Uncle Kracker’s first-ever interview with Taste of Country featured new stories and songs.
The “Follow Me” singer divulged a Kid Rock secret that still baffles me and explained why his whole team detested him for that mega-hit.
He also played for us the Jelly Roll collaboration he made ten years ago, confessing that he had been following the “Save Me” singer’s career ever since and had been quite pleased with his success.
Related: A Song You Were Not Aware Of: Uncle Kracker + Jelly Roll
Matt Shafer, better known as Uncle Kracker, is a kind and straightforward person about his life and music. For instance, he didn’t try to tell us a story about waiting for his moment or synchronizing his inner artist with the stars and moon when we asked him why it took him 12 years to record new music.
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Uncle Kracker’s
Coffee & Beer
album dropped in 2024. -
“Follow Me” and “Drift Away” are his big pop hits, but “Smile” and “When the Sun Goes Down” with
Kenny Chesney
were hits on country radio.
- He also co-wrote Kid Rock’s signature hit “All Summer Long.”
He says, “I didn’t even realize there was a gap,” to Evan Paul of Taste of Country Nights. “I just ended up in a spot where I was no longer on a major label and … all of a sudden, I was just in a spot where nobody was asking for that no more.”
More about Beer and CoffeeAfter months of preparation, ToC Nights host Evan Paul asked a wide range of questions regarding the 50-year-old’s life, nickname, family, and well-known acquaintances. He had all the answers!
“It’s always seems like people just think, like, Kid Rock spit me out of his womb and I ended up in Kenny Chesney’s lap,” Kracker quips.
But it’s true that he met the country artist through his oldest buddy. Kracker remembers that Chesney was searching for special guests for an event he had scheduled in Knoxville. “But I didn’t know at the time who Kenny Chesney was,” he continues.
Nevertheless, he answered the phone, and Chesney’s pledge to send his private plane to pick him up impressed him. They planned to record “When the Sun Goes Down” together a short time later.
The song ‘She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy’ was one of the first songs I listened to. They therefore desired some ad lib after “When the Sun Goes Down.”
“So it was all just like Uncle Kenny, whatever I could come figure out in the vocal booth, you know?”
The 2004 song’s official ad-libbed line is “Uncle Kenny’s hotter when the sun goes down.”For those that purchased the record, it’s a treat.
“You know, we talk all the time two times a week, easily,” Kracker responds. “But just to make sure everybody’s up, you know?”
“I feel like all I do these days is phone and check in, and we’re all getting older. How are you? Do you feel well?
Check out Coffee & Beer for more positive vibes. Kracker claims that his old followers will enjoy the new music, which has been out for over ten years.
“Not reinventing any wheels over here, you know,” he replies. “Whatever feels good for the day.”
