Catching Up with Greg Pratt at CRS 2026 Ep127

 This week on Happy Hour with Deb, we're welcoming back Greg Pratt for another great conversation, this time from CRS 2026! Greg has become a familiar face on the podcast, and it's always a pleasure catching up to see how his journey continues to evolve.

We talk about everything that's happened since our last interview, including the excitement surrounding his upcoming album, the lessons he's learned along the way, and why staying authentic is more important than ever in today's music industry. Greg shares his perspective on creating music that reflects who he truly is while continuing to grow as an artist.

As always, the conversation is full of laughs, real talk, and plenty of inspiration for anyone chasing a dream. If you've enjoyed Greg's previous appearances on the show, you won't want to miss this latest update on where life and music have taken him.

Be sure to like, subscribe, and let us know your favorite moment from the episode in the comments. Thanks for hanging out with us for another episode of Happy Hour with Deb! 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

We just crossed 175,000 in a week and a half today, which is crazy. Small small numbers for some people, for me, I've it's never it's never happened.

SPEAKER_01 0:22

Hey, it's Deb, it's Happy Hour with Deb, and it's a good day. I got my bestie here, Greg Pratts in the house. It's good to see you too. How are you?

SPEAKER_00 0:31

Good, that could be a good one. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 0:34

It's been a little bit since this morning. Are you getting caught up in the excitement here?

SPEAKER_00 0:39

Yeah, it's it's it's different being uh my second one. Um I feel like I I feel a little bit better about everything. Um the first time when I met you, that's so funny.

SPEAKER_01 0:47

That was my first time shooting.

SPEAKER_00 0:48

Yeah, that's crazy. Um I I was kind of like, all right, what do I do? We gotta make it this time, and now it's just kind of like it's a little bit more relaxed. I know. And the the coffee is just coming right when I need to get it.

SPEAKER_01 0:58

And you're Bucky's Cap, right. I know. That's how we met last year at the country radio. We're at the country radio seminar, the biggest event here in Nashville, kicking off country music season. And it is, last year I remember, you know, I have the best team, so it's not like I wasn't nervous, but it was more like just the rush of it all going on.

SPEAKER_00 1:16

Everybody's on their way somewhere.

SPEAKER_01 1:17

And everybody's important, it's here.

SPEAKER_00 1:19

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 1:19

Like it's hard, there's so much talent in this room right now. Isn't that like mo doesn't that blow your mind?

SPEAKER_00 1:26

I've I love well, I mean, you know, Nashville's like that, any room you walk into. Amen. But here when it's like this, I told you this morning we were at the coffee shop, there's this like latent electricity just kind of like sitting there. It is, and it's and it's slowly kind of fizzled up over the day. So I'm feeling good. I feel bet way better about it. Um, and I just it it's like I'm in my gold zone. And I'm here with you.

SPEAKER_01 1:48

Oh, I love you. All right, let's talk about your new single that is so incredibly amazing. Tell the viewers all about it.

SPEAKER_00 1:54

Okay, so we got two that we're working right now. One, Country Razor, is on Country Radio, about to hit top 100 on Music Row. Um, that we released last July 4th. We just released another song called All We Have Overcome, which is it it is about me, but it's also about everybody else out there who has to, everybody's got to overcome something. Everybody's got something that they think holds them back. Um, and there's everybody's so worried about this thing called a legacy. What are what is what's on the scoreboard at the end of your life? And that's not how I look at it because I know with everything that I've had to been through, again, um ADHD, OCD, Tourette's, like all this stuff that I was diagnosed as a kid, that's only a few of the things that I've had to go through that should make me and doing music almost impossible performing.

SPEAKER_01 2:42

Um but it's it's so inspiring to me that you're not afraid to talk about that, right?

SPEAKER_00 2:48

It it took a minute, but like it's it's just really sure. There's another guy, I forget I forget his name, um, but he was talking about it as well, he has Tourette's as well, and it's like kids are just rough with each other. You know, I I there's a lot of times that I got I got you know wrecked in in grade school, and um, but it really came out with me and my manager, and we talked about it, and now it's it's uh it doesn't define me. Um but it it is actually I don't think I'm I would be the person I am today without what I've had to overcome on the way up. And that's really what the song's about. Um is it's not but the scoreboard, it's about everything, the invisible battles that people don't see every day that makes somebody who they truly are. It really is an amazing song. It it's it that's why people are so beautiful, is because of those invisible battles.

SPEAKER_01 3:33

I think people need to understand that too, because from the outside looking in at this industry, we just assume that you guys are rich and there's no problems and oh you said rich, that's crazy. Like what keeps you motivated to keep doing this? Because your music is so amazing, and as you know, you're one of my very favorites in the whole world. Just the genuineness of how fabulous you are. What motivates you to keep doing this?

