In 2020, Bailey Zimmerman uploaded a video of himself singing Black Stone Cherry’s “Stay” in the hopes of impressing the ladies. Five years later, that dream has more than come true. In 20203, the Illinois native’s Religiously became the most-streamed debut album of any musician in the past two years. On the heels of a brand-new single with Luke Combs, Zimmerman is gearing up to release his sophomore album, Different Night Same Rodeo, next month. Recently, the 25-year-old country singer took some time to reflect on his progress.
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Taking to social media this week, Zimmerman shared a video of himself soaking up the passing views from his tour bus window as “When It Was,” off his forthcoming album, plays in the background.
“Still can’t believe what has happened in the last 4 years of my life,” he wrote. “From living with my mom and struggling… to being so happy… about to release my 2nd album and playing sold out shows…”
“CHASE YOUR DREAMS,” he ended decisively.
Following his 2018 high school graduation, Zimmerman moved to West Virginia to work on a union gas pipeline. Missing his family, he eventually moved home and began custom building lifted trucks, generating business through videos posted to TikTok.
In late 2020, he heard from a high school acquaintance named Gavin Lucas. Lucas, who wrote songs, had seen videos of Zimmerman singing on Snapchat and was impressed with what he heard. The pair collaborated on the country-rock number “Never Comin’ Home.” Seeing its traction on TikTok, Zimmerman resigned from his job, Googled information on how to record songs, and drove to Nashville, borrowing $1,500 from his mother for moving costs.
[RELATED: This Luke Combs-Bailey Zimmerman Collab Started With a Single Text]
How Bailey Zimmerman Changed His Life
Bailey Zimmerman has celebrated many milestones in the last four years, and not all of them are professional. In a social media post last month, the “Fall In Love” crooner shared that he has drastically curtailed his alcohol consumption.
That decision followed a disastrous January performance at Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa festival in Cancun, Mexico, during which Zimmerman fully admitted he had been “too drunk to play.”
“Nobody got the show they wanted or paid for,” he said.
Featured image by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
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