Aaron Watson stopped by the Bobby Bones Show to talk all things music, including the new record he finished.
The conversation started with concerts. Watson shared that he’s only cried at two shows in his life, one was seeing Paul McCartney perform a song written for John Lennon. The other was at a concert by Taylor Swift. He attended the Taylor Swift show with his daughter, and the moment caught him off guard. As he watched her singing along and getting emotional during the performance, he realized how quickly she was growing up. Seeing her joy brought him to tears. The experience also came with a memorable and awkward moment. During an opener’s set, Watson’s daughter suggested it would be a good time for a bathroom break before Swift’s three-hour show began. When he walked into the men’s restroom, it was packed with high school girls who had moved in to avoid the long line for the women’s restroom. As he stood at a urinal among several other dads navigating the same situation, someone recognized him and shouted, “Hey Aaron, why don’t you sing us a song?” The room erupted in laughter while Watson tried to handle the awkward moment. Despite the unusual experience, he said concerts with his daughter have become a special tradition. Because he spends much of his life touring, he doesn’t often get to attend shows as a fan. When he does, it’s usually because his daughter has found an artist she wants to see. She keeps track of tour dates and builds a list of concerts they plan to attend together. Their shared love of music goes both ways. She enjoys artists he grew up with, including The Beatles, Elton John, and Keith Whitley. Watson even created a cover project called Cover Girl as a way to introduce her to artists like Emmylou Harris and other classic influences.
Music is also a family affair with his sons. His son Jake frequently joins him on stage and has become an integral part of the show. Watson described watching his son develop as a musician over the years, from getting on stage at five or six years old to now knowing the entire set list on guitar and drums. At one show, when the band’s drummer’s flight was delayed, Jake stepped in and played the entire set. Watson admitted his son surpassed him as a guitar player years ago. Jake studied artists like Mark Knopfler and bands like Dire Straits, while also learning intricate acoustic styles from players such as John Mayer. Now labels are already showing interest in his music before he has even recorded anything. Another son, Jack, has taken a different path. Watson joked that Jack might be too smart for the music business, spending his time investing in silver, gold, and stocks while questioning some of his father’s past investment decisions.
When he isn’t touring, Watson spends time in Texas between Abilene and a ranch property he built specifically as a songwriting retreat. The ranch house sits on the edge of a canyon and serves as a creative space where he writes songs, hosts co-writers, records vocals, and sometimes lets friends or church members stay when they need a place. Looking around that property often reminds him how far his career has come. Instead of defining success by fame or awards, Watson said his original goal was simple: to write his own songs, record them, play shows, and make enough to provide for his family. Achieving that goal, he said, is what success looks like to him. Watson and his wife have been married for 24 years, something he credits largely to patience and commitment. He recalled a childhood memory when his parents had a serious argument and his mother left the house for a short time. When she returned, she explained that she didn’t like his father at that moment, but still loved him deeply. That distinction stuck with Watson and shaped how he views marriage. He acknowledged that relationships are not easy and that his family has experienced real hardship, including the loss of a child. Those experiences often become the foundation for his songwriting. For Watson, music has always been therapeutic, both to write and to share with listeners who might be going through similar situations.
Writing remains his favorite part of the job. He starts most mornings with coffee and time on the porch working on songs. Recently, he feels like he’s entered a new creative phase, writing with renewed energy and perspective while also setting an example of work ethic for his children who are pursuing music. Watson also discussed life as an independent artist. The biggest advantage, he explained, is creative freedom. He can record what he wants, release music when he wants, and follow his instincts without needing permission from a record label. The challenge, especially early in his career, was funding everything himself and building the business from the ground up. That independence continues with his newest project, Horse Named Texas, a 26-song album that reflects the ups and downs of the past four years. During that time he faced vocal cord surgeries, time away from touring, and plenty of personal reflection. The album’s title track captures the spirit of perseverance that has defined his career. Watson described it as a story about falling down, getting back up, and continuing forward, an idea he compares to baseball, where even Hall of Fame hitters fail most of the time.
For Watson, the purpose of making music goes beyond chart success. If one song connects with someone in a meaningful way, or even saves a life, then he believes the entire journey is worth it. That mindset carries into every performance. Whether the crowd is small or the venue is sold out, he approaches each show the same way: giving fans the best experience he can. After decades in the industry, Watson said he feels like he’s in one of the best creative places of his career, still writing, still touring, and still inspired by the people and experiences around him.