SPEAKER_00 3:59

Um, getting up every morning. Um I I've always been the kind of guy that when I truly love something, again, my my two gold zones in life are when I'm asleep. I love sleeping, I love dreaming, um, I love uh being on stage and singing in the studio, all anything where I'm doing that, it's like there was a thing I posted the other day, I think you liked it, where when in music, when you're playing and singing, your entire brain goes all in on it. Music is one of the only things that stimulate both both sides of the brain. Um, and you're all into it. And it it's it's a magical thing. And that's that feeling, I chase that feeling every second of every day. I'm I'm like, I'm out here doing this with you. I love being here. My mind is here right now, but then in the back of my head, I'm like, oh, I can't wait till the next time I get to play, which I hope that you show up at the time.

SPEAKER_01 4:52

Oh, Friday, oh well, totally coming out. Six tonight at Holston House hotel. I'm gonna grab all my little friends, we're gonna come see you.

SPEAKER_00 4:59

I'm gonna get you the drink. They got a drink that they set on fire, which is like when I see the fire and it's it smells like a campfire, it's like it's like a kind of an old fashioned, but like I'm just looking at it. I I I stopped singing the other day. I was like, hold on, I gotta like watch it.

SPEAKER_01 5:11

I'm gonna go. What's that? It's like a kid in a candy store. That's I would I'm I feel honored to come see you play Friday.

SPEAKER_00 5:19

Yeah, that's that's what gets me up. It's just is is doing this in in the fact that music it's taken me out of a lot of dark places. It it gets me up and going in the morning, listening to other people's stuff, but knowing that my music, I sing it to somebody no matter what kind of day they're having, it can, if they think something's hurting or broken, or they need to get up out of their seat and have a good time and forget all the other crap that's going on in their life. Right, I know that my music doesn't.

SPEAKER_01 5:44

For a couple minutes, just for a couple minutes. But what an honor you must feel, the gratitude you must have to know that you can move people's emotions through your music.

SPEAKER_00 5:55

I think everybody, and again this goes back to the song, everybody's got those things that they have to work through. And it's I it's it's like a it's a purpose thing. As a musician, artist, writer, you have a responsibility to it. It's I I view it that way. I might sing my stories, but I sit down and I write these songs with whoever I write them with, record them, release them for what they can do for the people out there. And it seems really altruistic, but it is not. It's like that's that's the responsibility. That's the that's the superpower of the whole music world.

SPEAKER_01 6:28

I love that you said that. We have talked about the the God has given you this blessing, right? It's your it's your obligation to Him, to you, to the to me, to the fans. It's your obligation to share this gift that you were given.

SPEAKER_00 6:43

I when I so I I'm I'm I'm a Christian. I pray every night, but one of the things I pray about is like I stopped there in the beginning I prayed for success. You all the whole thing we all do. But at the end of the day, like I there was a few times in the last couple years where I just like sat down and listen. Like I know now why this ended up being the way, because again, I told you the whole story. We talked last time about how I just went the because went my own way with everything in my life and made my family really stressed because they were all doctors for me to be surgery. It's it's like I don't it's not about success anymore. It is, but it it's do with me. You're the one that gave me all this. Yes, do with me, make me your instrument. Do do with me as you see fit. Understand I'm not perfect, and half the time I'm praying to you, I'm saying sorry because I know I'm a freaking hater.

SPEAKER_01 7:36

We all aren't we all.

SPEAKER_00 7:37

Um but do do do what you do, you know?

SPEAKER_01 7:39

Yeah, I think that's so beautiful and so inspiring because there's a lot of reasons in the world to not feel good, you know. But you have the most incredible from the first time I interviewed you, you have the most incredible attitude. I love how humble you are. I think it is amazing that you care so much about giving back. And it's hard to share your story, you know. I mean, I had to share mine when I went in to you know to start helping people change their lives. I had to share my story. And it's hard to be vulnerable and it's hard to be honest, and it's hard to let people see what seems. But you know what I re I the greatest thing I read was start putting it out there because I wanted people to know I was real and that I can help them. And I didn't learn it in a book. I mean I learned a lot of it in a book, but I've lived through all these experiences.

SPEAKER_00 8:27

I think once you see what good that stuff can do for you. Totally, it's infectious. It's it becomes it becomes a little easier to share it. Not maybe not as easy to remember it, but like that's I'm telling you, what one that's back to the getting up out of bed thing, why do you do this? There's a purpose thing. There's totally a purpose for this. And there's there's also that kind of stuff, but there's the same purpose of why do you release a song about trucks or getting up and having a good time? Because people need to get up out of their seats and do the things and have a good time. We get one run.

