Tim McGraw has had no small shortage of musical collaborations throughout his decades-long career, but there’s one artist he has often cited as his “ultimate” dream collab who is notably absent from his long, star-studded list of duets. McGraw has sung this artist’s praises as a creative and as a person in general in countless interviews.
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And indeed, when you think about everyone McGraw has worked with, it’s pretty surprising his dream collab has never happened (at least, at the time of this writing, it hasn’t).
Tim McGraw Reveals His Ultimate Dream Collab
Ever since landing his first chart-topping hits in the mid-1990s, Tim McGraw has worked with many musicians from a wide span of genres. There are the obvious partners: his wife, Faith Hill, fellow country stars like Keith Urban and Taylor Swift (pre-pop crossover), and Randy Travis. But other collaborations are a little more surprising: Nelly, Lionel Richie, and Tony Bennett, to name a few. McGraw’s list of former duet partners is certainly a star-studded affair. But in an interview with Yahoo Entertainment, the black cowboy hat-clad singer revealed his one dream collaboration: Bruce Springsteen.
“The ultimate would be to do something with Bruce Springsteen,” McGraw said. “I’m a huge fan of his. A huge fan of his not only as an artist, but as a person. You meet a lot of people in this business, and every now and then, you run across someone who’s just so comfortable with themselves. He’s just so comfortable with himself. He’s Bruce,” McGraw said with a smile.
During a 2013 appearance on Go Country 105, McGraw sang Springsteen’s praises once again, calling him “one of the greatest artists of our time. An artist who can provide a social consciousness, in a lot of ways, with his music to people is something special.” The country artist said he couldn’t have imagined his childhood and teenage years without listening to the Boss.
A Match Made In Country and Heartland Rock Heaven
The fact that Tim McGraw’s ultimate dream collab is Bruce Springsteen isn’t all that surprising. Like McGraw said, he is Bruce. But what is far more shocking is the fact that it hasn’t happened yet. Both artists are experts at maintaining a pop crossover element in their respective country and Heartland rock genres. If there were ever two musicians equipped to release a chart-topping hit that appeals to a broad audience, it would be McGraw and Springsteen.
The musicians also share a common loyalty to their bands. McGraw has worked with the same backing band for years. Springsteen, of course, has famously worked with the E Street Band for upwards of five decades. Performers who stick with the same bands tend to value the cohesion that can come from working relationships rooted in loyal friendships. So, it stands to reason that their work ethics would blend well together in the studio, on stage, or both.
Whether this ultimate dream collab happens or not is yet to be seen. (This is excluding their occasional on-stage performances together.) But if we had our way, McGraw and Springsteen would have put out a socially conscious, pop-sensible album of country-rock jams years ago. Consider this to be us writing it into existence.
Photo by John Salangsang/Shutterstock
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