Scott Wolverton Opens Up About His Deeply Personal New Song ‘Cattleman’s Call’
“Wrote this tune about my dad and all the life lessons he taught us kids growing up on the farm…”
Scott Wolverton; Photo Provided
Scott Wolverton is carving his own path in country music, bringing a fresh take to the genre with what he proudly calls “Midwestern Country Music.” Raised on a farm in Seward, Nebraska, Wolverton blends rural authenticity with a modern sound that’s catching fire on streaming services, thanks to standout releases like “Good Hearted Woman (feat. Madalynn Rose)” and “Do Si Do.”
Now, the rising artist has released his most personal track yet, “Cattleman’s Call,” a heartfelt tribute to the man who helped shape him: his father.
The just-released song, produced by Brian Elmquist, features a unique touch, a real voice memo of Wolverton’s father calling cattle on the farm. That personal detail ties the song even closer to his family and the lifestyle that inspired it.
“Wrote this tune about my dad and all the life lessons he taught us kids growing up on the farm,” Wolverton shares. “This way of living has had a big impact on who I am today, and I’ll forever be thankful for that.”
While Wolverton continues to introduce his brand of country music to fans, he’s also hitting the road this summer for festival performances across the Midwest, including support slots for Chase Rice and Jackson Dean.
In this Q&A, Wolverton opens up about the inspiration behind “Cattleman’s Call,” the decision to include his dad’s voice in the track, what fans can expect at his live shows, and more.
If someone’s never heard your music before, which song should they start with and why?
I’d start with the “Chasing A Simple Feeling” album. That was the first project I ever put out. It’s super raw sonically and they are some of the first songs I’ve ever wrote. I did most of the production/mixing by myself or with some of my friends that had their own band. It also has some live versions of a few songs that are from a show I did in a 10’x10’ bar room that sound super raw and genuine too.
Can you share the story behind “Cattleman’s Call”?
Cattleman’s Call was inspired by the way my dad calls in cattle. Its a loud holler and he says something along the lines of “Hum Bos!”, and whenever he does it all the cattle come running to the barn ready to be fed. Growing up I learned a lot of life lessons working with animals and on the farm like hard work, patience, discipline, and love and so I tried to tie those lessons in with the cattle call. The big picture is no matter how far away I may go, my family is always one call away and I can always come home.
The title alone paints a strong visual. What do you hope listeners feel when they hear it for the first time?
Like they’re watching the sunset over the pasture with the people they call home.
If you had to describe the song in one sentence, what would it be?
A dedication to the hardworking and loving cattleman and the life lessons they pass on to the next generations.
Including your dad’s actual voice in this song is such a powerful touch. Have you played it for him yet? What was his reaction?
I have played it for him and he loves it. His call in the song is actually in the key of the song, and we didn’t add any reverb or editing to the voice memo. It’s pretty cool how that all worked out.
How did you strike a balance between honoring tradition and embracing modern production, especially in a song so tied to your personal roots?
We kept it the focus. The plains are a cool place because its so vast and empty, almost like a giant echo chamber. So when I brought the song to Brian Elmquist (Producer) I described that to him and he knew exactly what to do. I give him a lot of praise for it as well.
Your songs “Good Hearted Woman” and “Do Si Do” landed on some big playlists…Fresh Finds, New in Country, and even Americana. How has that visibility impacted your career so far?
It’s been awesome to land on some of those playlists. It’s been very helpful with reaching a broader audience, I’ve had a lot of people say they’ve found my music through that.
You’ve worked with producer Brian Elmquist on a couple tracks now. What’s that collaboration like?
Brian is awesome to work with. He’s been a big part of evolving the sound from mostly acoustic to full production, without losing that raw and live feeling. He also has a great ear for what each part of the song should sound like. I appreciate how he lets me do my thing while also keeping me honest, I’ll have some wild ideas sometimes and he’s good and keeping it between the lines without limiting the creativity.
You’re hitting a lot of festival stages this summer. What do you enjoy most about playing the festival circuit and do you have a specific date coming up that you are looking forward to in particular?
I grew up showing and going to county fairs so those are my people. There’s some nostalgia there and that’s what I enjoy the most. We just played the Adams County Fair which is an hour from my hometown and I had a lot of family there, getting to play for them was amazing.
What’s next for you? Are you working on a full project?
I’ve got some more shows lined up to end the summer and going into the fall, and have some more music coming out that I’m super excited about. Just continuing to grow the brand that is Midwestern Country Music.
Fans can keep up with Scott Wolverton on Instagram.
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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