SPEAKER_01 8:57

That's it. One run. You are so right. You are so right. So who's inspiring you right now in music? Who do you think is like, wow, I'd love to collab with them, I'd love to perform with them.

SPEAKER_00 9:07

And there's a a lot of folks. Um again, from the guys that are already at the top that I grew up listening to. Again, the way country music worked for me was we all started listening to it in the mid-2000s. My friends listened forward. I listened backwards. So there's a like, I'd I'd the my favorite country song in the whole wide world that I did not write is still Don't Close Your Eyes by Keith Whitley. That was released and he died both before I was born. So it's like there's a lot of those things where it's like, man, if they came back, I would love to like just sit in a big thing.

SPEAKER_01 9:37

You're such an old soul. Do people tell you that? Yeah, yeah. I know. People say that to me too. They're like, you're just a very old soul.

SPEAKER_00 9:44

So with a battery pack.

SPEAKER_01 9:45

I know. Right, exactly. That needs to be plugged back in, I think.

SPEAKER_00 9:50

Out there right now, I really, I really still love what Cody Johnson is doing. I love Elle Langley, I love the way she's just breaking records and her stuff is rooted and it's so real. It's so strong. Uh, Lucas Nelson, Willie Nelson's son is doing a great job out there.

SPEAKER_01 10:03

Um isn't that beautiful that we're going down the line of families like sticking in country music and the fans coming together.

SPEAKER_00 10:11

And they they bring their their own, like they all have their again, if you're you're the son or daughter of a of a huge figure in country music, you have to find out what makes you unique. And it's it's been interesting watching people like Ben Hagger, Lucas Nelson um step out from that shadow and and make it their own. And and it's it it's cool to watch. It's as entertaining to watch it as it is to do the whole damn music.

SPEAKER_01 10:35

It's such a cool city. Don't you just get inspired by waking up in this town?

SPEAKER_00 10:39

Yeah, well, you never know what room you're gonna walk into and who's I tell people that all the time.

SPEAKER_01 10:43

You know, when I coach club when I coach artists, I'm like, you don't know who's in line with you for coffee.

SPEAKER_00 10:47

No. And it's not just country, like you said. It's everything.

SPEAKER_01 10:51

It's everything. And you know, I mean you're part of such an incredible. Now is the greatest time to be in country music. Like this movement that is sweeping not just the nation, the world.

SPEAKER_00 11:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:00

It's so would you, excuse me, my god, it's the Philly dust. The Philly Dust. Damn, Philly Dust is back. Get that shit cleaned up. Would you tour overseas?

SPEAKER_00 11:10

Um, we've actually got a little bit of a following over there. I I would definitely be down to do it. I know there's a lot of uh a lot that goes into that too, with the whole travel and everything and setting everything up. Um I would I would not be getting away.

SPEAKER_01 11:22

You gotta take your puppy with you.

SPEAKER_00 11:24

He that would be interesting on a plane ride. He has a service dog now.

SPEAKER_01 11:27

Is he?

SPEAKER_00 11:27

Um I have a service dog too.

SPEAKER_01 11:29

I have Lola, she's a service dog. She's actually like a service throw pillow. But she's been on many planes.

SPEAKER_00 11:34

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 11:35

And she does really well.

SPEAKER_00 11:36

So he's uh it it would there would be a lot to it. I think I know El one of Elle Langley's uh um her number one advice is when she was at, she's like, if you can, bring a dog.

SPEAKER_01 11:47

Bring a dog, can't bring a dog. I mean, I'm like, see, every dog needs a good home, and every home needs a good dog.

SPEAKER_00 11:52

Amen to that.

SPEAKER_01 11:53

I think, and I love watching the social media with the dog.

SPEAKER_00 11:56

Um yeah, I I think we're getting with this new song, again, all we've overcome. I it's never happened to me, and it's kind of crazy, and I'm still trying to figure out. Part of me wants to figure out how it happened, part of me is like, I don't care. That's my manager's job. It's a it's it's my manager's job. It's his side of the table.

SPEAKER_01 12:12

Um but it's stick to what you're amazing at.

SPEAKER_00 12:14

Exactly. We just we just crossed 175,000 in a week and a half today, which is crazy. Small numbers for some people, for me, I've it's never, it's never happened. It's huge. And a lot of those, there's a lot of that um primarily the listenership is in the USA, but a lot of it's in Australia.

