Country Next: McCoy Moore

McCoy Moore is a 24-year-old singer-songwriter who officially joined the Sony Music Nashville roster in partnership with Cervidae Records earlier this year. Between his growing catalog of songs, a packed tour schedule, and endless potential, he’s just getting started.

Moore spent his youth with a guitar in hand, prioritizing voice lessons while letting geometry take a back seat. As a result, he developed an incredibly strong voice, but it wasn’t until 2017 when the Lakeland, FL native met a country star who would change the trajectory of his life.

Moore was 16 years old when he scored a meet and greet with the one and only, Luke Combs. After meeting Combs and then watching his show, he was brought back to the “Fast Car” singer’s bus, where he was encouraged to never give up on his dreams.

The hopeful act used that advice as motivation to kickstart his own career. He moved to Nashville at 19, spent years honing in on his craft and got his name around town earning cuts by Shane Profitt, Roman Alexander, Bryce Mauldin and more.

This year alone, Moore has jumpstarted his singing career with songs like “Something to You,” “John Deere Blue,” “Naming Boats,” and most recently, “Memories We Never Made.”

He is fresh off his time serving as support on HARDY’s JIM BOB WORLD TOUR and is now busy showcasing his talent to even more crowds across the U.S. while on the road for select dates with Chase Rice and Kip Moore throughout the fall.

Keep reading to learn more about McCoy Moore, including his bond with Luke Combs, stories behind recent releases, future goals for his career and more.

For people who are just starting to find your music, how would you describe your sound and what would you say your mission is with your career in making music?

I’d say my sound is a little Florida on a boat and a little beer in a bar. Country music was always the soundtrack of my life and now that I have the opportunity to be the soundtrack to life for other people is the greatest feeling. I think my music will serve you well no matter if you’re having the best day, worst day, or anywhere in between. 

It sounds like you developed a love for music early on. How did this passion really begin and who were some of your biggest musical influences at the time?

I didn’t really have a choice, country music was always around me. My family always had a radio going, and I was always memorizing the lyrics to my favorite songs. It was always a part of me but I didn’t know it was in the cards as a career until I was 17 years old. My biggest influences as a kid were definitely Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, and Keith Whitley.

Meeting Luke Combs at 16 sounds like a pivotal moment. How did this come about and how did the advice he shared motivate you to lean into this passion?

My mom got me tickets/M&G passes to a show in 2017, where we met Luke. We ended up connecting with Luke and his team after his set, and him and I spent about an hour and a half talking on his bus about life & music. For a 16 year old, your favorite artists telling you to never give up on it will definitely light the fire under you.

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Have you had the chance to talk to Luke since then?

We’ve kept up with each other through social media, and we do check up on each other from time to time. So happy for him and how his career and life has progressed since 2017. 

You grew up in Florida and made the move to Nashville at 19. What was that transition like?

The transition was tough, I love my hometown, but I knew Nashville was where I had to be. I’ve made some incredible friends here and that decision I made at 19 changed my whole life. I’d do it all over again.

How did it feel to take that next step and sign with Sony Music Nashville earlier this year?

It really is a surreal feeling. The history of the label, the artists who have been signed to Sony, it’s really crazy to think about. It took me stepping through the doors one time to know it was the place for me. So many incredible, hardworking people and I couldn’t be happier to have them in my corner and going on this journey with me.

Your latest release, “Naming Boats,” has a really easygoing, nostalgic vibe. How did that one come about?

I’m a bachelor, so this one is really just about being content with where you’re at. I obviously had to put my Florida spin on it, but I love how this one turned out. I think it sounds best on a boat, but I hope y’all turn it up everywhere!

This followed “John Deere Blue,” another clever track. This song features some very well known writers. What was it like working with them to bring this one to life?

It’s always the best feeling when you know you’re working with people who understand your artistry and can navigate that with you. Every song is a puzzle and I feel like every piece of that one fit perfectly. Shane McAnally has written some of my favorite songs, songs that really were the soundtrack to the best years of my life. Johnny Clawson is somebody that you will be seeing a lot from in the years to come.

As you continue to build out your catalog, what do you want fans to know about this next chapter of your career?

We have SO much coming, a ton of music, a ton of shows, and so much more to be excited about. I just released a new track called “Memories We Never Made.” It’s about wishing you could make one more memory with that special person who isn’t in your life anymore. Then the end of 2025 is going to set up a huge 2026 for us, and I couldn’t be happier to come play this music for everybody.

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You are fresh off HARDY’s Jim Bob World Tour, can you describe what that experience was like?”

The Jim Bob World Tour was one of the best times of my life. This was my first tour experience other than going out as a writer with my friends before I was an artist. Getting to play my songs in such historic venues, seeing places I never thought I’d see, and meeting so many amazing people at the shows, was all so awesome for me.

Is there anything in particular you learned from that run that you’ll be carrying with you into the upcoming tour with Chase Rice?

I learned so many things from that tour. The biggest thing that I want to carry on every tour moving forward is the positive vibe. Everyone on the HARDY crew were so good to me and my guys, and made us feel right at home. We are blessed to get to do what we do so I’m going to make sure we’re always treating people that way and being present in these awesome moments.

Fans can keep up with McCoy Moore on Instagram.