George Birge joined Bobby Bones Show in the studio to talk about his music, his journey, and what life looks like now as his career continues to grow.
Bobby asked George about writing “It Won’t Be Long.” George explained that it was his third single to radio and came at a point when he wanted to be more open and personal as a songwriter. He said every line in the song is true, from being nervous to ask his wife Kara on a first date, to working on their first home, to watching their kids play sports. Because the song is rooted in real life, he said it was emotional for him to perform at first and often left him choked up on stage. George said songwriting can be super vulnerable, especially when working with people you don’t know well. He said “It Won’t Be Long” came together after spending time simply talking about life in the writing room, which helped everyone relax and allowed the song to fall into place. He added that the lyrics that make a songwriter the most uncomfortable are often the ones that resonate most with listeners.
The conversation shifted to George’s personal life, including building a lake house with his wife. George said he isn’t doing the physical work himself, but his wife has taken the lead on design and planning. The lake is a place where he can unplug from touring and busy city life. George said it still feels surreal to be able to provide a home like that through music, something he never imagined when he was playing open mic nights at a pizza place. George reflected on those early days, saying playing at places where people weren’t there to hear music helped toughen him up. He said no one gives you the benefit of the doubt early on, and you have to earn attention and connection one listener at a time. Bobby asked about George’s wife and the sacrifices she made while he chased his music career. George shared she believed in him even when he was making no money and losing money playing shows. She encouraged him not to quit, even during moments when he doubted himself, and said he’s proud to celebrate his success with her.
George has been on the road with Luke Bryan recently and shared how that opportunity came together. He said Bobby played a role early on by vouching for him to Luke. George described Luke as generous, welcoming, and someone who treats everyone on his crew with respect. Watching Luke perform and interact with people taught him important lessons about leadership and humility. George shared the story of how Luke Bryan ended up featuring on his upcoming song “Ride.” Luke asked him to play an unreleased song on the tour bus, listened closely, and immediately reacted positively. After George followed up, Luke agreed to be on the song. Weeks later, Luke sent back his vocal, confirming the collaboration. The song will be out on February 5th. George’s first headline tour, The Cowboy Songs Tour, had to be postponed due to severe winter weather. George said it was disappointing after selling out the first shows, but the tour would resume in April. Bobby pointed out that headlines referred to George as a “country star,” something George admitted made him proud.
George's song “Cowboy Songs" was inspired by memories of college, Texas dance halls, and meeting his wife at the University of Texas. He shared the story of meeting her at a fraternity party while dressed as a Smurf and how they’ve been together ever since. Also at college, George shared the story where he walked on to the golf team after winning a qualifying tournament. He shared stories about playing alongside future pros and later getting to play in a PGA Tour event with Jordan Spieth. Fast forward to his life now as a dad, his two sons are six and nine and he admitted this stage has been the most fun so far. He talked about changing diapers, including during time spent in the NICU with his oldest son, and how becoming a dad changed his perspective.
The interview ended with a lighthearted story from a recent trip to Chicago, where George jokingly claimed he gets recognized once a day. After being teased by Bobby and Eddie, a fan approached George at dinner, leading to more laughs and accusations that Bobby had staged the moment. Bobby admitted he encouraged a fan to say hello, but confirmed the fan genuinely knew George’s music.