SPEAKER_01 12:33

Yeah, I know.

SPEAKER_00 12:34

And in the UK, which is looking at the staff.

SPEAKER_01 12:36

Country music present. That just makes me feel so good about being American. Like that that our music is influencing.

SPEAKER_00 12:43

It's sweet in the world, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 12:44

It is, and it's such a good time to be in country music. Like, I don't think there's a better time to be an artist than right now. Where would you like? I know, tell the viewers, I already know the story. Greg and I are friends, sorry, I know this. Where would you like to play? Where's the dream place?

SPEAKER_00 12:58

Um still the Grand Olay.

SPEAKER_01 13:00

Yeah, of course. Oh, you'll totally be at the Grand O'Lobry.

SPEAKER_00 13:03

I I've I've got this, there's there's uh some song, there's a song coming out. I think I sent it to you.

SPEAKER_01 13:08

Yeah, you did. It's a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 13:11

I want to sing the different stirring song in the circle. But I I feel like in here, like I have this battery pack. That's why I empathize empathize a lot with with uh Bailey's inner room because he's got all this juice all the time. It's amazing.

SPEAKER_01 13:25

I met him at Crash My Playa. He is that energetic in person. Like he's crazy, but he's such a cool dude. Like, he wants to be hugging and he loves to take pictures. I have a picture on my wall of him and I, and I'm like, we don't even know who took it. We don't even took it. My husband's like, who took the picture? I'm like, I don't know. I don't I don't know. It was like backstage late night, but it was, you know, he's such a good energy. Do people tell you you have good energy?

SPEAKER_00 13:49

You do, you do, you do. You do have good energy. I feel like that all all that juice that I always have on board. Like, I I love my ballads and I really get into them, but even with the ballad, like I go all in. Um, but like I, you know, part of it's the Grand Ole Opry that's always been my dream. Always. Um but man, that arena level stuff. I I've tasted a little bit of like big crowds and stuff. Yeah, because a lot of in an arena is that exchange, that exchange of energy with the crowd that happens. And when you get in a place that big, um, from again, my fiddler has been in, he's played for 100,000 people as a side guy before. Wow. Um, he said that exchange is is intense as hell.

SPEAKER_01 14:32

Well that's why you do it.

SPEAKER_00 14:34

And do this, but you gotta be able to command it, but also be able to kind of bear it because it can overload you. And I'm thinking, as bad as my ADHD is, I would be in a like a that would be a hot tub for me.

SPEAKER_01 14:47

You have already overcome so much in your life. It's you're only going up from here. I mean, you're gonna be able to do that.

SPEAKER_00 14:54

We don't know how to give up either. So I'm glad you're gonna be able to do it.

SPEAKER_01 14:56

Listen, I'm from Texas. Like, we don't raise quitters.

SPEAKER_00 14:59

Amen. That's what we say.

SPEAKER_01 15:00

My niece was little, like two or three, and we were trying to teach her to jump in a pool, and she's standing, she's beautiful, a little blonde hair, blue eyes. She looks like she should be from Texas. And she's standing on the side, we're like, Sadie, jump in, Sadie, jump in, and she was terrified, and we're like, We're from Texas, we don't raise quitters, get in the pool, right? And I think, and I think people too don't understand the grind that you guys have to, and the pressure of the social media, and the pressure of being present. Do people like reach like reach out to you and be like, hey, like I want to, you know, recognize you out and and talk to you about your songs and that kind of stuff?

SPEAKER_00 15:34

Yeah, just like shout-outs and stuff. Well, I mean, yeah, there's a lot of that. Um a lot of it with the social media is just it's you're so forced to always be, like you said, present, but all always be visible. Um, and that was a challenge at first, but now it's like when I started doing some videos and I had a meeting with my manager and uh uh another girl that we were kind of talking to about this stuff, um, they're like, just be yourself, get in front of the camera and talk. And I started doing some of those, I was like, this is way easier than like now, now it's something where it's like I can't wait to sit there and be like, hey, this is how my day is going. I don't know how yours is, but I hope it's awesome. Right. And you you just the I think the most important thing is what Trey was talking about right there. Yeah. People feel like they have to look and sound and be a certain way.

SPEAKER_01 16:21

And they should just be being the Well the reason that you have a following is because of your uniqueness and because of the music that you pump out. But I know, like I tell you, and you know me, so like I the whole social media presence to me is crazy. I don't handle my own, you know. I j I absolutely follow you guys, but like I just think it's such a cutthroat on. I mean, I think it would we show up so different in the public, right? We show up so different in person than we portray on that. What's the advice you would give somebody who's got a guitar in a dream and is 17 years old?

