Country music singer Josh Scott’s “That Bottle” record was voted #1 in a 2021 Jack Daniels iHeart Radio Battle of the Bar Bands Contest. It’s hard to imagine that Scott nearly gave up his music career for life as a truck driver. By sharing his journey and the lessons learned along the way, Scott is connecting with fans all over the world. The country singer who once almost lost everything that mattered to him is now on a mission to make country music history. With support from his family and fellow musicians like Ray Herndon, Scott will soon become a household name.
Josh Scott's wife Mary and kids Jayla and Joshua encouraged him to return to music after a 10-year break.
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“This is really like a fairy tale story that I’m living in,” Scott told Cowboy Lifestyle Network just months after being declared the winner of the competition. “Things just keep getting better and better.” “I don’t know how to explain it besides timing and a lot of really good people that have helped put me in good positions,” Scott shared in his September 2021 interview with CLN. 12 years ago the Arizona native began hosting karaoke nights at a local bar. His popularity grew as people yearned to hear more of his voice. He was later extended an opportunity to work as a cover country artist for the Golden Nugget Las Vegas Hotel Casino. But Scott’s new lifestyle came with all of the vices 03
one can imagine–gambling, drugs and alcohol. It was tearing his family apart. Unhappy with where life had taken him, he walked away and was able to save his marriage and family. After leaving the Vegas stages, Josh Scott worked as a truck driver and also as a coach for his daughter’s basketball team. Just two years ago he began writing music again with support from his daughter who enjoyed singing some of her dad’s material. His family convinced him to get back to making the music he loved creating. Josh Scott and his family drove to a popular Scottsdale, Arizona bar called “Handlebar J BBQ Restaurant & Bar,” owned by Ray Herndon. A long-time fan of Herndon,
After Josh Scott played a few voice recordings from his cell phone of him singing a cappella—Ray Herndon (right) asked for his phone number. Admittingly, Josh didn't think he'd ever hear from the country music legend. But Herndon was impressed with Josh's voice and reached out. The two recorded an album together.
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Josh Scott hoped to connect with him. Herndon is a country singer-songwriter who penned records for McBride and The Ride when he was a band member and also wrote Kenny Chesney’s “Me and You.” Josh Scott took a chance and walked up to Herndon to introduce himself. Herndon was performing at Handlebar but invited Josh Scott onto the stage to perform for the audience. At that time Josh Scott hadn’t performed in 11 years yet gave an amazing performance which led to Herndon giving him his phone number. The two later recorded an album together. And just like that, Josh Scott threw caution to the wind and left his job. He is grateful
After meeting Herndon (left) and deciding to pursue his music career full-time, Josh left his trucking job. He took every penny he had and recorded an album.
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for Herndon taking a chance to listen to his music when he didn’t have to. Josh Scott now travels to perform for fans of all ages. He recognizes that the music he writes can give hope to people just like him. “We all tell a story whether it’s a rap song or a country song,” said Josh Scott. “I just hope it relates to whoever is going through it.” Josh Scott’s “This Time” record has garnered more than 1.5 million streams. He says people have missed “real music.” Country music listeners can count on him to keep steel guitars and fiddles in the production of his records. 06
“You’re hearing all of the instruments and all of the beautiful things the music represents,” said Josh Scott. “I want you to hear every instrument, and to feel it with goosebumps in your hands and know that somebody is playing the sh*t out of it.” Josh Scott has no plans of slowing down as he is preparing for several road trips which will allow him to perform for fans at state fairs, country fests and wherever else they’d like to see him. “I just told my wife that 2023 is going to be my year,” says Josh Scott.
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