Drew Baldridge Says Men ‘Can’t Just Go Halfway’ In Love As He Reflects On ‘Deserve Her’ Ahead Of Valentine’s Day [Exclusive]
“This is a song about deserving the girl that you’re with…”
Drew Baldridge; Photo by Riley Mays
As Valentine’s Day approaches, Drew Baldridge is reminding men what it really means to “Deserve Her.”
Last year, the chart-topping artist released “Deserve Her,” a heartfelt ballad that challenges men to step up and earn the love of their other halves every single day, not just every once in a while or on special occasions. Co-written by Baldridge alongside Harper Grace and Kyle Schlienger, the poignant track makes it clear that love takes effort, honesty, and showing up even in the small, everyday moments.
“You gotta hold her when she’s broken/ And be the rock when she slides/ She’s gotta know she’s more than a moment/ She’s gotta know you’re on her side/ And if you talk about forever/ There better be truth behind the words/ Oh boy you can’t just want her/ If you really want this to work/ You gotta deserve her,” he urges on the chorus.
The song has truly raised its hand not only during the Illinois native’s live shows, but also on streaming platforms — so much so that Baldridge revealed it was “almost a single.” As the track continues to gain momentum, Baldridge opened up to Country Now ahead of his performance at Conservation Aid at the Grand Ole Opry about the meaning behind it and how he hopes it will inspire some men to really step it up in their relationships.
“I always like to say it’s like the sequel to ‘She’s Somebody’s Daughter.’ [That song was] about women knowing their worth. This is a song about deserving the girl that you’re with. You can’t just go halfway,” he pointed out. “If you’re just going halfway, somebody’s losing. And that’s what this song’s about. It’s like, you can’t just take her out one night and make her feel special. You got to dance with her in the kitchen in her socks. And you got to go buy her flowers on days that aren’t Valentine’s Day. And you just can’t go to church with her on Sundays. It’s about praying over her every night. And I just think this is a message that girls really need in their lives. And so with it being close to Valentine’s Day, I hope there’s some guys out there that are just really deserving their woman at this time.”
The message hits close to home for Baldridge, who has been with his wife, Katie, for a decade.
“I’ve been in a relationship with my wife for 10 years and I’ve learned that love is not easy. Marriage is not easy. Marriage is hard. You’ve got to put in more effort than you think you do,” he added.
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Drew Baldridge shared that their plans for the holiday will be pretty low-key. With Katie expecting their second son in the coming weeks, the couple is opting to keep things simple this year.
“Well, our big Valentine’s Day is spaghetti in. I’m on the road a lot. And so if we just have a Valentine’s Day where it’s us, we don’t really go out and do big dinners, especially now that she’s due in a month and a half. It’s mainly just spending time with my son. Him being a part of it also is something that we’re big on. So we’ll probably just have a spaghetti dinner in, stay at home, not fight the crowds, not travel anywhere because we do so much of that all year long,” he revealed.
Speaking of the new baby, Baldridge shared that his 3-year-old son, Lyric, is very excited to become a big brother and has spent a lot of time talking and singing to their unborn son.
“He is always touching mama’s belly and saying, ‘Brother, brother.’…it’s just the coolest thing ever seeing him, like he’ll sing to our little boy in mama’s belly. He’ll sit there and sing or act like he’s playing his guitar, stick his head in, blow on her belly. It’s just so fun. And I just can’t wait to see him react and how he’s going to be as a big brother.”
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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