The life of Maddox Batson looks a lot different from that of most 15-year-olds.
Instead of the usual teenage routine of hanging with friends or practicing for a driver’s license, the young country-pop star is getting ready to kick off his second national tour — and is headlining the Maryland State Fair in Timonium on Saturday Sept. 6.
Growing up, he played piano and guitar and was active in sports. But in 2022, he was diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter disease, which causes knee pain. He stepped away from athletics and instead homed in on playing guitar.
In 2023, Batson started posting online videos of cover songs while playing guitar. The videos “skyrocketed,” he said, eventually landing him both a manager and a record deal.
“I wouldn’t trade it for anything else,” he said in an interview with Baltimore Fishbowl. “Seeing how music comes to life is just uncomparable,” Batson said.
In 2024, Batson released his first single online, “Tears in the River,” and has since released six others and an EP. He also co-wrote the song “Tough” for Lana Del Rey and Quavo, which charted at No. 33 for the Billboard Hot 100 song in July 2024.
“I’ve been making music my whole life, but doing it professionally is just like such a different thing,” he said. “It’s my job but it’s like the coolest job ever because I got to choose it, you know?”
The burgeoning star said his career so far has been fulfilling, but Batson said his proudest moment was stepping onto one of country music’s most iconic stages in Nashville, Tennessee.
“Playing the Grand Ole Opry was the coolest thing ever for me…. I grew up respecting it like no other,” Batson said. “It was a very surreal experience. It was awesome.”
Since 2018, country music streaming has been on the rise. Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan, Beyoncé, and more have had major impacts on the surges.
Artists like Taylor Swift started in the country music industry at age 13, showing that young artists can shape the genre. Batson may be on a similar path, and his fans definitely think so, too.
“Love to see the passion you show kid. Keep it up!!” said TikTok user Robert Lariscy in the comments of a cover song video.
“You’re gonna be so big in country, I just know it,” said Kate Klein, another TikTok user.
With country music on the rise and Batson’s career just beginning, fans will soon get to see where his journey goes next. Tickets for his performance at the Maryland State Fair in Timonium are on sale now.
