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Life is good for country singing sensation

Tim McGraw smiles through the tears

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Tim McGraw performing "Grown Men Don't Cry," the fastest-rising single of his career  

NEW YORK (CNN) -- "Grown Men Don't Cry" is the first single from Tim McGraw's new album, "Set This Circus Down." But the tune does not ring home, because lately this country singing sensation has been filled with emotion.

In February, he broke down backstage at the Grammys to accept his first award with wife Faith Hill (for their vocal collaboration on "Let's Make Love"). On a promotional tour for the record, he performed the hit song with tears in his eyes.

McGraw, 34, recently gave a mini-concert at New York City's South Street Seaport to a crowd of hundreds of fans. Wearing his signature cowboy hat and dressed in jeans, a Bruce Springsteen T-shirt sticking out of his jean jacket, McGraw seemed relaxed and excited about the record, which he also co-produced.

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"Things Change"
WAV sound/352K

"Smilin'"
WAV sound/320K

"Grown Men Don't Cry"
WAV sound/336K

 

McGraw, a 25 million album seller whose Soul 2 Soul tour last year with Hill grossed $60 million, recently parked his hat and spoke with CNN.

CNN: Talk about your fans.

Tim McGraw: We played live for a long time. We've been playing music for 14 years -- in clubs and on the road and traveling in the van and a lot of my guys in the band have been with me for 10 years or so. I think our record career, our recording career, was tremendously influenced by those early days playing in clubs. We see fans all the time that were there during those days when nobody was listening to us and so I think our fans have always been real loyal to us and respectful of what we do as we are of them.

CNN: This is your first album of new music in two years. Where have you been?

McGraw: McGraw: Just taking it easy. No, just working -- we had a tour ... last year so that was busy and fun. We try to record in between times of that and just taking our time. I don't think you have to have a record out all the time.

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McGraw with fans at New York's South City Seaport where he gave a mini-concert  

CNN: Is this album a reflection of your life right now?

McGraw: I don't know if it's a reflection of my life. I just try to find great songs and great music and stuff that I can relate to in one way or another, either through myself or through people I know or situations you see on TV. ...People get out of music what they want to get out of it, and all I try to do is do the same thing.

CNN: How about the first single, "Grown Men Don't Cry." What is that about?

McGraw: That's just a song about compassion -- that everybody has it and I think that we should use it a little more.

CNN: Do you think your life is somewhat of a circus?

McGraw: Absolutely, absolutely. What we do is a circus. We throw up a show every night and wake up the next morning and tear it down or tear it down that night, wake up the next morning in another city and throw up another show.

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"Set This Circus Down" is Tim McGraw's first album in two years  

CNN: Are you still basking in the glow of being a Grammy winner? How long does that last?

McGraw: ...Grammys are great. I was more excited for my wife than anything. I know how hard she's worked -- being a great mother and a great wife and a great artist and doing all those things so well, and still putting her music on the back burner, her career on the back burner when it comes to family. To be able to do all that so well and get recognized for it: I was real proud.

CNN: Does being married to Faith Hill influence your music differently?

McGraw: She's so good, you want to get better! You don't want to embarrass her. No, I think everything influences what you do. I hope that I've gotten better. I think I'm definitely happy -- not that I have been unhappy I guess, but I'm in a great place in my life. I couldn't ask for things to be better than they are and so I'm sure that has some kind of influence on what we do in the studio.

CNN: Your birthday is May 1. What do you wish for these days?

McGraw: Just to be happy. For everybody to be healthy and happy, and safe travel. We travel so much so if there's one wish we could have it's always to have safe travel.

CNN: How do you remain humble?

McGraw: You know, it's a gift that you've been given to be successful at stuff. There are people who work their whole life and are a whole lot better person than I am, that don't get a break.



RELATED SITES:
Tim McGraw - Official Website

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