time like this,” he continued. “It puts in perspective how short time really is on Earth, and it drives you to refocus on what’s important. [Clay’s] legacy will be a piece of my art that continues to drive me every day. I just can’t wait to see him again.”

The poignant video for “I Ain’t Without You” shows Tucker performing on stage at an empty Grand Ole Opry, a fitting tribute for the touching tune.

“It was special time onstage and it just made sense to go back to that scene,” Tucker shared. “I could definitely feel that when shooting the video. It’s really an emotional and powerful setting. It’s always special playing at the Opry…and then for it to be that recent after Clay passed, and to debut a song inspired by that, it was a really emotional setting.”

The 25-year-old hopes that “I Ain’t Without You” inspires others who are struggling.

“[Having faith] is a truth that I found near the toughest time in my life,” Tucker said. “It’s what I’ve seen firsthand. If anyone can take something from my experience in this, and it helps them through…that’s kind of what songwriting is all about anyways. It’s one person speaking their truth honestly and vulnerably and having it resonate with other people who don’t have that voice.”

“I Ain’t Without You” is from Tucker’s upcoming EP, King, out on August 21. The record’s name is derived from his brother Clay’s middle name. Pre-order the project by visiting Tucker’s website.