Artist Name: Gatlin Johnson
Hometown: Lubbock, TX
What project(s) are you currently working on?
We’re going to cut our next single, “Wish I Could Hate You,” in a couple of weeks. This is the song everyone has been asking about after our shows all year and I can’t wait to share it in 2026.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know?
I was inspired to pursue a career in music when I was at a sold out Billy Bob’s show. I saw how many people cared about and connected to real, honest songwriting. Immediately, I wanted to share some of what I had written.
If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living?
If I wasn’t pursuing music, I would most definitely be a football coach right now. I’ve always been and still am passionate about football.
What is your favorite downtime activity?
My favorite downtime activity is fishing. I grew up bass fishing with my dad and it’s become something the band and I sneak in between sound check and show time almost everywhere we go.
Who is your biggest celebrity crush?
My biggest celebrity crush is Megan Moroney. I’ve never really had a celebrity crush my whole life but if I had to choose I would choose her.
Who is your favorite sports team(s)?
My favorite sports teams are Texas Tech and the Texas Rangers. I grew up a huge fan of Texas Rangers baseball, we went to games all the time when I was a kid. I’m currently a student at Texas Tech so I follow all the sports in Lubbock.
What is the last movie that you watched?
The last movie I watched was Love Actually.
What is the last album you listened to?
The last album I listened to was “In Vino Veritas” by The Wyatt Weaver Band. I met those guys up in Iowa of all places and they’ve got a great sound. Really enjoy the old school southern rock meets Texas thing they’ve got going.
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?
If I could only listen to one albums for the rest of my life it would “Live Country Music Councert” by Willie Nelson. One of the best bands paired with some of the best songwriting you’ll ever hear.
What is the greatest country song of all time?
I don’t know what the greatest country song of all time is but my favorite country song of all time is “Me and Bobby McGee” by Kris Kristofferson.
What has been your favorite city/town that you’ve visited out on the road?
This is a tough choice because I haven’t disliked any town we’ve played so far. So far, my favorite city is between Chicago, Illinois and Turkey, Texas. These places could not be more different but I loved them for those differences. Turkey, TX is full of people who care about Texas songwriters and take care of us in a way that’s hard to understand from the outside looking in. Chicago has really great food and it’s amazing to me that people up there enjoy Texas music.
What is your favorite meal?
Fried Venison back-strap and homestyle mashed potatoes is my favorite meal because it puts me back at home everytime.
Who is your dream duet partner?
My dream duet partner is Wade Bowen. I’ve always looked up to him and his songwriting. He’s also got one of the best voices in the country music scene.
Who would you like to go on tour with?
I’d like to go on tour with Flatland Cavalry. From the brief interactions I’ve had with them, they are some of the kindest people on Earth and I think it would be really cool to tour the country with another band from Lubbock, Texas.
What is your ultimate career goal(s)?
My ultimate career goal is to make a living playing to crowds who really care about my songs. I think it’s the coolest thing in the world to connect with people I’ve never met through words that I wrote.