Justin Moore Shares How His Family Celebrates Halloween in Their Tiny Hometown of 269 People
“You know, where we’re from, it’s not the typical Halloween that most kids….”
Justin Moore; Photo by Cody Villalobos
When it comes to Halloween, Justin Moore’s family celebrates a little differently than most. The country star still calls his tiny hometown of Poyen, Arkansas, home (a close-knit community with a population of just 269 people!)
Because of that, Moore says he’s never had to worry much about the usual Halloween safety concerns that come with trick-or-treating for his kids — Ella, Kennedy, Klein, and South.
“You know, where we’re from, it’s not the typical Halloween that most kids, I guess, have,” he explains. “We drive them around because we don’t live in a neighborhood. We drive ‘em to the people who we know, like my aunts and uncles and my parents and, you know, our family, our pastor.”
Rather than going door-to-door, the Moores spend the evening visiting familiar faces and joining in community traditions.
“Usually we have like a church hayride,” he adds. “We’re kind of in our own little bubble, in a sense, in our town, and really the surrounding communities.”
Moore loves his life in Poyen, and the community there loves him right back. Last year, he was honored with a giant 10-foot road sign that reads, “Welcome to Poyen, Home of Justin Moore.”
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders was on hand for the unveiling, which Moore called a “great honor.”
“I would never have expected, or asked, for this, but I’m so thankful to our city officials and David Bazzel for spearheading this effort,” Moore said in a new statement. “I’m not one who finds comfort having praise heaped upon himself, so this is a proud moment, but a bit tough for me. I’m hopeful that I have contributed to my beloved city, as much as it has to me.”
Moore has lived in Arkansas for most of his life, aside from the period when he relocated to Nashville to chase his country music dreams. He admits the move was “necessary” at that time in his life, but these days, he much prefers calling Arkansas home.
“I would not still be doing this for a living if I didn’t live here [Arkansas],” he said during an interview with PEOPLE. “I just wasn’t happy. I don’t think you can perform your best at your craft unless you’re happy. It was the right move for us, and it’s been wonderful.”
In 2026, Justin Moore will be spending a bit more time away from home when he embarks on the Cowboy As It Gets Tour with Riley Green. Moore will serve as direct support to Green on the run, which is set to kick off on April 16 in Southhaven, MS.
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.
You may also like
Country Next
Playlist
On Repeat
Get the latest country music news delivered straight to your inbox.