SPEAKER_00 16:57

There were two things. One is my manager's advice, so I can't claim it. Um but uh there's only one thing that's that's unique about every single person, and that is how the looking glass in which they view the world, when you write a song right through that looking glass, one, two, be a damn self. Because that that's what at the end of the day, like, you know, I I might drive my manager crazy that I I go and and and walk out to walk my dog in pajama pants or bibs or something, but you know, it's it's me who I am sometimes. A lot of times I dress like this, right? And then some days I don't want to wear pants.

SPEAKER_01 17:31

Right. I think people I like even hope this morning, she's like, look at Deb, because they're used to so seeing me.

SPEAKER_00 17:36

Oh, your pants are I know they can't see it, but your pants are all right. The pants are great.

SPEAKER_01 17:40

I get them like first of all, you and I got our steps in this morning. We were all over this damn building, and I think they're like 20 pounds, so I'm hoping I go back to Philly like ready for a bikini because I've been wearing these damn pants all day.

SPEAKER_00 17:50

Amen to that.

SPEAKER_01 17:51

So, what advice would you give? Like, be authentic.

SPEAKER_00 17:54

Yeah, be all be authentic, be yourself.

SPEAKER_01 17:56

I think you can tell when an artist is not.

SPEAKER_00 17:58

There was, that's true. I th one thing they talked about in the uh we went to one of the seminars today, and they're like, there is a especially in, you know, and they they were they were focusing on teen listeners, because that and they say that's kind of the groundwork that leads into everything else, because social media is a lot of where things start now, right? Um, and then move up towards everything else, that streaming platforms and radio.

SPEAKER_01 18:18

Right.

SPEAKER_00 18:19

Um, but there is a need, a desire for person to person, authentication. Absolutely. Like, can't do do I feel like I know you? And the only way they're gonna do that, and like you say, people can tell when they're up front.

SPEAKER_01 18:34

I can totally tell.

SPEAKER_00 18:35

If it's somebody just just kind of being themselves, or like, yeah, that's that that everything lines up. That is who they are. That's and now I know who they are, right? So I feel like okay, that's my that's my guy now. That's your audience. That's I I feel like I don't I feel like people are so pressed to to put on a mask these days.

SPEAKER_01 18:54

But there's only one Greg, there's only one jelly roll, there's only one Taylor Swift, and I think you know, from all these interviews, you can tell the people that are just authentic and they're in this to move people with their music and a higher purpose than just playing.

SPEAKER_00 19:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:10

Like to really change lives.

SPEAKER_00 19:12

That higher purpose thing I think is key. Yeah, and if you're in it just for money or anything else, like it it's you know, you there's gotta be a a real intricate reason. Like me and my manager were talking today too. He's like, Well, you know, what are you, Greg? I was like, I'm an artist. He's like, so you're you know, it's like, well, I really at this point am one, I don't think I'm really good at anything else, which it which makes it easy. But it's it's like that that's gotta be some who you are in here. Right. And that and your purpose is to what? Get up, make music, perform music, um, for the people that are listening to it. They're going through the same crap that you are.

SPEAKER_01 19:47

And and I don't think people realize that you're all just real people with the same real things that everybody is.

SPEAKER_00 19:53

And everybody's going through it together. Everything together. Doesn't matter what you do.

SPEAKER_01 19:56

Right, that's absolutely right. Well, I can't even tell you. I'm so happy that you're here.

SPEAKER_00 20:01

I'm happy we got the hangout. This is a lot of things. I know it's gonna be the hangout over.

SPEAKER_01 20:06

I know. All the it Keisha can't tell. Greg's one of my faves. Keisha can't tell.

SPEAKER_00 20:11

You're my favorite here.

SPEAKER_01 20:12

Oh, I know, I love it so much. All right, tell the listeners where they can follow you.

SPEAKER_00 20:16

Uh follow me online, Greg Pratt Country.com, G-R-E-G, P R A Double T Country, C-O-U-N T-R-Y. Um on the social medias, it's Greg Pratt Country, G-R E G, P-R-A-D-T-C-O-U-N-T-R-Y, on TikTok and Instagram. On Facebook, I think it's G P Country.

SPEAKER_01 20:33

Yes. Um, follow this man. You will love his music. His story is following. Yeah, follow him on everything. He's really, I'm so proud of you. I am so proud of you.

SPEAKER_00 20:43

Follow Happy Hour with Dev. I know you're watching the show, but if you're not following her, follow her.

SPEAKER_01 20:48

Right? Follow me. It's so much fun. Thank you, my friend. I love you. Thanks for coming in today. I really appreciate it all.