CRS 2024: 5 QUESTIONS WITH PRYOR BAIRD

1) Let’s talk about your current single “Mighta Met A Girl.” It certainly retains that signature soulfulness that you bring to the table, but it also presents a more upbeat flavor than what we heard on “You Are To Me” and “Chasin’ Shadows.” Was this something done by design with an eye on radio as we move into the spring and summer or did it just feel right to put these songs out in this order?

Yeah, you bet. You know, you kind of play to the weather and that people want to be outside and have a summertime song to listen to.

2) On the subject of radio….The Bobby Bones Show! Tell us that story. How did you end up being mentioned by the show’s personality Lunchbox and how cool of an unexpected moment was that for you?

My mom and sister were in town and my mom needed some vitamins. She was like, we can just run to Whole Foods. So, we ran in and as we’re leaving I see Lunchbox. I don’t even say anything; I just walk by. I mean, he’s in there with his three kids.

But I got out to the car and was like, “You know what? No! I’m going back in.” I walked back in and was like “Man, I would never do this and I’m really sorry to invade your privacy…” I just told him who I was and didn’t really think anything of it.

Next thing, he goes on Instagram Live and was like, “This is Lunchbox and I’m at the store seeing famous people.” He asked me for my name and then says, “Alright, well sing me a song.” And I messed up the chorus. I remember walking out to the car and thinking, you’ve sung that song 9 million times and of course this is the one time you’re gonna mess it up!

But it was so cool. He played it on the air, talked about it, and then put up something else later just giving it up to the guy who sang on the spot in a store.

3) The day that “Mighta Met A Girl” officially dropped you made your Grand Ole Opry debut! Amazing and BIG congratulations on that. Looking back now that you’ve had a few weeks to soak it all in, take us into that Opry moment? What did it mean to you to stand in that circle?

It's kind of hard to put into words. You walk on the Grand Ole Opry stage and it’s like man the people who have stood here, the songs that have been sung here. It’s a moment that I will never ever forget.

I just lost my dad about 8 weeks ago and he would have loved to have been there. If I could change one thing about that night, it’s that he would have been there. But other than that, it’s such a beautiful beautiful moment that not a lot of people get to experience.

4) We recently caught your show at Tin Roof here in Nashville and we have to talk to you about this incredible song….“Beauty in the Broken.” Just wow! The song carries such a strong much-needed message that speaks gently to a hurting world. Tell us about that song. Are there plans for it to become another single?

The next song to come out. We actually go in on Friday (3/1/24) with Jenee Fleenor to put some strings on it and it’s gonna be a beautiful beautiful beautiful, joyful, triumphant song. We didn’t know we were writing it for the rest of the world at the time that we wrote it. It’s one of those things though, like you said, with a message that everyone can relate to. I always lead into the song with, “If I walked out into the crowd and I asked every single person out here if you’re life has been perfect, and you say yes…then you’re a liar.” We’ve all been broken. We’ve all had things happen. We just have to find the beauty in it and pick ourselves up by the bootstrap and keep going. 

Every night that I sing it, I think about my old man. He was my best friend and was pretty much deaf. But he got hearing aids in the last part of his life; he heard that song and loved it.

5) We have so many aspiring songwriters and artists that read our website, so we always like to end by asking this…what is the best piece of advice you can offer?

Work hard! Dream BIG! Never give up! Believe in yourself more than you’ve ever believed in anything else. Get comfortable with the uncomfortable and get comfortable with the word no.

(Interview by: Jeffrey Kurtis/Photo c/o Black River Entertainment)

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