Tim McGraw sat down for a wide-ranging conversation that touched on his music, career highlights, and even his much-talked-about bald head.
One of the most personal projects on his mind right now is a song he’s writing about his mom. He admitted it will be tough to work through emotionally but feels it’s an important story to tell. McGraw knows the power of deeply personal songs, he reflected on “If You’re Reading This” as a special writing experience that still resonates with fans today. When it comes to dream collaborations, McGraw didn’t hesitate, he would have loved to work with Elvis Presley. “Love Me Tender is one of the best vocals I’ve ever heard,” he said.
This year, he’ll take the stage at the iHeartRadio Festival, something he looks forward to for the mix of artists and genres. His favorite festival memory? Seeing Paul McCartney on the side of the stage, watching him perform. McGraw called it the “ultimate experience,” watching him singing along to every word.
Of course, fans have also been buzzing about his new bald look. McGraw laughed about how much attention it got online, but admitted his wife aka Faith Hill loves it, so he plans to keep it. “It does get cold sometimes, though,” he joked.
Looking back, he also shared stories behind some career milestones:
- “Don’t Take the Girl” — McGraw said if you think about it, the mom probably dies at the end of the song.
- “Over and Over” with Nelly — The collaboration wasn’t planned as a single. Once the album dropped, radio picked it up and it blew up on its own. He remembers Nelly calling with pieces of the song, meeting in a "foggy" L.A. studio, and writing it as they recorded. Fun fact: his then-tour manager Robert Allen (now with Taylor Swift) and Allen’s brother—drummer for Def Leppard—were there too.
McGraw also spoke about his creative process, saying it’s a dream of his to just go into the studio, cut tracks, and write lyrics later, though deadlines often get in the way. And beyond music, he opened up about another passion: flying. Though he doesn’t pilot as much as he used to, he still enjoys it, especially the challenge of crosswinds. Dierks Bentley credits McGraw for inspiring him to fly. For safety, the planes McGraw flies have parachutes, though he admits if you ever need to use one, the plane’s a goner.